I recently came across a SWEET management reminder tool from Tiffany Boley, Unit Director at the William Dawson Soaring Eagles Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of Gadsden/Etowah County in Alabama. She graciously agreed to share it with us on the Club Experience Blog!
Can you tell me a little about your Club? How long have you been a Unit Director, and how many staff do you have?
I was hired as the Education Coordinator in May 2016 and transitioned into Unit Director in May 2017. I currently supervise 9 employees. We service youth 6-18 years of age during after school hours from 3pm-7pm. We currently have an ADA of about 75.
You’ve come up with a really easy to remember phrase to remind your staff of a part of their job. What is that phrase and how did you come up with it?
The phrase I came up with is “If you’re not MOVING or being MOBILE, you’re not MONITORING, MENTORING, or MAKING A DIFFERENCE.” I came up with this phrase at the beginning of my transition, kind of as my stamp as the new Unit Director. The thought of adding actual M&Ms as the reward just popped in my head. Lol!
How have you used it with your staff? How have they responded to it?
I have signs with the phrase posted throughout the club, and I do a friendly reminder during some staff meetings by giving my staff a bag or box of M&M’s. They have enjoyed the candy at the very least lol!
On a serious note, they do try their hardest to keep and eye on and reach our members. We’re not perfect, but if they give me 100% effort, then we’ve achieved our mission.
Why is reminding your staff that they should be monitoring at all times so important in your Club?
As staff, it is our top priority to provide a safe environment. Monitoring the members is important because things can happen in the blink of an eye, so I stress the importance of seeing all 4 corners of the room and moving within the room and around the members so you can see them.
If you could give 3 or 4 points of encouragement or tips to other Club Directors who are trying to help their staff make a difference, what would you say?
- You can’t change every child.
- The fact that you wake up and go to work everyday means that you are making an effort to impact and change young lives.
- Understand that at the end of the day, they are kids, and remember you were once a kid too.
- If you don’t inspire them, who will?
Other Club Directors from across the Movement have adopted Tiffany’s phrase to use with their staff. Here are some of their ideas:
Rachel Price of the Moline Teen Center of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Valley said “Thank you for coming up with such a brilliant way to connect what we do to something tangible. My staff loved the extra treat and gentle reminder!”
Robin Roeser of the Elmwood Village Charter School Clubhouse of Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo included the M&Ms with her weekly Friday staff treats.
Grace Duran from the Collins Middle School site of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salem included the M&Ms on her weekly staff meeting agenda.
Thank you SO MUCH to Tiffany for sharing this nifty little tool with us! If you decide to introduce your staff to the M&M’s, let us know in the comments what you do and how it went!
Do you have an idea or tool that you would like to share with the Movement? Comment below , and the BGCA Youth Development Facebook page, or email ClubXBlog@bgca.org to share!
Tiffany has been in the Movement for 1.5 years. In the little spare time she has, she spends time with her 2 boys, writes poetry, and enjoys a girl’s night out every once in a while!
Do you have a story to share with the Movement? Let us know in the comments or email at ClubXBlog@bgca.org and YOU could be featured on the Club Experience Blog!
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