PREPARING FOR LEADERSHIP:
Prerequisite Guidelines Stimulate Discussion
Janet Jendron
LLLI Board of Directors
LEAVEN Volume 35, No. 1, February-March 1999, p. 12
When the LLLI Prerequisites
to Applying for Leadership and LLLI Criteria for Leader Accreditation
were passed by the Board of Directors in February 1998, a new Board
committee was commissioned to draft LLLI Prerequisites to Applying
for Leadership - Guidelines for Leaders.
Alice Edwards and I co-chaired
the committee, composed of Leader Accreditation Department (LAD) administrators
from each Division and Affiliate, LAD Directors, LLLI Board members,
Division and Affiliate heads, Founders and many other Leaders.
Throughout the process, we
also sought opinions from Leaders, administrators and LAD representatives
in many different arenas: newsletters such as the Board Communique,
online discussion groups such as The Leader Connection (TLC) and
Dialogue, as well as LLL workshops and conferences.
The committee clarified wording
throughout its work on six drafts. We tried to express ideas without
becoming so specific that we precluded flexibility and consideration
of each mother and her situation. Throughout the work of the committee,
issues were identified for the Education Campaign which will provide
further guidance for Leaders.
Mothering through Breastfeeding
Committee discussion affirmed
that mothering through breastfeeding is central to LLL. Accreditation
decisions should take into account alignment with LLLI philosophy, purpose
and mission as well as breastfeeding knowledge and skills. The relationship
between the "Mothering and Breastfeeding Experience Prerequisites"
was discussed in light of the fundamental importance of a mother's presence
to facilitate mothering through breastfeeding. Discussion also centered
on the importance of viewing a woman's mothering and breastfeeding experience
as a whole. The primary focus on how a mother's experience reflects
LLLI philosophy, rather than comparing her breastfeeding experience
or hours of separation to a rule, was examined carefully.
Discussion about word choices
in the paragraphs about the "Mothering Experience Prerequisites,"
particularly the section that addresses separation, was extensive. The
committee revised them again and again to clarify how past and present
breastfeeding and mothering experiences are related to whether a mother
meets the LLLI Prerequisites to Applying for Leadership. The
challenge was to use definitive words to provide concrete guidance for
Leaders, yet allow individual consideration of each mother's situation.
Importance of the Leader's
Role
The committee's word choices
emphasized the importance of the Leader's role as she discusses leadership
with an interested mother before she applies. The focus of Leader/mother
discussions as dialogue, rather than a review of a mother's decisions
was clarified. Wording of guidelines to the "Personal Traits Prerequisite"
were refined and condensed, clarifying the Leader's unique role as she
personally observes these traits and a woman's willingness to learn.
Wording needed to reflect the balance between relying on a Leader's
recommendation of a mother for leadership and the importance of the
Mother/Leader/LAD triad working together from the time a mother applies
until she is accredited.
What the Guidelines Mean
for the Future Direction of LLL
Some Leaders expressed concern
that we might "water down" the critical importance of LLLI
philosophy regarding a baby's intense need for mother and eventually
change the nature of our organization. Others were concerned that inflexible
decision-making processes could exclude mothers who meet the prerequisites
in unusual ways. This could limit the diversity of Leaders, depriving
babies and mothers of breastfeeding help from LLL and undermining a
baby's basic need to be breastfed and mothered through breastfeeding.
Concerns were expressed that
we might err in presenting the mother/baby relationship as a need that
comes before every other need within a family. These were balanced with
opinions that mothers who spend large amounts of time away from their
babies are not usually able to have the mothering through breastfeeding
experience that LLL expects of its Leaders. The spectrum of concerns
expressed during committee discussions brought us to a document that
balances the approach to prerequisite decisions.
Quotes from two committee
members sum up the general feeling of the committee when the work was
completed:
I encourage Leaders to
look at the guidelines as a whole. I do not believe we are in danger
of diluting our philosophy. When one looks at how a mother interacts
her baby, what she says at meetings, and what she says in response to
the questions provided in the guidelines, we will have a good idea of
whether she can or cannot represent LLLI philosophy.
I very much appreciate
the way in which the guidelines give a clear picture of LLLI philosophy
and policy while recognizing that there are many different situations
that do reflect that philosophy. This openness to different situations
is well put. And I particularly appreciate the clear statement being
made to the Leaders who work with Leader Applicants.
Alice and I completed our
work with a tremendous sense of awe and respect for the amazing women
on the committee. Their honesty, intelligence, respect for others' opinions
and deep love of La Leche League made our work an honor and a labor
of love.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:46 UTC 2007.
