A great idea can be the first step in the process of creating something wonderful. Bringing the right people together adds power to the idea. Having roles and responsibilities to guide the work can turn possibility into reality.
If you want your idea to grow, be deliberate about who you invite to join your team. Think about what you are trying to achieve and what it might take to get there. Consider who has the required skills, resources, creativity and connections. Make a list. Know why you are inviting people and what you want from them. Be prepared for ideas, suggestions and leadership you may not have anticipated.
Write down the role and responsibilities you want each person to claim. Share your list with potential team members as you invite their participation. This lets people know what you are looking for, what you want them to do, what they can expect, and how they can best contribute. This can also establish norms for the group and help make sure you and your team don’t get overwhelmed or sidetracked.
When inviting people to work with you be prepared for them to suggest a role – or to take on a responsibility – you may not have imagined. That can be a good thing and it can moderate the feeling that you are “boxing people in” with roles and responsibilities. You want people to bring their best game, to know you have thought through a meaningful role for them to play, and to experience a structure that supports their highest level of participation.
Think about it this way: You bring the right people together. They are busy turning your idea upside down, creating solutions, envisioning partnerships, and identifying resources and connections they can contribute. They spend hours thinking through the ins-and-outs of your idea and have an initial blue-print for how to proceed. At the end of the process, they learn that their thoughts are appreciated as input, but someone else (not in the room!) will decide how to roll out the idea. If your group members were participating with the understanding that you wanted their best thinking they may just feel they “wasted their time.”
Talented, creative and connected people can help birth or grow an idea and expand its potential. The type of people you bring together – along with defined roles and responsibilities – will define how, when, and if the idea takes root.
Copyright 2018 – Mel and Pearl Shaw
Mel and Pearl Shaw believe in roles and responsibilities – they can help make fundraising (and life!) easier. Learn more at www.saadandshaw.com.
