When I think about what SMPS has done for my career it is hard to pinpoint one thing. I've created long lasting friendships, found great mentors, found enthusiastic proteges, and have the best A/E/C resources at my fingertips. But as I find myself doing more for my company I have realized that SMPS has taught me to do my own stunts.
My time spent on a SMPS chapter committee gave me new found freedom to explore new ideas, technology, and process. I was able to take chances with minimal risk because SMPS is INCREDIBLY THANKFUL to have members participate. And guess what! When you are a volunteer in an organization that needs people to pitch it if VERY unlikely that you'll get fired for trying something new. I took this risk taker mentality into my career and have created great initiatives for my company that actually work. I was able to refine this skill within a SMPS committee.
Then I became President of my chapter. And that opened up another set of skills that I didn't know I had and, yet, SMPS allowed me develop those skills in a short amount of time. Being on the board of a SMPS chapter is similar to managing a business: paying attention to financials, attending to the needs of the members, making sure sponsors are happy, developing the next level of chapter leadership, and growing the organization's footprint in the industry. I opened up each board meeting with "We are all volunteers. If this is no longer fun we can quit." And my board stuck to that mentality and we had a BLAST! We lived by the servant leader model and the chapter grew during this time. But we did so many things that didn't have a path laid before us. We implemented new strategies and brought in outside help. Again, I took this experience into my career and I make my work environment fun, lead my company's marketing efforts with a servant leader attitude, and create new strategies without a road map. I wouldn't be as confident in doing this if it weren't for my SMPS leadership tenure.
Now I'm back in the saddle of being on a chapter committee and it feels great to be led by others. The current board is finding their own pathways, building on the legacy of our chapter, and discovering their own strengths. I'm quite happy to take direction and get marching orders from my committee director because I've been in that position and know how difficult it can be for some of us to delegate and/or ask for help. SMPS builds up the delegation muscle we forget about when we work in silos within our jobs. We forget the joys of what it means to work in a team towards a common goal. Being a leader can be taxing because you are expected to have answers or solutions. Being a follower reminds me that being part of the team, whether you are the leader or not, is extremely rewarding.
SMPS has given me experience in my career. An experience I wouldn't have received if it weren't for my membership in SMPS. And a set of skills that I wouldn't have discovered without a supportive group of professionals. While I may do all my own stunts I feel like a proper stunt woman with all the training it requires to jump from tall buildings, run through walls, and, sometimes, build a marketing budget.