3 tips for how to get stuff done!
Actually getting stuff done and completed as a group can sometimes be a bit of a hard ask. Everybody is so different and there's always differing factors and dynamics. Our SADD Delivery Leads go around meeting a whole range of schools across the country and often there is something that students are trying to figure out because it is a barrier to them getting stuff done. So if that is you then read on and see if there is anything that might help.
So we are not going to solve all your barriers in one blog post but....here are 3 tips that we think might help or at least might be a good starting point. However, if you would like some specific help relating to your situation then get in touch with your Delivery Lead (Contacts at the bottom).
Tip #1 - Have a purpose:
Start with an overall purpose! This is the big ‘why’ behind why your group exists, and what you are trying to achieve. You could use your own words or SADD does have a pretty good vision statement that you are more than welcome to use; ‘Empowering young kiwis to prevent loss on our roads. Together’. This overarching purpose is something that your group can believe in and feel inspired by, but also something you can come back to. It is important for everyone in your group to know and be on board with this purpose, it helps you stay on track and makes sure everyone is on the same page. It may sound a bit OTT but it might be worth having a conversation with your SADD committee to discuss what your purpose or ‘why’ is, and make sure that everyone is 100% on board and committed to that. You may need to revisit this semi-regularly.
Another time that having a purpose is very important is each time your group runs an event or activity. Each event or activity should have it’s own purpose or ‘why’ and this is something you can discuss when planning. This helps give your planning, group work, and ideas direction and focus. It is a great starting place to help get stuff done!
Tip #2 - Be organised:
Being organised is not everybody's cup of tea, and some people absolutely live for it! This is where working with different group members' strengths is helpful, but we will talk about that in our next tip. Somehow, however you do it, make sure you get organised, because it is a surefire way to make sure that your group actually gets stuff done.
Think ahead and give yourselves time to plan things, create some sort of structure for how your committee meetings work, get permission from the school early, have some good systems for communicating within your committee and also for storing your notes or plans. You can even have pretty folders and colour coordinated highlighters if that floats your boat. If you are really organised it means that when it comes time for the event or activity you can actually enjoy it more because everything will be sorted. The moral of the story is...that a little organisation goes a really long way to helping you get stuff done!
Tip #3 - Work Together:
Now this part is the fun part, but also sometimes the slightly more complex part. Getting stuff done is reliant on figuring out how to work well as a group/committee. Every group works differently and there is no one size fits all way, but here are a few ideas:
Create an environment where people feel comfortable to respectfully be honest and share ideas and feedback. It needs to be a safe space.
Work to people's strengths. Have a chat about who likes to do what or who is good at what. Giving out roles and jobs within your committee can work well.
You may need to have some up-front chats or difficult conversations, remember to always treat people with respect and get a teacher involved if you need help.
Try to organise something fun to do with your committee to do a little team bonding.
Learn as you go and continue to improve. After each event or activity you could do a feedback session and analyse how the event went, including how you all worked together as a team.
Organising things with a group and getting things done are skills that you will be continuing to build on and learn for a long time and you have to try and fail. But these skills that you are learning will be setting you up for life, and what you are all doing with your involvement with SADD will be teaching you skills that will help you in whatever direction your life takes you. Good luck in getting stuff done and remember to get in touch with your Delivery Lead if you think you would like some more help.
Mia - Auckland Based - Mia@sadd.org.nz
Jay - Wellington Based - Jay@sadd.org.nz
Lydia - Christchurch Based - Lydia@sadd.org.nz