John Fullerton responded with:
>Maybe if the volunteerism incorporated learning, community building,
> and offered - in truth - benefit to the participants it would provide
> some of the "motivation" that we see in "The Fifth Discipline"
I was wondering why you don't believe volunteerism implies learning
as well? People learn whether or not they want to continue with the
effort, they soon learn how to perform, what the groundrules are, who
their partners are and maybe a little about their customer, and how to
do a better job next time. In my story about coaching the basketball
camp, I learned how to deal with each coach as an individual and they,
the younger campers.
John Woods wrote:
>If leaders within organizations realize that their best interest is
> directly tied to their looking out for others, and volunteerism helps
> bring that home, then I'm all for using that idea. But I would suggest
> using it only as a bridge to a more self-aware understanding that "we're
> all in this together." I think that such an understanding is at the heart
> of what being a leader is all about. Leadership helps imbue the
> environment with the understanding that by looking out for others, I
> look out for myself. Every great leader has created such an
> environment, and it is at the heart of the systems approach to
> organizations and every enlightened model of organizations and their
> behavior.>
I agree. It is quite apparent that voluteerism is a phrase that does not
feel right in a business setting where control and daily management
have been the course of action. But what you are getting at
is the leadership approach to people as though they are voluteers.
After all, they could have called in sick instead of coming to work,
they could take long breaks and stand around talking, or they could go
out on strike (ouch). Yes they are there for money and a lot more. We
need an approach to bring out personal mastery side of their
enthusiasm.
As a couple of examples, we just had a wind storm come through
Seattle with 75 mph gusts. Power company crews were stationed
throughout the region to respond to power outages. The crews felt
compelled to being there and performing under extreme conditions.
We also received crews from Vancouver Canada to help with the
situation. A volunteer-like action? What about hospital workers
(nurses, therapists,etc.) who don't
make much money yet get personal satisfaction from their work? Why?
They are involved in life and death situations with extremely high
stress. Often dealing with personal health risks. What motivates these
people (I was one)?.
And lastly,
Marcia Harrington replied with:
> I would love to see the organization characterized as a 'lava lamp'...>
What can I say but, ...FAR OUT!
Have fun all.
** HAPPY HOLIDAYS **
-- David Reed (206)655-3245 M/S 11-40 Internet: dpr9989@kgv1.bems.boeing.com