Mr. Ourway vs Mr. Myway

Contributed by Rtr Harnniann

This article is written as a sequel to my previous writing titled “Sorry, I can’t make it…”

Recently our club had organized a few fellowship outings and projects of smaller scale. The turn out for these events was not satisfactory. It was observed that those who attended these events were the same small group of members. In another word, our club is burning out the active members rapidly; it is just a matter of time before these active members are exhausted and they themselves do not feel like taking part in any activity anymore.

You must agree with me that any organization must have its core group in order to continue its survival. This core group (which often is the minority) forms the backbone of the organization. It masterminds, plans and executes the organization’s goals and ensures that this organization grows healthily.

Having said the above, I must place a caveat at this juncture. A healthy organization can never solely rely on its core group, otherwise why bother to recruit and retain the rest? Core group, no matter how strong and committed it is perceived, will eventually feel the fatigue and lose the force it once possessed. To make it short, uncontrolled draining of core group’s energy is suicidal. It will lead to the organization’s self destruction.

Now apply the above to our present situation.

When a crowd group together, it must be for a reason. When 10 to 15 young adults sit together in a 20 by 30 meeting room twice a month, it definitely has a reason. I call this reason, a “common goal”. Surely this group of people, as a whole, want to achieve something, if not there is no reason for such frequent meetings. A step further, looking beyond this group of people, you have individuals. Each individual is unique and has its own reason for being there in the meeting. I call it, “individual goal”. No two of these individual goals are exactly identical.

The ability to analyze, identify and categorize what these Common Goal and Individual Goals are is a skill which all good leaders must learn and acquire. Very fortunately, our club is the best place to sharpen this skill.

When tasked with organizing a project, there are a million ways to go about it. No two organizers will have same methods. However, for demonstration purposes, I shall create two fictional organizers and study the ways they handle things.

Mr. Myway and Mr. Ourway are asked to carry out a project called, “Smile, Danny!” The objective of the project is to bring wheelchair bound Danny to theme park and have fun there.

Mr. Myway started by announcing to the members about the date and venue of the project during club meetings. “Who is interested please let me know” he said.

Mr. Ourway did exactly that too, but additionally after the meetings, he handed a piece of A4 size paper to everyone. In the centre of the A4 size paper is a picture of Danny and under the picture there is a simple sentence, “I’d love to see the rollercoaster”. The date and venue of the project were printed on that paper to remind the members.

Instead of waiting till the next meeting to headcount the interested members (which was what Mr. Myway did), Mr. Ourway sent emails and published a short write-up regarding the project on the club’s blog to remind and urge members to take part in this meaningful project. He even called up a few to excite them about the project.

The next meeting came. Mr. Myway announced the project again and passed around an empty list and asked those interested to fill in their names. Mr. Ourway prepared an empty list too but he did not circulate it. He held it and walked around the members and personally asked them whether they were interested and free to take part in the project. When one member replied yes, he will say with a smile, “Great! Thanks a lot. I am sure all of us will have fun at the theme park.” When member said no, he will say, “It’s ok. But I will not delete you as a potential volunteer, should circumstances change you are welcome to join us as I believe we shall have a great time there.”

Mr. Myway’s list has only 2 names, i.e. his and his great buddy named Mr. Nothing-better-to-do. Mr. Myway is disappointed with the response of the members. “We are adults. We should not treat each other like kids and have to be constantly reminded, right?” Mr. Myway argued.

Guess what? Mr. Ourway’s list has more than 2 names and I am sure you know how to finish the story.

The point I want to make is: leadership is not only about chairing a meeting, making impressive speeches, attending functions etc. It also requires one to have the charisma and skill to motivate the team and create excitement and an atmosphere conducive to maximum participation or contribution by the team. An all-rounded leader must necessarily have that ability.

So, organizers of our club’s activities, please do not get disillusioned or upset when you feel your teammates are not cooperative or playing their role. Humans are not robots which you can dictate their movements with a remote control. Humans are much more complicated.

In this club, by taking part in various activities, especially in the capacity of an organizer, you subject yourself to torment and heartache, but the intangible reward is: Your journey to become a better leader is shortened and the destination, closer.