The various CMI branch teams
I notice Adi has posted the members of the various CMI branch teams that can be found across the country, and I understand these are voluntary positions. My question is quite a simple one... what do those people get out of it? Is it just for the love of it, or is there some strategic motivation?
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Hello there Paul. Hope this post finds you well.
I have been a member of the Leicestershire Branch team for a number of years – and am happy to tell you what I get out of it - although, the drivers behind my involvement change over the years.
When I first joined, I was a junior manager in a corporate and membership of the local branch team both supported both my studies at Leicester University and complemented my experience in my job role. It gave me the opportunity to work with individuals from small business and different sectors and talk about management within differing contexts. Watching and understanding how to influence in a membership organisation was also very illuminating.
When I first joined the team, I spent some time organising events and meeting new members. Now I spend less time on the practical details but very much enjoy the networking opportunities & top notch speakers - the recent Midlands Regional Event, for example.
Underpinning all of this is the friendship and support of a number of fine colleagues – who are great fun to be with, as well as exponents of the craft of management in their fields.
Hi Paul
I'm a relatively recent addition to the branch team for Northants area and have both personal and professional motives for being so; personally, I am passionate about helping to influence leaders & managers to think differently and 'step-up' in the way described in the CMI manifesto - so being involved in the branch helps me share ideas with like-mided professionals. Professionally, I'm Programme Director for a CMI approved centre and keen to encourage local managers to become qualified - the current national figure of 20% or less is not helping us to improve our competitive position in Europe or globally. Management is (according to me anyway) the broadest and most exciting professional field - affecting literally every walk of life and every sector and with far-reaching consequences for every employee, volunteer, manager and organisation - what could be more fun than being part of supporting and discussing that? (I think I really need to get out more).
Hi Paul
We started a company to improve the performance of organisations through their management understanding how to make people work more effectively.
Unless we have an effective and productive society our wish for a European third way will disintegrate.We will become American or Chinese!
The CMI exists to promote the art and science of management so sits nicely alongside Motivation Matters mission.
Look us up www.motivationmatters.co.uk
Hi Paul,
I have worked on the Humberside branch team for a number of years after being invited onto the team by the then Chair. Over my time with the team I have completed most of the functions which have helped me to improve my knowledge of the organisation and to maximise my membership of it as well.
As has already been said over the years what I have been looking for has changed and I am sure will continue to change in the future. Originally I was looking for the opportunity to network with people and being a member of the branch team allowed me to do this more effectively at our events. In recent years it is as much about giving something back to an organisation that has supported me over the time of my membership.
This is a great question and I think there will be myriad responses to it as each person will "volunteer" for their own reasons.
I've recently taken on the Chair of the previous Central Scotland and now Forth Valley Branch and, at our first meeting, asked this very question. I think there was a synonymity with recent "volunteering" research which suggests people use these opportunities to upskill; expose themselves to new challenges; stretch themselves and their abilities and probably widen social networks meeting new people.
Similarly, we all work but I'm sure if we're all honest, the paycheque is but one of many reasons why people work (Hertzberg) so many of the non-financial factors will still be evident in volunteering activities (perhaps more so because of the lack of financial motivation to turn up and take part?).
For my part, we've not done much yet but we're building up a head of steam and I can't wait to get the 1st couple of events over with and enjoy the sense of achievement I'll get from being associated with something that's went well.
I'll learn loads from the people around me and from those who engage or don't engage and by the end of it, I'll have a few more lessons learned and some great experiences and memories to reflect on.
I guess posting on the CMI communities is a type of volunteering, what makes you come back and post Paul?
Thanks, everyone... that's made for interesting reading.
The completely honest answer to that is I've known Adi (in a virtual sense) for a number of years and we have collaborated with our respective forums in the past, so we've helped each other out on an ongoing basis for quite some time.
Second to that, though, I'm always interested in discussing all facets of business and run two businesses myself so am always eager to learn as much as I can to make them as successful as they can be.
Paul