Non-profits thrive because people like me cannot say "No." Because people are compelled to give as much as they can. One woman on the board was about two beats behind on every conversation because she refused to listen. Her head was too busy thinking up what she was going to say next instead of hearing what was actually being said. It was irritating to consistently go back over a conversation and re-explain what had just been said and discussed. She was just in her own world, seemingly not caring that the meeting had now run two plus hours.

I looked around the boardroom at each individual that sat at the table; there were about thirteen of us. Everyone seemed to have the same look on their faces. You know the look, the one that says, "Are you kidding me right now?" I rolled my eyes at one point ready to hand over my letter but someone reached across, patted my hand and whispered, "Hang in there, Rayanne." And that's all it took. I girded my loins and waved my hand in a circular motion to mean, "It's time to move on. We still have ten more items to discuss..."

And so, I didn't resign..., not this month, not this time. I decided to give it one more month. I would attend one more meeting and then re-address my decision and see if I still wanted to oust myself. It is not easy for me to say no. But it is even more difficult for some to just shut up and listen when stupidity reigns. There is a tendency to over-exert oneself when worthiness comes into question or when one feels the parade is passing them by and they just didn't see it passing. That's what this woman was doing, the parade was passing her by and she just couldn't keep up.

When others rely on your attention to detail, when others depend upon your understanding of any given subject, step up, pay attention and do your best to not be the one that asks the redundant question. There is an old belief that humans learn best by repetition, but I also believe that humans stop caring when redundancy becomes redundant. So, before you enter a meeting, clear your head, shake out the cob webs, believe in the power of a team and make a good showing. Your teammates will thank you, your captain will reward you and, believe it or not, things will actually start to get done.

© by rayannethorn