Through the miracle of social media I reconnected with a gymnast I worked with back in the late 80’s. She now works at a large firm in the field of CHANGE MANAGEMENT.
We, of course, exchanged messages on gymnasts and coaches we used to know before the conversation turned to the on going problems in the gymnastics community and within USA Gymnastics. Laura told me what she did for work and asked, “Would you mind if I put some thoughts on paper with some advice for USA Gymnastics?” How quickly could I say YES, ABSOLUTELY – PLEASE.
You can get in touch with Laura through her Linkedin Profile OR you can e-mail me and I will make introductions.
TRANSPARENCY & CULTURE CHANGE
We hear a lot of talk about “transparency” and “culture change”
Transparency means openness, communication, and accountability. It means operating so that it’s easy for others to see the actions being performed. It means living by these values instead of by ego, lies, and secrecy.*
Let’s assume for a moment that USAG wants to do the right thing. Let’s assume they are being driven by those new values and want to create positive change.
I work in the field of change management. The job is about helping organizations act differently. From that perspective, there are a few obvious “quick wins” that could easily be put into place to demonstrate immediate commitment to those new values.
Though what’s ahead seems like a herculean journey, USAG has already got a well-designed blueprint to follow in “The Daniels Report”. It was clear and concise, yet specific and detailed and truly showed a thoughtful consideration of the real issues at play. What’s missing is accountability for results to the members, and given the scope of the publicity, the broader community as a whole.
There are actually two simple steps USAG could employ NOW to help this.
- Rename the report both officially and informally.
a. While the true name isn’t “The Daniels Report”, that has become the shorthand to refer to what it contains. This creates perception issues! The point is not the author; the point is about the organization and its intended impact from its adoption. Attaching an outsider’s name to it shifts responsibility from USAG, who unanimously approved it, and creates an opportunity for it to seem “out there” as opposed to an immediately adoptable roadmap for change. **
2. Attach progress and accountability measures to the way the report is posted on USAG online.
a. As it stands, we see recommendations, but no connection to actions or progress. There is a simple fix for an organization truly committed to transparent progress.
b. The current online listing of the line-by-line recommendations should be expanded to include two columns:
- Red-Yellow-Green light indicators of progress towards each line item
- A dynamic description field that includes notes on progress for each item.
These simple measures would help the members and the public see exactly what progress is being made. Barriers to progress would be visible, which allows for creative problem solving and better understanding by all who are interested.
If the “new” USAG really values transparency, they need to lead with openness, communication, and accountability. It cannot wait another day.
Laura Stoll was hooked on the sport since the days of Class III/Optional. She is known at work for that time she watched the Olympics on her smartphone throughout an entire 3-day meeting. For a better sense of her background see her profile on Linkedin.
How I Remember Her
Tony’s Notes:
* there is a difference between TRANSPARENCY and infringing on someone’s privacy. I believe that USAG wants to operate with more transparency but is unable to because of ongoing litigation and the need to protect the privacy of members.
** USA Gymnastics commissioned the “Daniels Report”. They own it. I believe it should be called the USA Gymnastics Report on Sport Safety. Other sports, like swimming, that are facing problems can follow the guidelines in the USA Gymnastics Report on Sport Safety. It may not roll off the tongue BUT it brings USAG back to the forefront leading the way in athlete safety.
