We had a GLOWing time!

GLOW is about UNV’s culture & identity: Ad

 

 

“GLOW is not an event in isolation. It’s a process that has already begun and that continues beyond the event in May. It’s about the way we do business in UNV:, following the principles of inclusion and participation. And we should be proud of it!” says Ad de Raad, our Executive Coordinator.

 

It’s exactly 30 days from the day when colleagues will be arriving in Bonn for GLOW. The GLOWeb editor took this opportunity to interview Ad to find out his thoughts about this event, why it is important and what he expects out of it. Ad also reflects on what’s it that makes UNV a unique organization and what values does GLOW add to it.

 

Here are some excerpts from Ad’s conversation with the GLOWeb editor:

 

One month away from the GLOW, how do you feel about the event? And what’s at the top of your mind?

 

I’m very happy to notice the energy that’s building up around the GLOW. It’s exactly the way we want to develop UNV: through a collective and participatory way. I’m impressed and confident about the way it’s progressing, highlighting the positive energy and forward-looking spirit we have in the team. Take, for example, the slogan we’ve chosen for GLOW: “Moving forward together”! I’m very happy about it… It indicates our eagerness to move forward, collectively and to achieve results, again, collectively.

 

I’m aware that we’re organizing GLOW in a time of transition and ‘booming business’, so to say. There are changes happening in the UN system, we are working in the tsunami-affected areas, we’re organizing various planning workshops, dealing with the workflow and so many other things… It can be taxing at times. But we’re managing it very well, and it shows our strength as a team, a very precious quality…

 

This all shows that what we do at UNV we do from a position of strength. UNV is clearly moving forward: we’ve been growing since IYV in 2001, not only in size but also in the way the concept of V is spreading continuously.

 

We have had some colleagues coming from Bratislava this week and they were extremely inspired by what we do and how we do it. And they said they perceive a very positive energy within UNV. This is a feedback we keep receiving all the time from UNDP/UN colleagues and external visitors alike…. The ‘positive energy’ is inherent in the way we conduct our business, in our day-to-day work, at every level. And it makes an impact in the outside world too. We’ve just received the news that one donor has agreed to give us $7 million. It’s not mere coincidence. Coincidences can go only so far; often they happen because you have been working for it; your reputation, your credibility and how you orchestrate it to some level… It works in our favour as we have the commitment and drive at all levels in UNV. That is not only me saying that, it’s the outside visitor, UN(DP) colleagues, partners, time and time again.

 

I hope we keep nurturing this spirit and this energy, and that colleagues realize that while we have a collective responsibility, we also have enormous freedom to do things the way we want to do. It’s a unique opportunity, despite all the challenges  we may face in day-to-day work.

 

We must not forget our POs and COAs… they’re very much at the core of the UNV programme and organization. Think about that new way of looking at our organizational chart that captures the idea of the Web of Inclusion.  Our COT colleagues in the field are very much at the centre… with the Office of the Executive Coordinator more at the “ periphery”. That image expresses a lot that I would like to see captured in the GLOW05 as well. That group of colleagues is so  rich with diversity and lots of strength and knowledge. I’m really looking forward to meet them all at GLOW.  That certainly applies to our COAs. They are the ones that often form the constant factor and deserve all the recognition and support. 

 

What difference do you see in GLOW this time from GLOW99?

 

The main difference is the manner in which we’re doing it… I’ve to be careful, I don’t become judgemental here.. but the fact is, in 1999 we were at this point of time far more chaotic and uncertain. This time we’re far better structured and organized. But it’s not a surprise, because in 1999 we were organizing GLOW for the first time. We were discovering ourselves in the process, and it was a much smaller group that was organizing it then.

 

It’s also a reflection of the leaps we have made since 1999. In the last five years, we’ve put in so much effort to be engaged and participatory and it has made a difference. You can see it in all the meetings and workshops now: they’re facilitated by our own colleagues and not always necessarily by senior colleagues. I’ll give you an example... Today two colleagues were making presentations to the PAC for the first time. And the way the presentations were conducted and discussions held all indicate the openness and inclusiveness in our approach. And I’m proud of that. We should all be very very proud of this, in fact…

 

We’ve tried to be as inclusive and participatory as possible in preparing for GLOW. For the first time, we conducted the needs assessment (NA) survey online and in three languages, to allow maximum participation. We also held focus group (FG) discussions in the HQs to get colleagues’ inputs.

 

The feedback we received from the NA and the FG perfectly aligns with the programme agenda that we have developed. So that way, the agenda takes care of the issues that we want to discuss.

 

We’ve set up GLOWeb to allow colleagues to contribute to the planning process, to voice their opinions freely. The way we conducted the competition for choosing the log and the motto also underlines this approach.

 

Sometimes when you try to be inclusive and participatory, the process may not appear very efficient and smooth. But finally, I think, it’s very much worth the effort. Of course, you cannot be inclusive and participatory always, in all situations, but we must ensure that we follow these principles as far as possible. It adds further value to UNV as an organization.

 

I feel very confident and, I dare say, pretty relaxed about the entire GLOW process this time. As Raymond (Raymond Clark, our external facilitator for GLOW) tells us: “Always trust the group.” And I do trust my team fully.

 

What are your expectations from GLOW05?

 

I see GLOW as an opportunity to reflect and rally…In our daily work, we often lose the sight of the big picture. We need a moment when we can focus on what the organization is about, to reflect about it, make observations and rally around a single collective purpose of the organization. This gives us an opportunity also to realize our own contribution to UNV and make ourselves committed to the organization in our own unique ways… At the end of the day, it is about promoting the concept of volunteering for development with fielding and supporting individual volunteers around the world very much part of that. Everything that we do should enable and equip us better to do that well. At the end of the day, it is about UNV being the very best and being recognized for it!

 

And, very important, GLOW should also be fun! For several years to come, we’ll meet as one team and we’ll get to know new people. Let’s take the opportunity to learn together and play together.

 

However, the event itself is not the end. GLOW is not limited to the 8-day workshop that’ll happen next month. GLOW is all about the process we adopt to do it… so for all purposes GLOW has already started… and what happens after the GLOW (the after Glow) is of course the most important.

 

Some of us who were there in 1999 don’t realize that there are going to be many new colleagues at GLOW this time. It’s important to keep that in mind, because it’ll be a big opportunity for them to know the organization in its fullest sense.

 

You mentioned that what happens after GLOW is also important. What do you see happening after GLOW?

 

First, we have already committed to certain deliverables at GLOW. So we’re going to continue our work with those products.  Second, I see a collective understanding of UNV’s mission and why it’s so… This is not to question or redesign the mission itself, but for developing a better understanding, which will drive us forward. Third, we should work towards improving our communications and working relationship with COs.

 

As an organization, we have got an extra boost after implementation of Atlas last year. It has emphasized the importance of teamwork and the important role everybody plays in it. I see this team spirit continuing post-GLOW even in a deeper way, working to make UNV a true advocate for the cause of V4D. UNV is already seen as a knowledgeable, networked and partnership-based organization, and I see it only being re-iterated further.

 

I see UNV also as an organization that is not shy to be measured and to be accountable for what it does. We must be  perceived as such externally. We’re moving in the right direction but should not be complacent. But sometimes we need to take the time to reflect on these positive aspects and feel good about it.

 

You mentioned that UNV is a partnership-based organization. How would you sell GLOW to our partners and to the UN family?

 

I’d sell it as our style, our culture. The way we’re doing GLOW itself is a product that we can sell to UNDP and others.

 

Recently when I was in New York, I met Jens Wandel, who’s the Manager of the Work Improvement Tools Project in UNDP’s Bureau of Management. He was discussing with me PRINCE2 and I told him, “We’re already using it in managing our GLOW!” And he was flabbergasted.

 

So, in UNV, we do things differently. We introduce and test new approaches all the time, which is quite unique in the UN system. I’d dare to challenge UNDP to adopt a similar approach to conduct Global Res. Reps. meetings.

 

Take, for example, the GLOWeb… I’m impressed with it. I am not sure that you will find many similar examples  in the UN. We’ve been discussing using the CO-Net and about building the Knowledge Platform. And, suddenly, from nowhere, appears this GLOWeb and it’s impressive! I see it as already 80% of a web that we can create where everyone can meet and exchange ideas. Right there, we’re also building a knowledge base, about how to organize an event like GLOW and about other things as well.

 

I’m aware that it’s still a very new tool and relatively few colleagues are using it right now. But I see it as a tool that facilitates participation: it invites people to participate and contribute. Also, our partnership with Civiblog for creating GLOWeb again shows our strong partnership approach.

 

I hope more colleagues will use it. How powerful it would be to connect all our 7,000 volunteers through such a tool! Let’s start with linking up the HQs, the Liaison Offices and the COs…. And here, the senior managers will also have a special responsibility by actively supporting the building of a culture and mechanism that will encourage and enable colleagues to use such an innovative yet powerful tool…

 

The world is changing in the way we work. Virtual communities are today as real as “real” communities. See the great work online volunteers are doing now. And we’re involving them more and more in our own work! Big applause to our Online Volunteering colleagues who’ve brought this  innovation to UNV in that sense!

 

The good thing is, we’ve all the freedom to take that path: the path of innovation… It’s a tough world out there and to be ahead of our competitors, we need to be at the cutting edge always.