Aug 19,2019
Dear Bill,
I hope you are fine, I am well.
It is a great honor to co-write with you, although this is not our first time, and the “14 article” is our mutual work. Ehsan was kind enough to translate it and it will be sent to you in few days.
These are my thoughts on your question. I am writing whatever I can think of now, I am certain that you will complete my answers.
1)How are the leadership demands within an RCO different than that faced by leaders of other organizations?
A leader in other organizations leads over heads (thoughts), however a recovery leader must rule the hearts. In other words, management of other organizations can make changes by raise in salaries or penalties, but a recovery leader must communicate with affection within and without.
He must be able to turn enemies into friends.
Dear friend,
A wise person is constantly changing enemies into friends and an ignorant person is in business of making enemies. This is the huge difference between a wise person and an ignorant one.
2)What are the most important qualities that qualify one for leadership of a recovery community organization (RCO)?
Leader must be flawless so that he can be duplicated. A flawless example or leader will only duplicates bad models.
A recovery leader must be flawless or at least with minimum defects. For instance: a recovery leader must not drink or smoke. He must not be very fat with a big belly. He must be able to speak fluently and he must not swear. In fact he must possess great attributes to be chosen as a leader by others.
3) What are the most common pitfalls/mistakes that can undermine leadership effectiveness within an RCO?
Supporting other political or religious groups is a devastating mistake which is like an earthquake for a recovery organization.
For instance: if the leader of recovery organization is in favor of blue color then the fans of red color will be against him and vice versa.
Given that we need to be friends with blue and red or in other words we need to be friends with all political sides, religions, races and etc.
Since an NGO’s obligation is to help people not to take sides.
[We have achieved this goal within Congress 60 and it lead to our strength. All sides and groups respect Congress 60]
4) What are the best strategies for leadership development and succession planning? How does the RCO leader assure a lasting legacy beyond their own lifetime?
A recovery leader never thought about becoming a leader when he started his work. But anyway, he ends leading. A recovery leader must gurgle like a spring. He must contemplate deeply while taking benefit of consulting with others.
But about assuring the legacy…..
He must utilize elders for legislation. Just like Congress 60’s watchman which is consisted of 14 elders. Then the leader must take an approach in which all the members get familiar with these elders and respect them.
In return, the elders must treat people with affection and honesty.
Therefore, in absence of leader (illness or even death) this counsel can take control. The leader also can choose an individual out of this counsel to take the leadership role in case of his absence.
5)How can the RCO leader manage their own character defects and sustain their own health to the benefit of self and the organization?
Worldview must be the strong suit of a recovery leader so that he can identify and fix his defects. He must always exercise to keep a good health. He must be financially independent. He must not be fat.
I have been going to swimming pool for almost 15 years at 6 a.m. three times a week.
I have stopped smoking. I am writing and carrying agricultural activities to make money. I have recently started to lose weight; I have announced that in future those who have extra weight or a big belly is not fit to serve within Congress 60.
As I mentioned before a role model must be flawless.
The size of waist should be about half the height of the person.
I have turned from 96 Kilo to 85 Kilos within 5 months without any hardships.
I am 179 centimeters tall and I had about 17 Kilos of extra weight.
6)What are the pitfalls of the RCO leader interacting with outside entities, government, other NGOs, allied professions, the media?
A recovery leader must keep the balance in all of his communications within and without the recovery organization.
His distance with outside and inside entities must be kept exactly just like the distance between earth and sun.
If our planet get close to sun we will burn, and we will freeze to death if the reverse happens.
A recovery leader must plan in a way to be independent. He must not be financially dependent to governments or other organizations.
He must be independent in this triangle:
Money
Knowledge
Manpower
Dear Bill,
If any of these answers requires more explanations I will happily provide it upon your request.
Be young and eternal
Hossein