The Journey as Chairman – Article 1

Becoming a Chairman

I'm JB Marais, over the years, I've served on many committees under many different chairmen and chairladies. One thing I've noticed is that every chairman brings something different to the table. Each has their own strengths, and I've learned something from all of them.

One chairlady was exceptionally good at running committee meetings. Anyone who has served on a committee knows how easily a discussion can get stuck on one topic and drag on forever. She had a real talent for bringing everyone back to the point, closing off an item and moving on to the next.

Another chairman took a big, bold approach to marketing. Not everyone liked it, but it certainly made the club stand out from the others.

One chairman organised a Guinness World Record event, secured sponsors and brought a huge amount of fun and excitement to the club.

Another was brilliant with finances. He cut unnecessary costs, made sure not a cent was wasted and got the club back into the black.

One chairman stood out for something that sounds almost too simple: common sense and good decision-making. He was rational, organised and made sure all the club's documents were in order.

It's funny how making good decisions doesn't sound like a superpower. But how often have you looked back and thought, "I should have done that differently"? Imagine consistently getting the obvious things right the first time.

One chairlady had an incredibly long history with the club. She knew everyone, knew the sponsors personally and understood exactly what mattered. She wasn't interested in chasing shiny new ideas. She focused on getting the basics right.

And then there was a chairman whose main goal was simply peace and happiness within the club. He wanted to reduce conflict and create a place where everyone could enjoy themselves. Interestingly, this wasn't necessarily his natural personality. It showed me something important: you can actually decide what kind of chairman you want to be.

So, what kind of chairman do I want to be?

That's the question I'm asking myself now.

I've seen how different leadership styles can benefit a club, and I'd love to take a little something from each of them.

But there's one small problem.

I'm not actually chairman yet.

Here I am, sitting and writing about my journey as chairman, and I haven't even been elected! I suppose I'm counting my chickens before they hatch.

First things first. I need to arrange our first committee meeting and get the vote.

Let's see if there will even be an Article 2.