Commish HQ: Are Two Commissioners Better Than One?

Every once and a while the topic of two commissioners, or co-commissioners running a league comes across my radar. I will readily offer that I personally would never want that situation for myself for a league that I start. I think having two commissioners can cause more issues than what the setup is intended to solve. However, it is an option that you as a commissioner might consider. I believe if you find something that works personally for you, go for it.

I’m going to address the pros and cons of having a co-commissioner - specifically if you’re thinking about starting your very own league. I’m not going to address someone taking over one that’s already been established, which is often the case for an office league. There’s a difference between taking over a league and creating one yourself. I’ll expand on that a little later.

In case of Emergency

In some leagues, the co-commissioner will serve specifically as a backup, just in case the commissioner becomes unavailable. They don’t serve a role until needed.

This is a different scenario than what I’m talking about when discussing co-managing a league. I wanted to mention it because it’s an option that some might not consider when pondering tandem commissioning. I, however, am focusing on when another person actively participates in running a league with someone else.

To Co-commish …

The main reason some folks favor having co-commissioners is that they feel it establishes a system of checks and balances. They find it favorable that there’s someone to watch the watcher. Because bad commissioners give the rest of us a bad name, some people love the idea of this type of oversight. They believe this can ensure that one person doesn’t overstep, like for example, using their authority to indiscriminately change the rules during the season. One commissioner would have to consult the other before they make the move.

… or not to co-commish

I’m going to attempt to play devil’s advocate. If you ever think about having someone run a league with you, I suggest you consider coming up with answers for the following questions:

1) How will you pick your co-commissioner? Will you simply choose someone yourself?

If you choose your best friend, for example, how will the league know they can trust them to really keep you in check? Would such a move really make the league feel better when the whole idea is to have someone objectively stand watch and keep you honest?

The same questions can be asked about relatives. Would they be excluded from being a co-commissioner? We already mentioned friends, but what about lovers, people a commissioner might be romantically involved with?

2) If you choose your partner, does the league vote on your choice?

What is that vote based on? What’s the criteria? What happens if the league doesn’t vote for your candidate of choice? What happens then, what’s the next step?

3) In your co-commissioner system, are there any decisions you can make without checking in with “The Co” first? Which specific areas will one commissioner have autonomy over the other, if any?

5) What happens if the two co-commissioners have a conflict that negatively affects them running the league? How will the rules address this?

Say for example, one commissioner gets mad at the other because the other commissioner just broke up with their sister? Human nature kicks in, and then folks start acting out, then what?

Too Many Cooks?

Remember when I said earlier, having co-commissioners can cause more issues than what the setup is intended to solve? Things can get complicated pretty quickly. I think you have to put up many more safeguards having two people as commissioners, versus having one person do it. The above questions are geared to get you to think about the big picture.

Ask yourself how much time and energy do you want to expend creating a structure to support two people, when you can just do the job yourself and move freely, so to speak, without all the extra maneuverings. You have to decide if it’s worth it. For some it just might be.

Goin’ Han Solo

I already said I don’t believe in having a co-commissioner, specifically in a league that one may start on their own. If you start your own league, you have a personal interest in making sure the league runs smoothly. It’s your league, you started it. No one should have a greater vested interest than you, to do the things to make sure it’s successful.

If someone, who is a fan of co-commissioning wants to know what kind of checks and balances I have set up for my own league, my answer is simple: Me. Why would I do anything to destroy my league? I want my league to last forever. I don’t endeavor to run the league that I started into the ground!  Why would I do that?

It doesn’t make sense for - us good commissioners - to do anything to sabotage our own league. Those of us who mean well, would not do something underhanded just to win. If we do, and everyone gets pissed off and leaves, then guess what? I don’t - we don’t, have a league. This is the best system of keeping me - in check. I personally don’t need someone to make sure I do the right thing. I have what’s best for the league foremost in my mind.

Does this make sense?

Why are you starting a league in the first place? So that after putting in all the time finding people, coming up with the rules, trying to get people to pay their money on time and such, you can then proceed to personally screw it up? Of course not.

If you can’t trust yourself to do the right thing, that’s an issue. Then maybe you shouldn’t start a league. If others can’t trust you to do the right thing, from the very beginning, before you even have time to establish a track record? That’s their issue. They can go jump in a lake.

The Jump Off

It’s been my experience that you’ll find shady commissioners and the folks who try to collude together, mostly in office leagues, or leagues where the personal ties between league mates aren’t as strong or intimate. In other words, you’re less likely to find them in family (and friends, if the friends are close) leagues. These leagues have their own inherent issues, but having a commissioner willing to risk sabotaging their own league, one that they started, usually isn’t one of them.

The notion of adding extra “help” might not be as helpful as you think in the greater scheme of things. If you ever plan on entertaining the whole co-commissioner setup, you need to make sure you have all this sorted out in your mind first before you take that leap.

Send your questions to The Commish: thecommishshow@outlook.com