"Volunteer Gene" Causes Trouble
A while back, as yet another "opportunity to contribute" presented itself, I asked Erica Reynolds over at the Johnson County Library "Why do we volunteer for this stuff?"
Her reply was classic--something along the lines of: "It's the volunteer gene--once it served some necessary purpose but now it just causes problems."
I know a lot of people who have problems with rampant volunteer genes. These aren't the good people who volunteer their time for good causes--although they may also have some variant of the gene. No, I'm concerned about those who just can't seem to say no to requests for speakers, participants, authors, committee members, etc., etc.
That rampant volunteer gene can be the source of great personal and professional satisfaction and pride, or it can choke the life out of its happy host.
Fortunately, there's a simple cure: learn to say no. Easier said than done, I know. Good luck with that.
Meanwhile, I've got a "task force" report to finish, a poster to create, an article to write, and a research project to get moving on. Do as I say, not as I do. :P
WDT
3 comments:
Ok...forgive me for playing in your comments sand box....but I think it's weird how blogger displayed my html in the last comment (particularly because I previewed....let me try this again...) just as a test, here's the link to my personal blog, Queequeg's Content Saloon and here's a link to my library's blog.
As always, you crack me up. Great blog--did you notice that ? What does it mean that you and Tim chose the same template? Is that some sort of personality test? Anyway, I think we should make a directory of KS librarians blogging--Lissa Lord and I are presenting at on blogs and why all academic librarians should be blogging and paying attention to blogs in their communities on Oct. 20 (yeah, yeah...a day before I leave for ...another instance of promiscuous volunteering). But as we try to persuade our colleagues to jump in, I think it would be cool to show them how many of their own are already in the water... If you figure out that whole say no thing, let me know. Cheers,
Erica
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