BizWorks Studio

Sometimes, volunteering is just a setup for miracles. The heart-felt connections we make and the sponteneity that can arise seem to suspend the ordinary order of things.

Recently, I read a story that highlighted the distinctions between helping and serving. In helping, something is wrong – something that one party can provide but the other cannot. There’s a feeling of “better than.”

In serving, we approach each other as equals. Both parties benefit, often in ways neither images. In serving, there is no desired result – we only want to connect in a field of gratitude. This writer stated that the best word to describe service is gratitude.

When we’re experiencing true service, we feel grateful just for being there. I think that’s how we feel about miracles – we don’t know exactly what is  happening or how it’s happening, we’re just grateful that it is happening and grateful to be a part of it.

Volunteering opens a pathway to miracles in part because it removes a lot of superficial motives. Some volunteers enjoy helping – some enjoy fixing – that’s ok. There’s plenty of helping and fixing that need doing.

But the gold is really meeting in the field of gratitude where miracles happen.

If you want a job done right, you have to pay for it.

This silly idea demeans both work and worker, particularly when it comes to volunteers. You can’t trust volunteers because they aren’t being paid, or so the story goes. Let’s take a closer look.

Mothers typically don’t receive direct financial compensation for their work as mothers. Do we trust them with our children?

Many volunteers maintain paying jobs. Do they suddenly become untrustworthy when they leave their place of employment? That includes you by the way.

In crisis, before organization-funded relief efforts arrive, who deals with the nastiest, most chaotic response? When the car goes over the guardrail or a tornado strikes, who insists on waiting for paid works to take action?

In governing nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations, who sits on boards and committees?

Do we ask if a song-writer or painter was paid for her work before we enjoy it?

If you want important work done, perhaps it would be better to turn to a volunteer.

We also know that money is not a top-ten motivator for doing good work – studies over the years are clear and consistent on this point.

So, what’s up with this distrust of volunteers?

For one thing, volunteers do not suffer bad management gladly – they expose it. When volunteers are not supported to succeed, they act poorly or disappear.

Even though money doesn’t motivate good work, it may keep workers showing up every day. Volunteers are under no such constraint. Because they’re much more difficult to threaten, volunteers are less subject to control. Volunteers must be led.

Here’s how I propose to restate the tired maxim: Great leaders deserve volunteers; all others please pay cash.

Does it feel like there’s less and less money circulating around you? Around your business? Around your organization?

Does it feel like all the money is being hoovered up? That the places you’re used to finding money are looking pretty dry?

Does it feel like people who are usually generous are tightening up? Like people who usually pay on time aren’t? Like people who usually have money, don’t.

Does it feel like the stories about why-we-can’t are filling the airwaves? That we’ve heard these stories too many times? That they’re seeming a little tired?

Stop it.

We don’t have to limit ourselves to money – let’s look at real resources – time, energy, knowledge, caring, stuff. How can you help someone today? What extra stuff do you have sitting around idle that can be put to work today? What can you give today? What can you create today?

What value can you bring today?

If it’s true that the shape of money in our society is shifting, then maybe it’s time we get used to moving goods and services in a new way. Or ways.

How about giving? How about sharing? How about exchanging? How about creating something entirely new? How about lending a helping hand? How about just being there for a fellow human in crisis?

When we look at possibilities, at resources laying around idle, at the beauty and love we swim in, we’re less likely to pay attention to what does not appear.

When we’re being useful, in action, looking out for opportunities to create and to help, we’re uplifted.

Let’s stop dwelling in scarcity mentality. Let’s get a life!

Here’s my personal recipe for alphabet soup:

Compine HR, CI, OD, and CM in a pot that’s strong, wise, fun, and irreverant. Stir for twenty years – more or less – and serve hot!

Ingrediants:

HR stands for people – not human resources. We want to work with real people, organic and whole – not numbers, heads, or bodies. Get em fresh and treat em gently!

CI stands for get it right the first time – and keep working till you do. Then do it again. That’s continuous improvement.

OD stands for organization development – not business. An organization is composed of humans and resources, processes and systems – all working together – cooperating you might say – to accomplish their purpose.

CM stands for change management. Stir gently. Do not bruise the humans or the organization. Exercise care. Focus on what’s important. Help everyone understand – before change happens.

This kind of soup can be very powerful – you don’t need much.

Please feel free to share this recipe, try it yourself, or ask for a demonstration!

“Organization” is about people and work; “business” is about money and, well, busy-ness. At least that’s how it shows up for me.

My commitment is to people and work. I shutter every time a decision is made based on money without regard to people. And I’m forever whining about the work – can we please just do the work!?

It seems to me people have great potential. It also seems there’s plenty of valuable work waiting to be done. My part is to help people work together better.

I don’t know why this distinction whapped me between the eyes today, or why it seems so important to let it fly. But it does feel good to be clear on this point. It helps me understand both the successes and not-successes I’ve experienced. I understand people don’t always see things the same way I do. Maybe this will help bring the differences to light!