Why People Work for The Associations?

‘Some People are born Great,
Some Achieve Greatness and on
Some, the greatness is thrust upon.’

It is a very celebrated quotation. The similar line may be constructed about leadership, replacing the word greatness. I remember this citation in a recently concluded executive committee meeting of IMA Maharashtra State in Pune. Various issues were being discussed, various arguments and counter arguments, took place, various attacks and defenses were put forth. A peculiar sentence was repeated by many stalwarts, ‘I am a practicing doctor, I do this work as a voluntary work, and you cannot expect hundred per cent accuracy in the work.’ On this I thought about the changed quotation.

When I recollect my experience in various organizations, institutes including doctors’ associations, I really wonder, what that weird reason is for which people participate in the work of any organization. What that driving force is, which causes us to get involved in an association?

After some discussion with a range of friends, I categorize them in four prototypes.

Class I- They are borne leaders, opinion makers, good planners. They lead from the front and take associations to newer and higher levels. They may be doing something very essential for their existence, may be having good medical practice, but they are and remain full time workers for their associations. In other words mimicking a famous bollywood line, ‘ Woh jahan khade hote hani, association wahin ban jaati hai.’

Class II- These people are borne with some organizational skills, have great ambition, they want to test their skills and prove their class. They also take the associations to an elevated heights. Usually they remain aloof whenever their duties are over, but help whenever they are asked for.

Class III- These people have time, they do not have any problems of earning. They join the organization, do some work, enjoy their responsibilities. They take everything in their stride and keep on increasing the active participants. These people create a great impression of the organization and increase the membership number.

Class IV- They are real troubles. It is obvious that they come to achieve the laurels only. That too, they want it by the hard work of others and Recently an experienced senior friend of mine commented that these people come here to play politics because in real politics they just cannot survive. Surprisingly and sadly, we are getting these types more in our organizations.

I feel, to achieve greatness one has to learn the qualities of great people and keep on improving your performance. And off course ONE must judge one’s qualities and decide one’s real class and also whether you are worthy of becoming somebody in the organization, before working for the associations.