ASKING FOR SUPPORT

It's all in the way you ask (really!)

Consider the following scenario; the PTA picnic is coming up and Bill Smith is on the hunt for two volunteers. Bill Smith has heard that Mrs. Peters is great with little children and also has her first aid certificate so he would like her to supervise the wading pool that will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Mrs. Peters, this is Bill Smith. I am the schools’ PTA chairman. Would you be willing to help out at the school picnic this coming Friday?”

While Bill Smith has been polite and courteous he has not provided Kim with nearly enough information to allow her to make an informed decision. Mrs. Peters does not know if by saying “yes” if she be committed to volunteering for (2) hours or (4) hours. She has also been left in the dark about what she will be asked to do.

Bill Smiths’ error is based on the common assumption that it is better to ask for a pledge of general assistance rather than overwhelm your possible volunteer with details. While this may be true if Bill Smith were trying to sell vacuum cleaners it does not apply here. Why? Because Mrs. Peters is already aware that - as a parent - she will be asked to volunteer to help with certain activities throughout the school year. Mrs. Peters is already willing and committed to saying “yes” - but cannot do so until she knows more about the role that she will be asked to fulfill.

The same lesson should be applied when seeking either internal or external support for your model rocketry project. Be sure that you have defined the role, responsibility and time commitment required before you begin seeking assistance. This will help your potential volunteer easily assess their ability to help as well as assure them that - when they do participate - their effort will not be wasted!