August 2, 2017
It’s the kind of story that movies are made of.
A family must pick up and move to a new place, which causes upheaval and a loss of comfort. In their new home, the children each have to overcome being “the new kid,” while their parents find their place in a community. For officers in The Salvation Army, this is just a part of the job. However, many have found ways to immerse themselves in the community, quickly overcoming the stigma of being an unknown by becoming a local citizen in record time!
I reached out to a few folks and also used my experiences working with The Salvation Army to come up with a list of things you can do to make your new appointment a successful one!
4 Ways to Ease Your Transition as the New Officer in Town
- Open Your Home
One of my previous Area Commanders, Major Roy Williams, recommended the importance of opening your home to those who will support you in your appointment. Don’t wait for your board or Council to host a welcome event. Instead, invite your board leadership for dinner at your quarters as soon as possible. This simple gesture shows that you respect their devotion as volunteers, and that you want to honor and learn from their experiences. Chances are, they have seen more than a few officers come through, and have valuable knowledge to share about this new community you’ll call home. - Get Out of the House
A new appointment means a flurry of hard work. New staff, new soldiers, new budgets, new home — I’m in awe of how officers get it all done! However, during those first few months, make an effort to get out and about in the community and see what’s happening. This means that although you ran Vacation Bible School all week, already planned your service for Sunday, and are craving a cozy night in, you may still need to go out. Is the rodeo in town? A local carnival? The Rotary’s Annual fishing event? Get out and do it. Believe me, as a bit of a homebody myself, I know this can be a hard hurdle to overcome, but these events are opportunities to be seen and share the work you are doing, while also connecting with the community where they are. - Join Local Organizations
This goes along with the previous note about getting out, but varies a bit. By joining the Lion’s Club, Rotary Club, Women in Business Group, etc., you are making a pledge to support the organization and others within it. These commitments can help you really become a part of the community by connecting you with people who can support you and whom you can support in return. - Accept and Embrace the Changes and Challenges
This comment was also shared with me. Most appointments have their good and their bad. Maybe the debt is high. Perhaps there are difficulties with staff. There could also be some toxic history that seems to never go away. It’s OK. Embrace the good with the bad, be honest with your board about the challenges ahead, and ask them for help without casting any negative attention on the people or experiences that led to the difficulties. Sharing a message that you are going to “clean house” or do things differently than your predecessor only spreads negativity. Focus on just doing things differently, without that last part. Be the light.
I hope that all of you who found yourself in a new place over the last few months are settling in and starting to feel at home. Thanks for your devotion to The Salvation Army and your new communities!