"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision—you can’t blow an uncertain trumpet!"

Theodore M. Hesburgh

Being elected, appointed, or volunteering to serve as a representative on a council, committee, commission, or association, and the duties and responsibilities it entails is challenging and rewarding. Your organization’s success depends on you having a thorough understanding of your legal and legislative authority

as well as respecting the nature of your relationship to the professional staff that manages the organization. In short, whether you serve a Fortune 500 company or a non-profit, public or corporate interests, you must strive to lead, not manage the organization. Failure to heed this basic tenant of the board-management relationship could result in ineffective communication between the governing board and staff, fraying of the chain-of-command, and finally, bad decision making. Leading and managing are two

separate and distinct skill sets and possessing one does not necessarily equate to possessing the other. Your role as a governing board member is to guide the organization into the future by ensuring adequate planning and providing vision and direction. Realize that you can’t solve every problem your company faces but you can inspire those around you to meet challenges head-on. Remember GBA’s 3 “L”s. Listen (be flexible and open minded); Learn (adapt to change); and Lead (don’t manage) the organization. GBA provides governing board advisement services. For more info call us at (562) 522-2017.

On May 14, 2008 GBA President Gus T. Hein was honored to be a featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Los Angeles. The meeting took place at the Hilton Hotel in San Gabriel and gave Mr. Hein the opportunity to talk about his recent trade mission to China and the opportunities for American businessmen and women in China. Focusing