I'm not sure whether this is only characteristic of recovering addicts and alcoholics. But over the past 30 years a pattern has emerged among our volunteer clients and it kind of goes like this:
A client comes in with only the clothes on his back. We feed him. We clothe him. We help him find a job in the outside community. We get his teeth fixed. We provide him with eye care and glasses if necessary. If he can't find outside work we allow him to volunteer within our community, where he can receive a stipend that we provide all of our volunteers.
As time passes those volunteers with good skills are sometimes elevated to TLC staff members and receive many benefits that make their volunteer services more satisfying. They sometimes are provided a company vehicle and nicer housing. But once they're employed by the corporate office that's when we begin to see changes.
I think it has something to do with success; they have a hard time handling it. Many in this position start assuming they're more important than the next client because of their position. They forget that a few years back they were in the same situation as our newest clients. In other words they forget where they came from..
Often, when they reach this stage their ego comes into play and they begin competing with other parts of the company. Or they start competing to make their department "better" than some of the others. They forget they're part of a team - a team put in place to benefit all of TLC's clients. So. what to do?
My solution is to talk to the volunteer and point out that he/she may be taking the wrong path. I ask them to examine their conscience and values and see where they could be a benefit to the company, rather than solely pursuing their own interests.
Sometimes they're too stuck in their ways to change, If they can change they can continue to learn how to navigate their sobriety and enjoy the benefits of a clean and productive life.
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