The Value of a Probie I recently had the opportunity to listen to a gentleman lecture on his ideology about probies and he struck me with his way of thinking. He stated that a probie “has no value until he proves himself to the club”. I was taken back by his comment and had no understanding of his logic surrounding this thought. I look at a probie as a very valuable piece of this well-oiled machine we have. A probie is a member of the club. He is one who has been vetted through an extensive hang around program, voted on by eligible members and accepted into the club on a probationary status. Just like a corporation, there is a hierarchy within the club and the probie has his place within that ranks. This alone gives him value. The game of chess is strategic game used with game pieces that have varying abilities on the board. In comparison, probies would be similar to pawns in the game of chess. Too often people fail to realize that used effectively, a pawn can create a checkmate. Additionally, if you don’t know or recognize the value of your probie, than your leadership ability is definitely in question. A probie brings much more to the table than some care to admit. Members sometimes get wrapped up in the deference of the club and believe that because a probie sits in the basement mailroom, he can’t be as valuable as someone on the upper levels. The idea that he has no value until he “proves himself to the club” is a clear indication that the hang around period they instituted either cease to exist or was so poor in value that it was essentially ineffective. Why accept someone into the ranks who you perceive to “have no value” behooves me to no end. Essentially, in about a year’s time this probie will earn the right to call him brother, but right now he “has no value until he proves himself”. A probie will have plenty of opportunity to prove himself to the club. The life of a probie is deeply rooted in proving one’s self over and over, evolution after evolution. That is understandable. But I was still perplexed about “having no value”. Personally, I can’t see accepting someone who I can’t see the value of. As a matter of fact, I’m voting yes to them because they do have value. I challenge each of you to look at your probies and see the value in them all. They are there for a reason. To say they have no value is a tragedy in itself and it diminishes the credibility of your selection process. A probie doesn’t carry the weight of a president, but he does carry the weight of someone in a probationary status and that should be good enough until the next evolution.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 14:14:09 +0000
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