Question:
I have read the "Campaign Statements" for the AMA Presidential
hopefuls. I'm looking at them sort of like resumes, like someone
applying for a job, and, frankly, I'm appalled at the level of the
writing, particularly the incumbent's. It's not so much that I expect
an AMA president to be a perfect writer, but they are executives, and
they should be able to find people to proofread their writing, and to
organize and focus it if necessary. To put out something this
important filled with typos and grammatical errors would seem to
disqualify them from a job in which a very important requirement is
the ability to influence important people.
here's what I've
accomplished, here's why I'm qualified for an executive position, and
here's my vision 1, 2, 3, for the organization. Short and sweet, and
exactly what I'd expect to see in an executive's resume.
So, does writing ability matter? I think so. It not only reflects
organization, attention to detail, logical thought and planning, but
it's a skill that an executive needs since so much of influencing
people is done through writing.
Answer:
-Too many nitwits had at least the sense to have their resume made 'pretty'
by resume specialists and subsequently landed positions for which they are
woefully unqualified.
Happens all the time in business, particularly to companies which do not
have the sense themselves to realize that an engineer's resume might indeed
look as if it had not been written by someone who majored in journalism.
Hire based on the track record of the candidates. 'We' know all the
candidates.
-the ability to write may well be important, however such aforementioned
skill is definitely subordinate to the ability to get the mission accomplished
and acquire the objective. Bureaucrats do spend a lot of time at their desks
deciding just where the dangling participles should not dangle and determining
who will receive their next, "To Whom it may Concern."
Regardless of how well someone uses the "Cut and Paste", the delete button, and
can rewrite their thoughts, I prefer the Field Commander that takes to the
field and then displays a VICTORY flag.
