The Ryan/Jolene Stepping Down Thing

[jon-jon]

Dear Fellow Diarists:

I don't know enough of the history regarding Ryan and Jolene and the Awards to say what I think. However, the dynamic I'm seeing on the boards and in the community resonates with my personal experiences with running a group.

Groups are usually started by a small group of energetic, charismatic people who create a shared vision. To get the ball rolling, you need strong leadership: someone to rally around and follow.

Over time, invariably, resentment begins to grow against the leader and his/her fellow founders. Charisma and initiative become seen as megalomania and control. Feelings are hurt. Toes are bruised. The grumbling begins.

The membership begin to resent the leader. "Who are you to have all the power?" The leader begins to resent the membership. "Who are you to tell me what to do? I started this!" Loyal associates of the leader become cronies. Elections and awards become "fixed".

This generally leads to burn-out in the leader, apathy in the membership, and a nice slow ugly meltdown.

Currently, the Awards panel changes with each awards cycle. This is clearly a good way to keep the process fresh.

However, I wouldn't rule out a complete change in leadership from time to time. Most associations change presidents and chairpersons on a regular basis, to meet the changing needs of changing environments.

It's nothing personal against any one leader; it's just recognizing the fact that leadership, left unchanged too long, will begin to be seen as tyranny, regardless of how well-meant the leader is.

The Awards are experiencing growing pains: grow or die. To grow, it might need to take on the characteristics of a more traditional group.

end("$0.02");

Jon-Jon
http://jonjondiaries.com

[Sara Astruc]

Ryan founded Diarist.net, Diary-L, JournalCon, Clix, the Registry and heaven knows what else. He offers free email, notify lists and other services to the community at large. He's worked tirelessly on this stuff for years.

I see Ryan here, responding and trying to sort through the issues. He obviously cares about all of this very much, and is juggling through a lot of information, trying to please members of the community while trying to stay true to his own vision of how he wants his sites run. He doesn't strike me as apathetic or resentful at all. He's been polite to everyone.

I think it would be a tremendous disservice to Diarist.net if Ryan were to step down. Seriously, how many people can you count that spend this much time giving back? How many other people have started up sites to serve the community at large and stuck with it?

I don't think the Awards are perfect, but I don't think Ryan should step down, either.

[jon-jon]

I'm definitely *not* saying that Ryan specifically should step down. I'm just acknowledging the realities of group dynamics --- if they are to survive past the death (or resignation) of a charismatic founder, they need to adapt.

I think that what Ryan has created is highly valuable, and it still has a great potential to be a lasting part of the online journaling phenomenon. My comments are made strictly in the interests of making sure this fascinating phenomenon doesn't fizzle.

Jon-Jon
http://jonjondiaries.com

[gsh]

I agree.

The sheer willpower and energy it takes to run so many sites and projects is a rare, rare thing. I think past MJ staff could all step up and say how hard it was just to keep one site running - something that we did neither as well nor as consistently as Ryan has with the various Diarist projects and branded properties. To do all this work in addition to a full time job that requires extensive travel, not to mention his wife and children? Big ups and mad props all the way around.

It's a huge committment and I would hope that it would encourage people dissatisfied with how things are to drop him a line and at least try to help out - get a taste for the often thankless tasks involved in community building.

[pzarquon]

Thanks, gsh and Sara! I also do appreciate Jon-Jon's point, of course.

Indeed, my tangible contribution to the awards is largely secretarial (http://www.diarist.net/active/showthread.php?s=&postid=3584#post3584) anyway. If there could someday be a script that did the same tasks, I'd be thrilled.

I am open to the long-term proposition of a transition, whether it's because Jen finally throws my computer out the window, or because I'm hit by a truck, or because (horror of horrors) I just don't want to (or finally realize I shouldn't, given some of the doubts expressed here) be involved any more.

But I will confess to the obvious element of selfishness. These awards are probably shortening my life, but being able to evesdrop on the panel, or read the nominees, or see the e-mail from a happy finalist or winner? It's not something I'm not quite ready to give up.