Every important task gets a team!
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In the land of 4-H, there are many very organized and high-functioning clubs that do great things. In spite of this, it’s important to remember we can all always improve our processes for getting things done. By doing this, one can improve the final outcome, as well as the experience for club members.
While many of the most effective clubs use Parliamentary Procedure to run organized and successful meetings, consider how the actual work is divided up when it comes time to host an event, plan a service project or fundraise. Club officers have specific responsibilities of course, but all major organizational tasks should be built around well-functioning teams. Take notice if one or two individuals or families in your club are putting in extremely long hours. It is not good for people to spend so much time working alone on important tasks or trying to implement a million details all by themselves. This can lead to an event or task failing or people feeling like martyrs. Even if the current task turns out to be successful, what happens when the individual in charge leaves or steps down?
Michigan State University Extension recommends you get a team around that big task. There should never be just one person working to pull together a large initiative and it should never be the sole responsibility of a parent. Pick youth, based on their strengths and interests, and give them some tasks or details to work out. Then, find other youth to rally around and assist them, serving as a back-up or support when school schedules pick up steam. This will help keep clubs from overworking capable youth and caring parents, which can lead to burnout. As a result, teamwork can lead to a better design process, a more enjoyable working environment and ultimately a better final result. Remember that working together to support each other around a unifying idea is the very definition of teamwork.
