Volunteering and great coffee

For my fiftieth birthday recently, my family bought me a really good coffee machine. It can produce a fantastic drink at home, but only if I focus my efforts on three essential elements:

1. I need good coffee beans, freshly roasted and ideally used within thirty days of the roasting date. ?

2. The beans need to be freshly ground to the right coarseness to get the best cup of coffee.?

3. I need the right temperature of hot water, pushed through the grounds at the right pressure, to extract the best flavour.

Isn’t this like volunteer engagement?

1. We need the best people we can find, suitably qualified to help us achieve our goals. They bring fresh energy to our work.?

2. We need to get them in the right roles to let their talents shine. (You didn’t think I was going to actually suggest we grind volunteers down did you?)?

3. We need to provide the right support and conditions to let them flourish. Unlike coffee, we can’t leave this to a machine. Some will thrive on pressure, others will need more support. We need to know what works for each person.

Put in the effort and we get great results with volunteers and coffee.