The Secretary Series: The Relational Level (Collective Memory)
Download MP3In this episode, we explore the Secretary as the custodian of a group's shared history, highlighting the power of selective recording and the importance of acknowledging individual contributions within the collective record.
High-Value Quotables
[00:00] "The secretary in a relational level is the person who's going to be working to create that collective record, that mutual understanding of what's important and worth committing to the collective memory of the organization."
[01:52] "The memory keeper role is the person who's carrying that collective understanding of the past culture."
[03:30] "Note everyone's contributions as they are relevant to the overall objective... try and note everyone's individual nuanced understanding of how they can influence the organization."
[04:23] "If somebody provided a valuable contribution and you called them up by name... they will perk up for listens and mentions of their name in future meeting minutes."
The Core Concept: The Custodian of Past Culture
While the Guide looks toward the future, the Secretary carries the collective understanding of the past. In a relational context, this role is an editorial one—deciding what strife to omit for the sake of outcomes and what hostile interactions must be recorded to protect the organization's integrity.
Key Takeaways:
- The Editorial Process: A Secretary must decide what is worth committing to memory, sometimes ignoring minor strife to focus on achieved outcomes.
- Recording Hostility: Consistently hostile behavior should be part of the record to help the group determine if an individual remains appropriate for the "loop".
- Guidance for the Function: Leadership should set clear intentions for what a "good job" looks like for the Secretary before the recording begins.
- The Power of Names: Including specific names and individual contributions in the minutes transforms a "boring" administrative task into a tool for meaningful engagement and validation.
- Projecting the Future: By correctly encapsulating history, the Secretary provides the data needed to project future cultural variations and changes.
Reflection Question:
How would the engagement in your organization change if the "boring" minutes specifically celebrated the unique strengths each member brought to the table?
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Creators and Guests
Host
Brian Mattocks
Host and Founder of A Mason's Work - a podcast designed to help you use symbolism to grow. He's been working in the craft for over a decade and served as WM, trustee, and sat in every appointed chair in a lodge - at least once :D
