NYCGMC Findings Report - June 2021
Main Takeaways
1. Muddled clarity on the grounding vision for the organization overall, with louder
voices dominating the conversation - and no resolution.
2. Lack of a clear, actionable execution of what ‘Leadership’ actually entails for
senior members - and what the expectations are for an individual who ascends to
the role of Leader.
3. Lack of clarity on who is the final decision maker for issues and challenges faced
by both Membership and Leadership alike.
4. Reliance on a communications vacuum/ avoidance tactics when topics are either
challenging or are not ‘discussion’ desirable.
5. Time, availability and commitment unevenness.
Muddled Clarity.
In the time spent generating information and connecting routinely with Leadership here
at NYCGMC, I have continually requested an understanding of one main determining
factor for the overall desired focus of the organization:
“ What Does NYCGMC Stand For, And Why?”
To be fair, the question in and of itself is not an easy one to respond to, given the
various moving parts (and the need to be a flexible, nimble and adaptable organization)
especially in response to significant changes in what was able to be accomplished (and
how) in the wake of Covid. However, the opportunity to put ‘stakes in the ground’ by
determining, defining, and attempting to execute upon a common focus has seemingly
been routinely overlooked, as more pressing issues rise to the level of focus and
dominance. (Again, the need to acknowledge and respond to challenges as they arise
especially in the DEI+I space will always be of the utmost importance, and by no means
is this a minimization of the urgency that said issues present.) However, the inability to
clearly craft a holistic and guiding focus for the manner in which the organization aligns
itself with its own internal best practices, is continuing to create a fractured
understanding of what the organization as a whole truly believes in, and how it creates
boundaries around what should be done (and conversely, what should not be done.)
This lack of clarity, in my opinion, is at the root of many of the challenges being faced by