Jean Tomlin can be very proud of what she and her team have achieved so far. It is interesting going back to the interview she gave to The HR Director in March last year and noting what she thought was important to success. She emphasises learning from other experiences – Sydney and Beijing; she credits a good working partnership with LOCOG’s Director of Operations and his vast games experience. She credits the partner involvement which will include McDonalds who seem to have used much of their wisdom and experience to support the development of the volunteer Games Makers. What we in Wingivers know is that the bit that will be very important is the way that volunteers were handled and managed through the recruitment and training activities. Although the content of training and the competence of trainers is important, the leadership as expressed through contact with LOCOG staff, the orientation of the trainers and the congruence of this with the supporting materials (McDonalds talk about a workbook that everyone has been given – www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/People/Games-makers) will be an essential part of the magic that’s created this volunteer phenomenon. It is this that is so difficult to re-create. It is the character and orientation of the leadership in these organisations that touch volunteers that will help the volunteer make sense of their role and what good looks like. I’ve re-read the interview and Jean’s “way of being” is difficult to identify in the format – I’ll just have to find a way of meeting her!
For the full article read: www.thehrdirector.com/hr-interviews/jean-tomlin-london-2010
