Since the discussion about staff collaboration with volunteers started
a few weeks ago, actions and statements by staff members have
undergone an increasing amount of scrutiny and criticism. That in
itself is not a bad thing necessarily: staff members need to be kept
on their toes and not be allowed to get away with doing bad things,
and some scrutiny and criticism is needed to accomplish this.
In recent weeks, however, posts on this mailing list have gone way
beyond 'some' scrutiny and criticism, instead suggesting something
closer to distrust and paranoia. Statements made by staff members have
been picked apart, with anything that could be interpreted to suggest
an exclusive, disrespectful or otherwise negative attitude towards
volunteers being interpreted this way, along with the occasional
ominous warning about how the world will end if this attitude won't
change.
This extreme behavior comes from just a few people, but I'm seeing a
less extreme version of it in other people too. Unlike the former
group, the latter group doesn't seem to be particularly paranoid or
uncivil, but they seem to be getting increasingly critical of staff
members as well.
Quite understandably, staff members aren't gonna be encouraged to be
more collaborative when they get the feeling that their attempts to do
so more often than not result in increased scrutiny, criticism or
drama and that their sometimes unfortunate but nevertheless good-faith
and well-intentioned actions or words backfire the way we've seen
happen a few times recently. Rather than feeling this environment
encourages them to collaborate (which it should), they'll feel this
environment is hostile and will be driven away from it if it continues
to feel hostile.
A crucial point that I think is being missed by a number of people
right now is that collaboration is a two-way street. Staffers and
volunteers are both responsible for making it work. While staff
members have to be open to, respectful of and collaborative with
volunteer developers, the reverse is also true: volunteers are
supposed to make staff members feel welcome and appreciated, and treat
them as their equals. Right now, the opposite seems to be happening,
which I fear will lead to a negative spiral.
A few weeks ago, staff members were called upon to adjust their
attitudes to do their part in fostering collaboration between staff
and volunteers. Volunteers, in turn, should be aware that they have a
part to play too. Also, both sides should realize behaviors don't
change overnight, and should give each other time to adapt and cut
each other some slack in the meantime.
Roan Kattouw (Catrope)