Discussion: Will This Discourage Volunteers or Not?
There is an event on at the branch today which I was asked to organize. This is an annual event. I didn’t particularly want to organize it but the President asked and when he asks, it means he needs the help, so I agreed.
Because this is an annual event, a silent auction, I looked at past years and saw some weaknesses in how it had been organized in the past. I then worked toward setting it up to try to overcome those weaknesses.
I formed a team of people who worked with me on deciding the process which included staying away from putting any product out until Thursday of this week. This avoided other events taking place and the need to handle the items repeatedly.
We also decided to use a numbering system to track the products through the auction and afterwards for payment. For that I needed to redesign the bidding sheets.
Sounds pretty straightforward eh?
Source
Two individuals over the last few days decided to do things their way with zero contact with me or members of the team. Hours has been spent cleaning up their mess. They may have been well intentioned and thought they were helping but help is not help when it creates more work.
I’m furious about this but, well aware that confronting them with what they have done will generate a martyr response rather than a realization there was a better way to do what they have done.
This is an ongoing issue not just with this event but other things. People failing to respect the work of the person charged with the responsibility and doing as they wish.
I gave this some thought and drafted this up:
HELPING? or INTERFERING?
A person who helps:
• Offers their assistance to the event organizer
• Offers ideas to the event organizer
• Works cooperatively to make the event a success
• Acts within the agreed upon ideas to make the event happen
• Is always appreciated and valuedA person who interferes:
• Doesn’t work with the event organizer
• Doesn’t communicate with the event organizer
• Goes ahead doing what they want
• Causes additional work and frustration for the event organizer and others
• Doesn’t contribute in a positive manner to the success of the event
• Any appreciation for their intentions becomes lost in the frustration of cleaning up the mess created by their disregard of others.Which would you rather be?
I sent this to some executive with a recommendation that it be posted some where conspicuous for all to see in the hope it might just get through to some of the guilty.
I felt this would help to get the point across without pointing fingers.
I was surprised to get a response back indicating a fear of a backlash that would discourage volunteers.
So, I’m throwing it out here.
Will a notice like that discourage volunteers or will the continued interference discourage volunteer organizers?
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I personally think it is fine but I have also been told I can be a bit blunt at times
Now from feedback I have got over the years and not that I agree with it ....
The capitals in the heading could be seen Yo be confrontational
And it may go down better with just that first portion and skip the interferening section as that has a lot of negatives don’t etc
Now as I said I like it as is and feel if You took the advice I have put above it would dilute the whole message and those that interfere would feel they bare fine with what there doing
You have drafted well explained points. This kind of situation is very sensitive. Just to avoid any kind of backlash, talk with them. Reason along and make them reason with your intentions. I think you are going to be fine.
@seyiodus.
Interesting and well thought out perspective, as an INTJ on the Myers-Briggs test I would say make a manual or flyer and hand it to them so they can sit and think of how they just wasted a lot of time. If their egos can not handle a chain of command that is for the benefit of others I would wonder where their true intentions lay.....thought provoking post actually
Hmm, All ways will be fine in as much as the main message is being pass to them and they can see what they have been doing.
*playing curating catch-up @ 3:20 in the morning O.o
I think you hit the nail on the head about "help". Seeing that time is worth more than its' weight in gold imho....you and others had to spend valuable time cleaning up "well intentioned" volunteers who undermined your authority seeing that the time could have been spent in better ways. It seems that they are the ones forcing a manual to be crafted if they can not follow simple rules that are to help others. just my two pesos
Wording here is key. I think backlash and offensive will be the immediate response. Suggestion of dos and don’ts as a title maybe more welcomed while also achieving the desired behavior out of your volunteers. Under don’t change the wording to read, don’t come up with brilliant ideas without sharing with the group. We work stronger together. Don’t act alone. There are rules in place to keep everyone safe always inform the group lead before pursuing any project. So on and so forth.
@crimsonclad, is rather amazing at this actually and I would reach out to her for suggestions.
Teem work makes the steem dreem work, and it also works on other teams ;)
You just need to sit with them and talk to your people. Base on my experience, I need to know first their side why they took actions without consulting me. I also wanted to ask them what they think. Maybe they wanted to be part of the delegation. Knowing their intention matters a lot.
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