Samara Museum Adventure

I do so enjoy being a consultant. This is my second day conducting training about visitor experiences in museums, with a group of 15-20 russian museum professionals. Not only do I get to work with smart, creative people, and give them a way to deepen their own knowledge and skills, but I get to learn lots - about so many things.

Today our group went to visit a Samara museum - we got a tour of Stalin's bunker by a retired Russian military man. The tour was fascinating - this bunker had been built in 90 days as a place to protect the Russian leadership during the Nazi invasion in WWII. We experienced a very genuine moment of the past, and the "what might have been" of global politics. In this day and age such a tour makes me all the more aware of the precariousness of our global relationships...and the triumph of human values.

On a lighter note, I am enjoying Samara beer and chocolate, cool fall weather, the company of new friends, and many walks around the city. I couldn't resist this photo - one of a collection I am making about driver's seats, in honor of the title of this blog!

Time out for russia

For two weeks I will be in Russia - teaching museum staff about the visitor experience. Here are a few photos of my initial weekend in Samara and on the Volga river. Check my pragueoutpost for the detailed trip journal!

First steps out

Tomorrow I travel to Samara Russia to conduct a 4-day seminar in museum learning with a colleague from the children's museum world. Our work, sponsored by the Fund for Arts and Culture of Central and Eastern Europe, will involve an interpreter, a cruise down the Volga River, demonstrations of high and low tech techniques for involving visitors in museums of all kinds, and an exchange of ideas with colleagues from regional museums in the area south of Moscow.

It's a beginning step out for me, from my management role at Greenlights. On the eve of my departure Greenlights is abuzz with activity - publishing our monthly e-newsletter, working through details with a new Back Office potential client, setting in motion a challenge grant amongst our board members to ensure success beginning next year, and moving forward with the rest of the fall lineup -- from our Nonny Awards to our Board Primers.

I find myself a bit dizzy trying to pay attention to the road ahead and to the road under my feet. It reminds me of bicycling. If I look down the entire ride, I am faster, and more aerodynamic - if I look ahead and around me I enjoy the ride more and anticipate more. And if I look away from where I am trying to go, I run the risk of a mishap. I can;t look one way and ride my bike in a different direction.

My lesson? I think it's about trying not to multi-task, but to serially focus. One thing at a time. So I dutifully spent the end of my day today closing up shop, and tonight as I pack and prepare for my Russian travels I feel myself letting go of the day-to-day Greenlights details.

It's a good feeling.

Acceleration

Today Greenlights had its 5th Crossroads Conference. 480+ people showed up at the Austin Convention Center for a day of best practices and big ideas. The theme this year was "Building Momentum". As the default MC for the day, I was on the dias frequently - in the company of a set of dynamic speakers who tied Austin nonprofits to the real world in many ways. A great day!

And an emotional day. In some ways this Crossroads Conference marks the corner turn for me - I got lots of congratulations from participants, a special gift from Greenlights staff, and a number of job offers and board position offers! I worked really hard to keep a distance from the day-to-day planning, coordination, and problem solving that is always associated with a big conference. I admit I had my fingers crossed that Greenlights current staff would prove up to the job - but they came through with flying colors. And the day was a great success for all.

I talked at the end of the conference about momentum - thinking about the circus trapeze artists who swing high in the air, and get just the right rhythm to jump from one trapeze to the next. I do love watching trapeze artists - and imagining myself up there on the high wire, or on the swing - enjoying the rush and and the risk.

So, now it's my time to build momentum - for our Greenlights team to have the energy, direction and will to move ahead, and for me to have the focus to finish my job, and begin to balance Greenlights work with turning to new adventures.

Off in a week to a short adventure - teaching museum education practices in Samara Russia. This marks the start of my international consulting. And I am quite excited.

Thanks to all of your Conference attendees who stepped up to give me advice on Russian travel, and to talk with me about my future and Greenlights future.

And thanks to the Transition team - many of whom were at today's day long conference - for planning to meet tomorrow early morning to lay out transition next steps.

May we all enjoy our circus of life.

Moving into transition gear

Feels like transitioning from the ED role is somewhat like watching a baby grow. The first week - everything is new and different...so much to comment on, and many people commenting about every little change. After a bit though (usually, in my experience as a mom, at about 3 months), things feel a little slow and predictable again. In some ways that's what this time of transition feels like. The big news has now been absorbed into the fabric of our organization, and the basic elements are in place to move ahead.

We've got the transition committee tweaking the job description for my successor - a much more detailed document than the job description I have been working within. That makes sense - now that the organization is 12-people strong, it's time to be clear about respective roles and responsibilities, and to identify what unique strengths, talents, and focus will be needed for the new ED.

The committee sent out an online survey to board, staff, advisors, key donors and a few selected members asking for input on which skills and priorities should be taken into consideration in selecting the new Executive Director. From there to a job posting? Shouldn't be too long.

But the Committee is also more realistic than I am - they asked me if I could postpone my December 31st exit date in case the search takes longer than expected. As much as I am ready to find new adventures, I am not willing to leave my organization unattended - so I am making plans that allow me to stay on at least part time for a bit longer - just in case.

I find myself working really hard to hand over decision-making and projects to other staff - trying to back out of being the lead. My image of myself as transitioning ED is of a person sitting on the back of a sailboat - watching staff take turns at the wheel, nodding and smiling and providing praise and direction, but being close enough to the wheel and the lines in case I am needed to steady the ship.

More about the sailing metaphor another day.