Every year I volunteer at a number of camps put on by a group called Special Love for Children with Cancer. On the surface, the camps are an organized chaos. Kids of all ages act silly, play games, connect and have a great time. It is easy to miss the well-oiled machine running in the background that keeps the events running smoothly. The culture that has been put in place is a model of self-organization, empowerment, continuous improvement and unified purpose. The Spring Family Weekend event in particular always leaves me thinking that businesses could learn a lot from these camps.
Before the event commences, volunteers are assigned to classes they will run. Volunteers can ask to be part of a specific class and have the freedom and autonomy to run the classes however they want within reason.
On Friday night, a couple of paid staff members arrive early along with a couple volunteers. By the time the families arrive, there are tables set up with crafts, coloring, cookies and drinks. Volunteers and families all arrive at the same time and begin mingling with each other. After check-in, everybody gets together in the “campfire” circle where we sings songs and we go over details for the weekend. Volunteers meet back at their lodge before bed where discuss the schedule in more detail.
One of the events on the schedule is a carnival night. All of the volunteers sign up to run a game. There is a list of games that people can pick from or they can create their own with the materials the camp has on hand. Once the administrative stuff is out of the way, the volunteers have time to socialize. The majority of the group is generally made up of veterans and they know the drill. Pull up a seat around a table or on a couch, grab some snacks and let the bonding begin. People tell stories of old camp adventures, catch up on life and get to know each other often while playing games. One of the most impressive parts of the night is watching the new volunteers as they are accepted into the group as if they had been there forever.
Saturday morning, there is a noticeable energy and comradery as people get ready for the day. The staff lodge is a bit of a hike from where the activities take place so people carpool to breakfast. I often find myself sharing a ride with a group of people I did not know until the night before.
One of the events on the schedule is a carnival night. All of the volunteers sign up to run a game. There is a list of games that people can pick from or they can create their own with the materials the camp has on hand. Once the administrative stuff is out of the way, the volunteers have time to socialize. The majority of the group is generally made up of veterans and they know the drill. Pull up a seat around a table or on a couch, grab some snacks and let the bonding begin. People tell stories of old camp adventures, catch up on life and get to know each other often while playing games. One of the most impressive parts of the night is watching the new volunteers as they are accepted into the group as if they had been there forever.
Saturday morning, there is a noticeable energy and comradery as people get ready for the day. The staff lodge is a bit of a hike from where the activities take place so people carpool to breakfast. I often find myself sharing a ride with a group of people I did not know until the night before.
Now let’s look at how these principles apply in the business world. Take some time to think about the companies you consider to be top performers. The three that come to my mind are Google, Apple and Valve. All three companies embody most if not all of these principles in some form and people love the companies and the products. When you have the right focus and a good lean system in place, the right results will follow.
On the flip side, organizations that don’t work this way such as the federal government, many large financial institutions and companies I have seen flounder or fail tend to generate dislike, mistrust and struggle with sustaining their business. Waste is abundant, work is inefficient and the culture can be toxic. Some of them do find financial success but it is not an enjoyable journey and I would argue that they are in an extremely vulnerable position especially as more and more companies are adopting principles and practices like Agile and Scrum. But it’s not all bad news. Organizations are turning themselves around by embracing the same principles as Special Love.
If your organization is struggling or even if it is not, maybe it’s time to take some management lessons from camp…
For more information on Special Love for Children with Cancer, visit www.specialove.org or for real-time updates on camp activities visit www.facebook.com/SpecialoveCamps. The next event is Camp Fantastic August 16th – 22nd.
Let’s change the word together!
~ Jeremy Webb
I love this. I love the idea of ownership, pride, and a common goal as a way to deliver results. And in the case of Special Love….they just add in a whole bunch of fun, compassion, and yes, love.
Love this, and as a long-time volunteer, you are an valuable part of making this all work.