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What is Your Delta Kappa Gamma

Sensitivity IQ: Are You a Sensitive

DKG Member?

By Beverley H. Johns, Patricia Kubistal, and Kammie Richter

The pandemic with its many tentacles has both touched and changed us and those
around us. As members of Delta Kappa Gamma, we are charged with being the best
leaders that we can be, regardless of the occasion or the circumstance. Although
many of us appear to have a tough exterior, situations may have caused internal
stress relating to health, finance, and relationships. Being cognizant of what our
colleagues are going through means we need to support and involve them, not
criticize their efforts. Being sensitive with members is called for in all situations
but is particularly relevant as we continue to evolve through the pandemic.

Vignette 1

A new membership chair is working to strengthen her chapter. With
membership approval, she invited several new members who were inducted.
She is feeling good about herself and her accomplishment. She finds out that
another member who has not done any recruitment made comments about her
to others, saying that she could have tried harder to have even more members.
Make a conscious effort to speak only that which supports and builds up others.
Think of the positive power of saying, “Great! You recruited five new members.
I will help you, and together we can locate even more key women educators.”

Key Women Educators’ Takeaway
As a sensitive DKG member, we should compliment others on their
efforts to improve the Society. If there is ever a question about something
that happened, it should be managed with care and thought for the member’s
feelings. Supportive comments would be the best choice of words to utter.

Vignette 2

Imagine the excitement when an energetic member is elected to a state
organization office in Delta Kappa Gamma. The member has reviewed her
job description and is ready to jump into her work. She posts a message on
her Facebook page that she will be looking for a site for a meeting in the next
year and asks for location ideas. Three members respond with suggestions,
and one of them adds a public comment that the newly elected member should
not have posted the request without approval from the executive board.
The energetic member feels hurt, as she was eagerly working to attain
positive feedback while jumping into the responsibilities of her office. Just
one comment has squelched her enthusiasm and caused her embarrassment.

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