Editor's Note: This is the sixth of a six part series by Marty Pease on how she ended up in Rotary.
EGO
Wow, has Rotary been a playing field for managing my ego. Ego is required for us to survive and have a sense of ourselves. But it can become a problem when ego thinks it is in charge and feels defensive when questioned. In general, I recognize my ego is agitated when I overreact, usually in a “wronged” manner. I have enough self-awareness to know in those moments that I am not operating from an open perspective.
Rotary is an organization made of motivated, smart, active people who often have been managers or leaders in their professional careers. They are motivated by caring for the greater good and being of service. These are get-it-done types, and they usually prefer their way of doing things. Personalities sometimes come into conflict quite strongly, which may lead to challenges. I have been one of those folks involved in occasional personality conflicts.
In fact, I can think of two people in particular with whom I have come into conflict. Each time I have had to step back, assess my role, and figure out a way to make it work. Both of these people are amazing, and their hearts are in the right place. Ultimately, we all want the same end result: to help others. That high-value mutual desire motivates me to evaluate my behavior and deepen my self-awareness. I chose to stick it out, rather than quit and run away, and this willingness to grow has been so worth it. The relationship between those two people and me has evolved into one of strong mutual respect.
The overriding trait among Rotarians is a genuine kindness and a high level of morality, as evidenced in the Four-Way Test. In the Club, IPA, and YES, collaboration is essential and genuinely valued. A level of trust and respect exists so that open discussion can occur. Out of these discussions come wonderful, creative ideas. We all have healthy egos, but ego as a driving force is rarely present.
Interpersonal
I have been in leadership roles as a manager and business owner, and honestly, I wasn’t very good at it. I had a lot to learn about myself and needed to love myself and trust in myself. It has taken several decades of life to get there, and it is still a work in progress. I wasn’t particularly good at managing because I came across as assertive or aggressive. People thought I was not open to others’ ideas. Yet in reality, my behavior was a cover for my insecurities and my need for outside validation. For example, I discovered that when a person shared an idea, as I pondered it and thought about the next step of implementing it, I would look away from the person and into the distance. That was interpreted as disinterest. But really, I was buying into the idea and mentally visualizing how to manifest it.
The years leading up to joining Rotary offered me maturity and self-growth, and this growth has continued to happen after joining. Rotary has been such a supportive playground for the leadership side of me. I have held several different leadership roles, and I love having somewhere to manifest ideas. I am good at implementing ideas, and Rotary is a doing organization. It is a natural fit. In the process, interpersonal dynamics play an integral part, and through these dynamics, personal growth and change occur.
Manifestation
I knew I was skilled with manifestation all along, but Rotary has really brought it forth. One of my strengths is taking an idea, mapping out a plan, and bringing it to life. Throughout my life, I’d get an idea, let it brew on the back burner, and then eventually, a plan naturally emerges, and boom, today is the day! Rotary has permitted me and encouraged me to flex that muscle. Where I have to be careful is not going it alone, but allowing room for all who want to participate to do so. When you are with a group of doers, it is a lot of fun!
What does Rotary mean to me?
I could have gotten involved in many other nonprofits, but Rotary naturally came my way, and it fits my values and ways of thinking. Any other organization could have given me a sense of purpose, but Rotary has helped me thrive. I appreciate the apolitical and nonreligious approach. All are welcome. We are united by a common desire to serve. I also appreciate that Rotary is not stagnant, both at the local level and internationally. Creative thinking occurs, and the organization flows with the changing times.