Years ago we decided that Camp would be better if we had “No Drama”.
I had implemented a ratings scale for our staff that we used at the end of each summer.
We would rate staff on a 1 to 4 scale. 1 being that we would recruit them to come back even if they didn’t apply, we really want them. 2 being, if you apply back we will have you back – you were awesome. 3 being, we had some issues, we need to talk and set clear expectations on you returning. 4 being have a nice life – you are not coming back.
On a long drive home from a Buckeye Leadership Workshop meeting, my then summer camp director and I came to the thought that if we want the best possible staff for our summer camp – why do we bring #3’s back? What would happen if we just had 1’s & 2’s come back?
This changed our staff culture like nothing else I have done at camp.
We had to let go of many #3’s before the next summer – upwards of 10 people out of a staff of 35. It wasn’t easy – people didn’t understand and asked questions like, “What did I do wrong?” The reality is that they may not have done anything wrong, but they did not do enough right. We moved people along and it removed much of the drama, gossip and little irritations that happen at camp.
I have sat in many sessions where people say, “Wouldn’t it be nice to get rid of the 10% of staff who cause the problems?” I think to myself, yes it would be and why don’t you do it already.
When you remove the questionable staff, many other staff members will step up to fill in any holes that are left. We did much of this before our summer and had plenty of time to find staff for the camping season.
I recently came across the Polish Proverb of “Not my circus. Not my monkeys.” This really struck a chord with me. Staff make their own decisions to add drama to our work environment. So when I let them go and they say that it was not their fault, or they didn’t mean to, or they’ll do better next time, I clearly state that they have made the chose to leave. It is not my decision to let them go – they made the decision. Not my circus. Not my monkeys.
Some camp directors will see this as too harsh, too unkind. Ask yourself this question whenever you see something as too harsh or too unkind – “What is best for the campers?” Having staff who play gossip games and try to undermine other staff’s abilities is not best for the campers and camp is about the campers.