From Dan Beedell, east to west Communications [abbreviated]:
“Approaches to developing people have varied over the years. Many of us can relate to the old adage of sink or swim, where we’re dropped into a difficult situation and left to cope. In other cases, individuals are given so much instruction that their individuality is killed and a robot born. Developing people is a varied and challenging task: How to create a development programme that meets the needs of everyone? What are the relevant topics so participants feel
their time is well spent? How to avoid alienating some whilst challenging others? The obvious answer is that we can’t. So why bother?
Our understanding of why people-development is so important has to come through recognition of the value of individuality and gifts, whether to us personally or to an organisation as a whole. At east to west we are blessed to have 16 paid team members, seven volunteers (with more on the way!), eight trustees and a wide group of specialist supporters. Each of these 30+ individuals brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and skills…by being part of east to west, they make east to west better. They ensure that we’re best equipped to bring hope to young lives. Surely as an organisation recognising this value, we need to support them in getting better, so we get better?
Dan Rockwell’s approach is simple: When developing people focus on their strengths. This may seem counterintuitive when societal norms and schools tell us to create well-rounded individuals. But if someone’s gift is being in front of a child, young person or family, why would we train them to use an accountancy programme? American Business Guru Jim Collins calls it ‘getting the right people on the right bus at the right moment’, i.e. training the right people to be in the right position at the right time…and that means a nuanced approach. The result is creating a team with a wide range of
specialists who can share their skills with colleagues to foster further development. The value of this concept is huge because it recognises the individual as a person and in the wider context of the organisation. Surely that’s an approach well worth developing for any organisation?”
This month east to west ask you to pray for Naomi, who joined them over the summer to set up and run a new project at Hinchley Wood, bringing her skills and understanding to east to west and helping them develop into a better organisation.