I like to say, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” I don’t know where I first heard that statement, but I believe it is 100 % true. I have been part of great teams and teams that just never clicked. Being part of a great team is one of the most fulfilling experiences anyone can be part of.
I also believe every company, charity, club, church, etc. has a “dream” too. Most of the time it’s tied to their mission/vision statement. Our dream is all about encouraging and empowering every kid fighting cancer to Never Ever Give Up (NEGU). To make our dream a reality, it takes tons of people. These people include thousands of amazing volunteers, an incredible group of volunteer leaders, a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors and our small but mighty staff. They all make up a great team.
I was recently asked how I go about empowering volunteers to take on leadership roles, and how I hire staff. I’m sure there are many thoughts around this topic but these are the 5 key things I look for…
- Character! This is all about trust, respect and integrity. While this can be hard to measure, I use interviews and references as a way to help gain insight into the character of a person. You can also use background checks and other searches to learn key things about people and the choices they make.
- Competency! This is all about learning if the person truly has the skills to do the job/task. While education and experiences are a starting point, I love using a series of interview questions that help me gauge the competency of a potential leader.
- Capacity! This is all about learning how many plates a person can spin successfully. Do you need someone that spins one plate or many? This is such a key area to investigate as it can lead to great fulfillment or frustration with a volunteer or employee.
- Coachability! This is all about learning if the person is open to coaching, receiving input and embracing new ideas. I love working with volunteers and staff members who are willing to learn.
- Chemistry! This is all about seeing how the person will fit with the organizational culture and other team members. While you can train people to develop greater skills, you can’t teach “chemistry.” I encourage you to never compromise on chemistry. Remember, it’s always easier to put someone in a role than take them out.
I hope these 5 keys help you as you develop your team(s) and accomplish your dreams. If you ever want to connect personally about any of my JoyDrops. please always feel free to email me aterikrees@jessie.org
NEGU,
