CEO Column - Thoughts about Leadership

Leadership.

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership recently. In these challenging times, with inflation at a 40-year high, weekly shootings throughout the United States, and the ongoing pandemic, leaders at agencies, companies, associations, faith organizations and politicians need to lead. I think frequently about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has received global praise for leading the resistance to Russia’s invasion. Zelensky’s leadership style emphasizes personal courage, confidence, blunt messages, and frequent communications. There is a reason he is considered a hero to people around the world. His leadership style will be studied for years.

Similarly, SWANA has been blessed with extraordinary leadership in recent years. Past President Brenda Haney has completed two one-year terms as President, during an extraordinary time in SWANA’s 60-year history, helping us navigate the pandemic. Michael Greenberg just completed his two terms as Past President after being President in FY 2020. A major component of Michael’s legacy is the current governance structure which has served us so well over the past few years. Both have served SWANA with excellence and each is a major reason for our successes as an association. #TeamSWANA thanks you.

At the chapter level, we are seeing a growing number of veteran chapter officers exit and new leaders emerge. It is critical to the future of the chapters—and indeed, of SWANA—for these new leaders to be successful. Do they have the skills and attributes to lead their chapters successfully, in good times and in bad? We certainly hope so, and to help ensure their success, SWANA will be holding a chapter leaders’ event at WASTECON® in San Diego in early December. We are calling it “Chapter Connect” and under the guidance of Former Advisory Board Chair Dana Blumberg, SWANA will provide a series of sessions throughout WASTECON for chapter leaders that will provide them with the skills and tools they need to be even more successful. If you are in any sort of leadership position in your chapter, these exciting sessions should be part of your WASTECON® schedule.

Leadership also means listening to the people you are fortunate enough to lead. At SWANA, we implemented a hybrid work policy earlier this year, asking most staff to come to the office in Silver Spring twice each week. Just in time for the price of gasoline to go over five dollars per gallon! We have been surveying staff about a number of workplace topics, and it is clear a substantial portion of the team believes they are more productive working from home than commuting to and from Silver Spring. So, starting this month, we adjusted the policy and are making coming into the office voluntary for most staff. I will continue coming to the office at least twice each week, and I suspect others will as well. Regardless of where they are working, SWANA staff is working hard to serve our members!

It has become more important than ever to listen to your people. Whether you run a non-profit association, are an executive at a consulting firm or solid waste agency, or are an elected official, listening to your constituents is critical. Come to WASTECON® and acquire the skills and tools that will make you a more successful leader at your job, and in your chapter.