The joy of deep listening
This process has been all about me feeling comfortable throwing caution to the wind, taking the current norm ‘this is how we’ve always supported people who struggle to find a volunteer role’ and saying what if. What if there is a different way?
Not such a blank sheet
What if the new way involves a what’s app community, an app, peer group sessions? Despite wanting to start with a total blank sheet I found it filling up with solutions rapidly when I was asked — what will we see in six months at the outset of the project? Apparently “I don’t know” wasn’t a good enough answer. But with the Deloitte Digital Connect community at my back I knew it was ok to not know and I pushed back.
The joy of deep listening
Reflecting on the past 2 weeks of interviews I’ve had tears, anger, hope, joy all in abundance — people have had powerful experiences both positive and negative through their volunteering journeys that still resonate years later.
Simple things that were (they trusted me and allowed me to take more on at my own pace) or weren’t done (a hospitalisation and no one messaged to check in) still shaping expectations, thoughts and feelings about volunteering years on.
The interview questions almost seem to go out the window as I’m gripped by the stories, not one interview was 45 minutes (my expectation at the outset), almost all running around 1.5 hours. I get the sense that people need to be heard, need us to learn from their experience to help others.
I’m now convinced from people’s stories there is no what’s app community, app or peer group solution that people need, we’re still working out what the answer is, but I know it’s none of this.
I’m onto the Define and Deliver phase with gusto, I can’t wait!
