A Special Compliment

“Thanks for pretending you’re on staff”.

I can’t recall specifically if I was taking down banners or gathering donation envelopes off the tables when one of the team at Wellspring Foundation for Education said that to me last month.

We were in Burnaby, BC where I was providing training and facilitation for a long awaited staff retreat for the Canadian part of the organization. (I’m beyond excited to be participating in a retreat with the Rwandan team in February!). They invited me to come a day early to attend a fundraising dinner and I spent a few hours helping with set up and tear down as well as engaging with the other guests at my table talking about the remarkable work being accomplished.

It was a long day, especially being three time zones from home, so I was pretty beat by the time we were packing away the last of the decor and gathering the information from the tables. But it had been fun to be with the team and see them working together, laughing, and caring as they managed the event. It may have been the most valuable team building of the week.

But when Sarah said those words it stopped me for a moment.

Maybe it’s because I work alone and miss being part of teams. Maybe it’s because of my long connection with Wellspring as a donor, former board member, and encourager. Maybe it was just the right words at the right time…

It felt really good.

In many ways it captures the way I work with many of the charities and leaders I serve. It’s not unusual to have them describe me as being an honorary member of the staff or someone they think of as one of the team. I treasure those compliments.

I understand that few organizations can afford to have a full time role in leadership development, so it often has to happen off the side of someone’s desk or as one of too many tasks for leaders and managers. So being able to have someone like me come alongside, not just to deliver a generic curriculum, but to really understand the people and dynamics of their situation and offer something particularly suited to what they need at a particular time is impactful.

I often say “we” instead of “you” in sessions with clients because I do see myself as part of the team. Even if I’m just engaging on a monthly contract or at a retreat, it matters that I adapt myself to the culture and context of the people I serve so they can get the best I can possibly offer.

So, thanks Sarah. That meant a lot to me.