From Consumer to Custodian
It is raining. Onions are being chopped. Eskies full of drinks need to be loaded and unloaded. Menus and record sheets need printing. All after travelling all week for work.
An early morning before the sun breaks, and a few other kindly volunteers help to set up the BBQ stand ready for punters to come through. There are a few laughs, everyone pitches in. Most things work, a work around is found for the things that don't. And, now the fundraising can begin....
This is the experience many would have experienced for the local scout group, netball team, or community centre. BBQs, raffles, and sideshows are used to raise a few bucks for much needed equipment, a trip to the national champs, or in our case, a burnt down clubhouse.
Last weekend I contributed to the latest in a string of fundraisers for my local golf club. As a newish member to the club, getting involved in committees and volunteering for initiatives has been a great way to meet people and give back.
But, why do we do it? As a paying punter why would anyone donate time, money, and effort back to the entity we consume from? What fuels this extra effort in a time poor world? And, how does this translate to our businesses and teams at work?
We Have No Choice in the Social Game
Most of us won't shape national economics, government policy, or technology trends. So, what can we influence? What I saw at the golf club last week showed me how a bunch of hackers became a community, and how much this truly makes a difference.
This is the thesis of the Australian Social Researcher Hugh Mackay.
He says, “The state of our nation starts in your own street and your own workplace: the way we interact with the communities we belong to ultimately determines the type of society we become.”
And, at the heart of this is the act of knowing your neighbour. By doing this we create a micro-community and by offering small gestures to each other a shared ownership of how the place runs starts to form. We tend to call this 'a sense of belonging'.
Once we feel like we belong we start caring more, wanting to contribute to the place being better, and to do this we offer ideas, energy, and time to the cause.
“The state of our nation starts in your own street and your own workplace: the way we interact with the communities we belong to ultimately determines the type of society we become.”
- Hugh Mackay
All of this, because we are social animals. To be isolated, lonely, or marginalised is one of the unhealthiest states for any human to be in (it's worse than smoking 15 darts a day, Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad summary).
Think about the last time you were left out of a decision at work that affected you. Did it feel good? Or, did you feel lesser? Maybe inconsequential? Smaller?
It can be hard not take these sorts of things personally.
From Self-Interest to Stewardship
When we are born we are hopeless. We can't walk, talk, or contribute in any way. Our job is to consume (and be adorable). As we grow into children and then young adults we slowly form independence. Then at some point we can take care of ourselves. But, then the next step is the crucial one - we can take care of others.
The cascade is similar in our work lives: We get a job and are 'the new kid' for a while. Then we get into the groove and become a part of the gang. At some point expectations rise and there are many opportunities to influence and evolve the company/team. Then, with enough skill, appetite, and a little luck a step into leadership is probable.
I have observed this social arc in community groups and workplaces. It tends to look like this...
Consumer (Focus: Self) - you enquire about the offering. You buy-in based on the value and 'what you get'. You are a taker of sorts.
Member (Focus: Connection) - you get to know people and feel comfortable in the environment. Your participation is high and feel like a part of the group.
Contributor (Focus: Impact) - you notice a few things could be done better. You are open to lending a hand. You care deeply enough to want to see things being done better. You start feeling ownership of the place and how it runs.
Custodian (Focus: Stewardship) - you see the gaping holes which need filling. You volunteer more and more until you are in charge of key areas of the place. Possibly even running the whole thing to ensure it sustains and evolves for future generations.
We can plot our journey on the below matrix:
Dependent to Dependable.
The current trend is to be dependent on our parents into our thirties. Generations of people are feeling stuck in the Consumer phase of life for much longer than they (or their parents) would like.
It is no different in the workplace.
After an initial onboarding period we need to detach from our 'buddy' and be self-sustaining as quickly as possible. We need to be able to do the basic tasks, but then also solve the dynamic problems that come to us. If we can do this (which is often lacking in professional settings), then we have proven ourselves to be good followers. Reliable and dependable workers. For most of us, this is not enough.
Through boredom, ambition, or a deeper need to grow and evolve, we eventually take on more responsibility.
Community groups help us see this in real time. Look at the people on boards, volunteering to coach or umpire, or running the BBQ. Look at how much they care and ask yourself why they do it? Or, even better ask them why they do it yourself.
The answer will vary from person to person. But, sitting below all of this is our deep need for belonging, contribution, and custodianship.
It isn't butane keeping the sausage sizzle going on a rainy day. It's people's natural drive to show up, pitch in, and care about their tribe.
Those leaders able to tap into this when developing their own teams and businesses are going to breed a resilient culture no matter what economic or tech trends ensue.
