Leading Successful Volunteer Projects Stacy Merrill Surla [email_address] ASIST Annual Meeting November 14, 2004

Introduction

Introduction Principles of Leadership Duties/Practices Case Study Tools Infrastructure Medicine bag

Principles of Leadership

Duties/Practices

Case Study

Tools

Infrastructure

Medicine bag

What makes a good leader? Why run volunteer projects? What problems are faced in volunteer projects? What works? Ideas about leadership

What makes a good leader?

Why run volunteer projects?

What problems are faced in volunteer projects?

What works?

What is a leader? Leader = Director Boss Person in charge Responsible party Owner Accountable Principles

Leader =

Director

Boss

Person in charge

Responsible party

Owner

Accountable

What is a leader? Leader = Master Principles

Leader = Master

What is a leader? Leader ≠ Master Principles

Leader ≠ Master

What is a leader? Leader ≠ Master Leader = Servant Principles

Leader ≠ Master

Leader = Servant

What is a leader? Leader ≠ Master Leader = Servant Principles

Leader ≠ Master

Leader = Servant

What is leadership ? Leadership = Ownership? Principles

Leadership = Ownership?

What is leadership ? Leadership = Ownership? Leadership = Giving it away Principles

Leadership = Ownership?

Leadership = Giving it away

Why volunteer projects? Principles

Why volunteer projects? Volunteers = Save money Provide ready labor Give at least as much as they get Principles

Volunteers =

Save money

Provide ready labor

Give at least as much as they get

Why volunteer projects? Volunteers = $ Principles

Volunteers = $

Why volunteer projects? Volunteers ≠ $ Principles

Volunteers ≠ $

Why volunteer projects? Volunteers Get > Give Principles

Volunteers Get > Give

Staying on track Principles

Staying on track Keep your eye on the goal Principles

Keep your eye on the goal

Staying on track Keep your eye on the goal Remember: the goal will change Principles

Keep your eye on the goal

Remember: the goal will change

Duties and Practices

Not motivational aphorisms (hopefully) Duties/Practices

Ask constantly Look for people who can give in their areas of expertise Provide real opportunities for people to contribute Invite Duties/Practices

Ask constantly

Look for people who can give in their areas of expertise

Provide real opportunities for people to contribute

Give ownership and control to others Trust that things will work out (probably) Trust Duties/Practices

Give ownership and control to others

Trust that things will work out (probably)

Just muster the nerve to try Be bold Duties/Practices Our doubts are traitors, And make us lose the good we oft might win By fearing to attempt. - Measure for Measure

Just muster the nerve to try

You can do it with what you’ve got You can do it from whatever position you’re in Lead from your strengths Duties/Practices

You can do it with what you’ve got

You can do it from whatever position you’re in

Be the team’s muse of communication Set up workable means for communicating Don’t stop communicating Communicate Duties/Practices “ The time to communicate is… Now!” - Leo Surla

Be the team’s muse of communication

Set up workable means for communicating

Don’t stop communicating

Champagne in the fridge at all times Celebrate victory Duties/Practices

Champagne in the fridge at all times

Case Study

ASIST website redesign Scene 1: Executive director (ED) approaches member X about forming a group to plan an ASIST website redesign. ED suggests locals they both know, and promises the support of the board. X thinks the project can be done. X agrees. Case Study

Scene 1: Executive director (ED) approaches member X about forming a group to plan an ASIST website redesign. ED suggests locals they both know, and promises the support of the board. X thinks the project can be done.

X agrees.

ASIST website redesign What have we got? Achievable goal Invitation Giving ownership away Case Study Note: The leader in Scene 1 is the Executive Director

What have we got?

Achievable goal

Invitation

Giving ownership away

ASIST website redesign Scene 2: X invites members to meet and discuss. A central place is chosen with access to coffee, books, and snacks. Group members meet regularly to brainstorm, offer expertise, practice new and existing skills, and socialize. Some are more active than others. Timelines, tasks, and limits are set. Activities are summarized in memoranda. Society gives free event registration. Case Study

Scene 2: X invites members to meet and discuss. A central place is chosen with access to coffee, books, and snacks. Group members meet regularly to brainstorm, offer expertise, practice new and existing skills, and socialize. Some are more active than others. Timelines, tasks, and limits are set. Activities are summarized in memoranda. Society gives free event registration.

ASIST website redesign What do we have? Infrastructure Volunteers get more than they put in Volunteers know more than leader Leader stays on top of details Work is voluntary – no punishments Leader constantly invites Leader gives tasks away Appreciation, plus valuable perks Case Study

What do we have?

Infrastructure

Volunteers get more than they put in

Volunteers know more than leader

Leader stays on top of details

Work is voluntary – no punishments

Leader constantly invites

Leader gives tasks away

Appreciation, plus valuable perks

ASIST website redesign Scene 3: The project wraps up, but stalls somewhat. Data collection, analysis, and brainstorming are done, but the 40-page report is not getting written. Meanwhile, X and volunteer Y manage to brief the Board on findings and recommendations. A memo follows and the project is miraculously complete. Board hires a contractor as suggested, and carries the work forward. Appreciation is expressed. Case Study

Scene 3: The project wraps up, but stalls somewhat. Data collection, analysis, and brainstorming are done, but the 40-page report is not getting written. Meanwhile, X and volunteer Y manage to brief the Board on findings and recommendations. A memo follows and the project is miraculously complete. Board hires a contractor as suggested, and carries the work forward. Appreciation is expressed.

ASIST website redesign What happened? The goal was achieved The goal looked different than the team thought it would The team gave the project away Case Study

What happened?

The goal was achieved

The goal looked different than the team thought it would

The team gave the project away

Tools

Infrastructure Plans Schedules Regular communication Measures of progress Specific tasks Means for collaboration Tools

Plans

Schedules

Regular communication

Measures of progress

Specific tasks

Means for collaboration

Medicine bag Stickies Wikis Café meetings E-mail Instant messaging Champagne Chocolate Perks & Honors Tools

Stickies

Wikis

Café meetings

E-mail

Instant messaging

Champagne

Chocolate

Perks & Honors

Summary

Summary Leader = Servant

Leader = Servant

Stacy Surla [email_address]