TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system welcome
Transcript of TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system welcome
welcomeChampions of change are active
TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system
Project developed in collaboration Collaboration leader:
What is a buddy system?Traditionally,abuddysystemisaprocedureinwhichtwopeople(thebuddies)operatetogetherasaunittomonitorandhelpeachother,usuallyinunfamiliarsituations.Eachbuddyhasresponsibilityforoneotherpersonandviceversa.
How would a buddy system be useful to a club?Thinkofabuddysystemasasupportnetworkorasawayformemberstohelpeachother.Abuddysystemcouldbeusedto:
• Helpnewmemberstofeelpartoftheclub.Forexample,introducingthemtoothermembersincludingkeypeople,showingthemaroundthefacilities,andmakingsuretheyknowwherethevenuesare.
• Ensurethesafetyofplayersduringtripsaway.Pairingupwhentravellingisagreatidea,notonlytoensureno-onegetsleftbehindbutalsotolookoutforeachother’ssafetyinunfamiliarplaces,ortomakesureeveryoneisbehavinginawaythatreflectsthevaluesoftheclub.
• Giveyoungmemberssomeonetoturntowhentheyneedofhelp.Veryyoungmemberscanbeassignedteenagebuddiestohelpensuretheirsafetyandgivethemsomeonetotalktoifthingsaren’tgoingright.Thiscanalsobeagreatwaytobuildconfidence,self-esteemandresponsibilityinoldermembers.
• Encouragepositiverelationshipsbetweenclubmembers.Fosteringrelationshipsbetweenpeersandagegroupsthatwouldnotusuallyconnectisagreatwaytoencourageclubspirit.
• Assist,welcomeandtrainnewvolunteers.Pairupnewvolunteerswithmoreexperiencedvolunteerssotheycanquicklylearntheropesandgettowork!
How does a buddy system differ from a mentoring program?Inmanywaysbeingsomeone’sbuddyisverysimilartobeingamentor.Eitherway,oneoftheprimarygoalsofamentoringorabuddysystemistosupportsomeoneelse.
However,abuddysystemisalessformalarrangementandgenerallyappliestotwopeopleofequalstandingintheclubwhohelpeachotherout.Inamentoringrelationship,amoreexperiencedorknowledgeablepersonisassignedtoguideandsupporttheotherpersontoachieveaparticulargoal(forexample,tobecomeaqualifiedcoach).
welcomeChampions of change are active
TOOL 3 - Setting up a buddy system
Project developed in collaboration Collaboration leader:
Unlikeamentoringrelationship,abuddyrelationshipdoesnotnecessarilyrequirea‘contract’butincertainsituationsitcouldbeuseful.Itshouldincludethefollowing:
• Atimeframeforthestartandfinishofthebuddyrelationship.
• Descriptionsofwhatitmeanstobeabuddyandresponsibilitiesofeachperson.
• Whattodoifthebuddyrelationshipisn’tworking.
Set up a buddy system in four steps1. Define the system goals. Doyouwanttowelcomenewmembers?Helpensurethesafetyofmembersontour?Helporientnewvolunteers?Startwithoneclearandspecificgoal.
2. Pair up the buddies. Thereareallsortsofwaystopairupbuddies.Youcouldchoosethemrandomlyoraskforvolunteers.Agoodbuddyrelationshipreliestosomeextentonthepersonalityofeachperson,soyoumaywanttogettoknowthembeforeyoumatchthemup.Enlistthehelpofthosewhoknowthepeopleconcerned–aparentorperhapsacoach.Developa‘contract’ifyouthinkoneisneededandmakesureeachpersonclearlyunderstandswhatitmeanstobeabuddy.
3. Measure the success of your buddy system.Althoughyoushouldallowthebuddiestoworkouttheirownrelationship,it’simportanttomonitorprogressandsuccess.Isthesystemachievingresultsinlinewithyourgoalinsettinguptheprogram?Arethebuddiesdoingwhattheyaremeanttodo?Thisisparticularlyimportantwhenitcomestoyoungchildren.Aretheyoungerchildrencomingtowatchtheirolderbuddiesplay?Haveretentionratesforvolunteersimproved?Youcouldconductasurveyofbuddiestogetvaluablefeedback.
4. Implement a buddy system in other areas of the club.Ifitworks,replicateit.Thinkaboutsomeoftheissuesyourclubfaces.Perhapsabuddysystemcanplayaroleinaddressingotherchallenges.