Anyone who has ever run a long-distance race knows that its completion is much determined on the proper planning: a structured training regimen, the proper running shoes, a good warm-up, pacing yourself, etc. Going into a race with no preparation is like walking into the rain with no coat or umbrella. Not only do you risk physical harm to yourself, but you will most likely end up turning around and walking right back inside. That being said, anyone who has ever attempted to run long-distance knows that good preparation is only one piece of the puzzle. Regardless of how well you train and plan, there will inevitably come a time during a run where the ability to continue is entirely dependent on mental motivation. All too often runners who may plan brilliantly will not succeed at reaching their goal because they have neglected to connect psychologically to what they are accomplishing physically.
Being a service leader is in many ways similar to completing a long-distance race. Preparation and proper planning are key, of course. One can’t usually be an effective volunteer without a project or task in front of them, and as Hands On members our role is to provide this to those who have a desire to serve. We identify a civic need, coordinate with an agency, arrange for needed tasks to be completed, and facilitate the execution of the project. It is, in the ideal situation, a streamlined process with a positive outcome. Everyone is warmed-up, the track is clear and dry, and all of the shoelaces are tied. However, anyone who has ever been a volunteer leader knows all too well that the “perfect projects” are few and far between. Try as we may, no one can save the world in a day, and inevitable challenges will always arise. It then becomes the role of the service leader to help volunteers find their own mental motivation to continue doing the work in front of them. One can plan for the perfect execution of a mural painting project at an elementary school, but if a volunteer doesn’t understand why they are putting this picture on the wall, and how they are helping to improve their community, chances are they won’t be too thrilled to continue after three hours in a humid school hallway when they can’t seem to mix the perfect shade of turquoise. Nor are the chances great that they will want to come back and serve again in the future. If the physical execution of a service project is perfect, but the mental motivation behind it fails to materialize, have we as service leaders really done our job?
This week marks the end of my fourth month at Jersey Cares. I don’t mean to compare my time here thus far to a marathon, as it has actually flown by quite quickly, but I’ve found my experiences and challenges as a service leader here have in many ways paralleled my own challenges as a runner. My skills in the physical planning and execution of events and projects have developed at a very rapid rate. Before working at Jersey Cares, the idea of giving paint brushes to 80 TD Bank interns to take to the walls of a shelter would have made me hyperventilate. Figuring out how to organize the collection and distribution of over 40,000 donated coats sounded daunting. However, thanks to some very quick hands-on experience, and a developed, deep appreciation for the perfect spread-sheet, I can see these things as manageable. Much like in running, a structured plan to accomplish a goal is indispensable, and it is something I am learning more about each day. On the other hand, challenges still remain, and I think always will, in how one can take a role as a service leader one step beyond just the planning of volunteer projects. How do we help volunteers connect psychologically to their physical work, so that they will understand their contribution and continue to do meaningful work in their communities, even when they pull a muscle, get a shin splint, or even just get bored. Just as a coach can’t force a runner to be motivated, service leaders can’t force volunteers to connect to their work, but it is our job to try as best we know how.
Tomorrow, my colleagues at Jersey Cares will be working with a large group of volunteers to complete a service project at the Boys and Girls Club of Jersey City. They will, in essence, be running a marathon. While I will be unable to join them, I hope that as they are turning the corner at the end of the day they will be highly successful at helping each volunteer at the project find that voice of motivation to tell them to continue engaging in the important work they are doing, rain or shine, so that we can all successfully cross the finish line.
L. Mallory Lane
Service Events Manager, Jersey Cares
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