As Operations Director, I write and maintain the Purity policies. Not the most exciting of tasks I hear you cry, but there are hidden depths nestling amongst the mundane.
Take our DPA policy for example…. standing solid like a Roman legionnaire to guard against infiltrators and fraudsters, assisted ably by the more than capable anti-fraud policy.
We have our IS policy …. all twitchy and nervous and keen to get back to its Asimov roots.
Then there’s the good old H&S policy, nestled in its favourite old armchair in the library like and old friend, reading a battered copy of Ivanhoe (as it makes sure that there’s a fire guard in front of the roaring log fire of course).
Other policies are rather more musical than literary. Our Employee handbook opens to a fanfare of Bohemian Rhapsody, whilst our treating supporters fairly policy favours more Gershwinian rhapsody in blue overtones.
The new GDPR privacy policy shouts Hallelujah when an eagle eye is cast upon it and the Employee Code of Conduct policy has more than a hint of James Bond.
Having written and maintained many policies over the years, I don’t think I’ve ever written a Common Sense Policy ( I can feel a skylark ascending!). Common sense is, after all, just common sense, but this seems an easier concept for some to grasp than others
Certainly, some of the Companies I’ve worked for in the past seem to have a common-sense policy based on Orwell & Kafka! If I were to write one, I would just include the principles of Purity Fundraising;
- Treat everyone with the utmost respect at all times. Whether it be a colleague, client or supporter. Obvious I know, but you’d be surprised how this basic principle of life is so commonly neglected.
- Listen and learn. I don’t just mean “listen” … I mean “REALLY LISTEN”. Nobody can get it right all of the time and we can learn an awful lot when things don’t quite go as planned
- Create a great working environment and not just with the plants and air purifiers. Make sure that not only does everyone feel valued, but that they ARE genuinely valued and appreciated. As one of our values says “We are a team and every person in that team has a voice”.
- Be honest! It sounds obvious, but honesty really is the best policy. At Purity we believe in letting everyone know how we are doing and how we are doing it.
- Remember that we are not machines. Embrace all the great qualities unique to our species. Our fundraisers have the desire to succeed, so we give them the support they need to thrive and be successful. Coaching, mentoring and positive reinforcement are always important and effective ways to enable and empower each and every individual.
Seems to me that I do have the makings of a common-sense policy after all! There go those Skylarks again!