Discoveries

Dear all,

I received feedback that my readers are craving for new entries in my blog. So here it goes: I made an amazing discovery today: My ties with my parents have improved. My communication and talking skills have improved. You can credit this transformation to my interactions with my grassroots leaders (GRLs) who are mostly my parents' age. Let's put it this way, GRLs being at their age can be unreasonable at times. They like to keep their faces and expect absolute respect even when they can be wrong at times. Working with GRLs can be tactically challenging and commands a lot of patience. When i talk to my parents, i tend to get a little confused and take them as my GRLs. Nonetheless, it is a positive change that i welcome.

Talking about working with GRLs, my boss always stresses that they are volunteers and thus we must never push them too hard (be it chasing for account statements, namelist of residents for certain activities etc.) or else they will reject you and even switch off. Well sure, there are times when i get scolded for just sending reminder smses to this GRL. This GRL can shout to me and say, "Hey please respect my personal time and space. Your sms intrudes into my private family time. I am only a VOLUNTEER, ok!?!?!". Wow it was just a harmless sms (FYI i just sent ONE sms only) and it sparked off such a fierce reaction. I have not even called the GRL on the phone yet. Well, yeah that is one of not-so-nice moments.

Getting scoldings from your GRLs can be terrible and it totally spoils your day. But at the end of they day, i realize that we are working with GRLs not robots. Our circumstances are thus always fluid and challenging. Some GRLs are excellent and nice people. Some are not-so-perfect. But it is this variety of challenges that makes up the "SWEET" & "SOUR" aspects of our job.

i always advocate a support group. Whenever any of my cohort induction mate is in trouble, i try to meet up with him/her. You know what is the art of successful consoling?
Listen with a Graceful heart: When someone confides in you their problems, do not be too QUICK to offer solutions or even scold the person. What is needed here is that you JUST LISTEN FIRST and show that you understand his/her sorrow. Especially if the person in trouble is a lady. I tell you the psyche for ladies is that more than 80% of the time, they already know what they should do. They just need someone to hear them out and be the capturing device for them to pour their complaints out. After the pouring session, most ladies will come to the conclusion on what they should do.