John Ploetz Bloggin

I Need to Volunteer

John Ploetz

3 Sep, 2015

What is it about volunteering. Yes it’s on everyone’s to do list. Actually doing it though, that’s another thing altogether. It seems many of us can’t decide where to volunteer so this item just goes uncompleted. Maybe now is the time to make a decision and sign up to volunteer. Fall is fast approaching, and maybe that will free up some extra time to do some volunteering. There are numerous nonprofits and even for profit companies that continually ask for volunteers on a regular basis or for special projects. How should we decide where to volunteer? Most of us don’t take the time to think about why we should volunteer. Does volunteering make us better people? Is it something that makes us feel better about ourselves? Do companies take advantage of people by using a volunteer? Why should we volunteer? Here are some things to think about when getting ready to volunteer.

1. Volunteering keeps us connected and is a way to meet new people. Volunteering is a way to make new connections and move outside our existing sphere of people we interact with.

2. Volunteering makes us feel good about ourselves. We give back to the community which gives us satisfaction.

3. Volunteering lets us share our talents with others. We actually fine tune our existing skills. Sharing our skills with others is a great way to improve our existing skills.

4. Volunteering lets us help others. We are doing a good deed and providing a necessary service for someone in need.

5. Volunteering meets the needs of organizations that can’t afford to pay to otherwise have these needs met. Our volunteering efforts help stretch the resources of many companies who wouldn’t be able to provide these services otherwise.

6. Volunteering allows us to hone our skills in areas of interest that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do. We can provide services using skills we want to develop or learn.

7. Volunteering looks good on our resume. Yes this is self serving but it is true.

With all the good things volunteering can do for us, there are some things we should focus on when looking for the right volunteer opportunity. Our ultimate goal should be to find a volunteer position that we ultimately enjoy.

1. Look for the right fit. Decide ahead of time what type of position you want. Do you want to volunteer for a long term position or do you want to volunteer for a one time project that may be recurring on a regular basis. How much time can you invest? Do you want to work with a group of other people or focus on a project that doesn’t involve working with a group.

2. Volunteer for something that you enjoy. Yes volunteering can be about you when it comes to what you want to do. Make sure to volunteer for something that you are passionate about and want to invest your spare time in.

3. Volunteer where you feel you’ll make a difference. Don’t waste your talents in a position that you don’t find fulfilling. You do enough other things for friends, family and at work, do something that gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Some of the reasons we volunteer are better than others. Think about why you volunteer and where you would like to volunteer and then take that first step. Just make sure it’s the right fit for you and you are doing it for the right reasons for your situation.

How to Introduce Personalities

John Ploetz

3 Aug, 2015

We all have different personalities. That is what makes the world interesting and annoying at the same time. Some personalities mix together nicely, others clash like vinegar and water. When we interact with people, especially for the first time, we may not realize how we come across to that person. Pushing ones personality on others doesn’t always work. Sometimes dealing with people for the first time requires a more tactful approach. Here are some thoughts when meeting someone for the first time to properly introduce one another’s personality.

1. Listen more than you talk. By listening you can pick up things about the other person that will give you insight into their personality.

2. Focus and try to understand the other person’s personality. Focus on what the other person is saying. How are they presenting their thoughts and ideas. What is their demeanor like?

3. Focus on what is important to the other person’s personality. What do they want to talk about? How do they like maintaining a dialogue.

4. Stay generic at first. You don’t need to delve into your beliefs or positions on issues. Stick with basic topics: the weather, your ride in, the place you’re at right now.

5. When you meet someone for the first time be yourself but be subtle. This may be more difficult than you think. This is all about turning down your personality volume. Don’t overwhelm the other person with your personality.

6. Be mainstream. Don’t jump into complex topics that may turn others off. Stick with mainstream topics that most people relate to and find easy to discuss.

7. Don’t play all your cards. You don’t need to tell them everything about you. Leave them wanting to get a fuller picture of you so they want to meet again.

8. Don’t be overly dominant. Don’t be too overwhelming in your approach. Be cordial, but don’t dominate the conversation with details about yourself. Don’t push them into committing to something they don’t want to.

9. Don’t be under assertive either. Show the other person there is some substance to your personality, that you can think for yourself and that you have some unique ideas.

10. Don’t overstay your welcome. Know when to wrap up your meeting or encounter. It’s better to cut it off early rather than drag it on too long.

Dealing with someone for the first time is all about assessing one another’s personality. It’s about trying to answer the question: Is this a person I want to interact with again? The best approach is to present yourself as someone with middle of the road personality traits, but leave the other person with some unanswered questions about yourself. As Will Rogers said, “I never met a man (or woman) I didn’t like.” But, just make sure the other person also likes your personality enough to want to meet up with you again.

Why Should I Answer a Survey?

John Ploetz

21 Jul, 2015

I’ve always wondered why should I answer a survey. These days it seems surveys are consistently popping up. Some come via e-mail; some just appear in my browser when I’m navigating the web. Many times it’s after I’ve bought a product, received a service, or just used a website. Either immediately or a day later up pops the request to complete a survey. So I’ve taken advantage of the company that is asking the survey by using their services or products, but isn’t my payment to them enough. One thing always perplexes me though, why do I feel obligated to answer a survey. Most of the time the company doesn’t tell me how long it will take to complete the survey or the nature of the questions being asked. Why should I even waste my time answering a survey. There are good and bad reasons to answer a survey.

1. To get ideas for surveys of my own. When I’m in the process of putting together a survey, I find that looking over a survey from time to time may give me some fresh ideas about questions I may want to ask.

2. To get ideas for my own business. If I’m in a similar business as the company asking the survey, I find that looking over a survey from time to time may give me some new thoughts on what concerns my competitors have and where my industry is trending.

3. I really want to provide feedback. The company is one I do business with frequently. Feedback that I give them will help them to provide better services or products that in turn will help my business or help me out personally.

4. I just want to help out a company. The company is an organization I belong to or support. I like the company and I believe in what they are doing. The survey may allow them to gather feedback that will ultimately improve the products and/or services they provide.

5. I want the free gift or chance to win the drawing they are offering. Yes, if I really want the free gift, then I have to answer the survey. But I need to keep in mind that if I put my name in for the drawing, I’m more likely to win the local lottery and I’ve probably just opened myself up to receive plenty of spam e-mail.

6. I need to waste some time. I’m looking for a distraction and the survey caught my eye. I need to think for a moment before I move forward with the survey. The company must have done a nice job marketing it, because I’m now taking the time to fill the survey out. What can I learn from their presentation and approach to getting me to take the survey?

7. I like answering questions. Maybe this is more about me wanting to give my opinion about something. If it’s about getting satisfaction about poor service or a product that didn’t work, there are usually better ways to start a dialogue. Direct contact with the company is usually a better process to get resolution to my problem.

There are numerous reasons why people answer surveys. For me it comes down to timing; a company needs to catch me at the moment that I want to respond, either because my interaction with the company is fresh in my mind or the use of their product or service has created a strong positive or negative emotional response that I want to provide them with my input.
The next time you see a survey, think about why you would want to answer that survey and whether it is worth your time and effort. And remember, surveys really aren’t about you, they’re about a company wanting answers to questions or concerns they have about their own products or services and how to keep them relevant, useful, and in demand by their customers.