Basics of IPC Leadership

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Creating an IPC is one thing, leading it is something entirely different. Taking up the mantle of leader isn't a job for just anyone, but it isn't a talent, either. It's a combination of skills and action that makes a leader. You need to cultivate these skills in order to bring your IPC to a place where it can leave and breathe on its own. What skills do you need in order to be an effective IPC manager?

Interpersonal Skills and Vision
Relating and communicating with your members are the skills to have if you manage an IPC. You've got to be a clear communicator and a great listener. But, the greatest skill to have is to be able to ask questions, of yourself and of your membership. A club is about doing things together, and great clubs are responsive to the needs of its members. Many times you'll need to suss out the information you need. Questions are a good way of getting people to speak about their experiences with the club and what their ideas are in regards to activities and planning. Good leadership isn't about forcing people to see your vision; good leadership is about incorporating other's ideas coherently and meaningfully into your vision. These are the course corrections you'll make while moving toward your own vision.

Flexibility
As I mentioned above, good leadership is about incorporating other's ideas coherently into your vision. You need to be flexible in the way you see your vision coming together. To me, long range plans rarely work out exactly the way you planned them. Instead, you need know where you're going, but be flexible about how you get there. Things may not pan out in your overall plan, so you need to plan for changes. If you absolutely hold on to a plan of your devising, chances are very high you will eventually fail. On the other hand, you have to be open to change or risk feeling that your IPC is tainted because it didn't follow your plans exactly.

Organizing
While the club is growing, you need to guide members into areas that will enable growth. Finding volunteers to host events, or club members to serve on committees is a large part of what you'll be doing. Good leadership skills makes this task easier. You'll be serving as head to a lot of meetings until the club has a functioning governance structure. You'll be doing most of the pulling, but it'll be worth it as you see the club grow. So you need to have in mind what the club should look like as a independently governing structure. Refer to "Organizing your IPC Membership" for more information about club organization,

Letting go
Eventually, you'll need to step down so others can shine. The ship you call your IPC is sailing in the direction you set. Good leadership also involves knowing when to let go. This is not to say you can't serve on committees or host events, but it is saying that you're not a control freak dictator, either. This can be a difficult things to do, but as a leader, it's also your job to cultivate other leaders so you can let go. People have the desire to refine and make better, and allowing new leadership in the mix will help the club grow in ways you didn't ever
expect.