to thewind? Caution - University of Edinburgh Business School

special featurepeopleINTERNATIONALVOLUNTEERINGCrawford Allan believes it isimportant to take a calm, measuredand firm approach when facingconfrontation on the pitchA LIFE INMANY PARTS| ABOVE: Chatting about family and health at meetings in Africa is an important part of building business relationshipsfrustration are the cultural differences. ‘Africantime’ translates as wasted time and I despairof a meeting ever starting promptly. I’velearned to take my laptop and 3G with meand work while I wait for everyone to turnup. Alternatively, the time is spent in whatseems like idle chit-chat but is in factvital relationship-building.African culture tends to be ‘collectivist’ whereasEuropean culture is individualist, and as such,relationships have an importance they don’t have in ourexperience. Asking after colleagues’ health and family isobligatory before any business can be conducted. Africansalso display tremendous patience that is at timesadmirable but can also manifest itself as resignation or atbest a lack of urgency. Planning is very last-minute andpeople often don’t confirm their actions.Although RHRU specified an MBA-qualified volunteerin the request to VSO, in fact the job I’m doing doesn’trequire an MBA. Anyone with good organisational skillsand some creativity could fill my shoes. However, coming| ABOVE: RHRU educators during World AIDS Day activitiesDid youknow?South Africa has oneof the highest rates ofpeople living with HIVand AIDS in theworldinto an alien environment both professionallyand culturally, my MBA is a security blanket.Not only does it give me credibility which Iwould otherwise lack given my inexperiencein the field, it also gives me broadorganisational knowledge and understanding.Another advantage of the MBA is the multidisciplinaryexperience it gives us. Public health isall about statistics and I am very glad I understand them.Thanks to the International Marketing course, it is notas hard working in a different culture as it might havebeen. A business background has come in particularlyhandy with our income generation projects and assistingbusiness start-ups. I never particularly enjoyed theobligatory accounting courses but I’m very glad nowthat I can draw up a cash flow projection.The exposure to all the disciplines involved in running asuccessful organisation means that whatever new tasks Iencounter, I usually have a reference point and someresources to fall back on.Finally, my networking skills have come in very handy,particularly as we are always on the scrounge fordonations. Networking ability is hardly limited to MBAs,but the opportunities we enjoyed just by mixing with somany other professionals on the course means we are allpretty proficient in the art!I am loving my job so much, and find it so fulfilling thatI have already committed to a third year and am startingto look at work permits and residency. I don’t feel like avolunteer ‘implant’ but rather completely at home, as ifthis is where I am meant to be and what I am meant to bedoing. I have the MBA to thank in part for the ease withwhich I have made this transition. Never underestimatethe transferability of your management skills.Whether it becomes apermanent life changeor just a temporarydetour on your careerpath, internationalvolunteering willenhance and enrichyour life.The VSO programmeworks throughinternational volunteerswith professional skillswho can share thoseskills and build capacityin the developing world– in government, NGOsand other organisations.A successful volunteeris one who makes theirrole redundant. If youhave skills in health,education, engineering,agriculture, managementand a host of other areasand are interested inchanging not only others’lives but your own.Contact VSO atwww.vsointernational.org/how/volunteeringWANT TO KNOW MORE?If you are interestedin supporting the workof VSO, go towww.vso.org.uk/givingor if you would like tocontribute to RHRU’swork in fightingHIV/AIDS in SouthAfrica, email Ellen onecrabtree@rhru.co.za formore information on howyou can help. Or visitwww.rhru.co.zaCRAWFORD ALLAN (CLASS OF 1999) COMBINES A FULL-TIME JOB WITHPART-TIME REFEREEING. JANE CRAWFORD FINDS OUT WHAT THE BENEFITSARE AND HOW HE MAINTAINS THE ALL-IMPORTANT WORK-LIFE BALANCEOn the ballKeeping your eye on the ball is somethingwe all try to do in juggling our careersand home life, but in Crawford Allan’scase, it is closer to the truth than most.Working as a part-time professional footballreferee for the Scottish Premier League onSaturdays as well as managing a full-time jobas a Senior Change Manager with RBS,achieving a work-life balance is vital to Crawford.There are many parallels between the two roles, and heis able to draw on what he has learned from refereeing tohelp in his day job, not least that he currently manages 25staff in his day job, and 22 on Saturdays on the pitch.Having previously worked as a management trainer,Crawford feels that there are many similarities betweenthis and refereeing. ‘The core skills and competencies arethe same, such as communication, influencing andinspiring,’ said Crawford. ‘I need to have confidence in myabilities and as with training, if facing a confrontation onthe pitch, it’s important to take a calm, measured and firmapproach, especially in such a highly charged atmosphere.’In terms of the qualities he needs to be a referee, heneeds to be a strong people manager and communicator– with a quick ability to read people’s feelings and get afeel for the game. Knowing the law doesn’t make you agood referee, admitted Crawford. As with the MBA, it isall about knowing how to put the theory into practice.Crawford believes that his involvement in refereeing hasDid youknow?Since Crawford became areferee in April 1991, hehas been appointed tofive internationalcompetitionsa positive affect on his wellbeing andperformance at work. ‘It’s a bit of a release,and gives me an outside focus, helping me tode-stress,’ said Crawford.‘Given the intensity of each game, theconcentrated period of focus requires you toshut out what you see around you.’The refereeing is time consuming, with thecommitment of training sessions during the week,but he said that this has the added benefit as it keepshim focused at work rather than staying late.Crawford admits that there are sacrifices made by hisfamily but that it’s important to share the benefits withthem. For example, he tends to use the income fromrefereeing for weekends away,and if the refereeing takes himoverseas, then he tries to ensurethe family also enjoy thebenefits, such as a recent tripto Milan.So how does he cope withmanaging two jobs? ‘Settinggoals and targets is important,’said Crawford.‘And learn to say no when thediary is full. Accept you can’t doeverything and be everything toeverybody.’Pictures: SNSpix.comCrawford tends to viewhis life in silos andargues that you have toaccept that you can’tsucceed in everything.In his case, he couldhave aimed to be aWorld Cup Final refereeand a Managing Directorat work (in addition tobeing a good Dad andhusband). He hasaccepted that he can’treach all of those goalsand that instead, hesets small goals for eachof his silos.‘I keep focusing onthe next small step ineach silo – you neverknow where you mightend up, and you won’tbe disappointed if youdon’t quite make theWorld Cup finals,’he said.An example of notbeing content withexisting goals, and toprove he is always onthe new lookout fornew challenges,Crawford has competedin a number of 10kraces. He also decidedhe needed an extrachallenge and he hasrecently progressed ontofull marathons,including the London,Venice and New Yorkmarathons – all in thelast year.30 | aluminate | april 2009 www.alumninet.man.ed.ac.ukwww.alumninet.man.ed.ac.uk april 2009 | aluminate | 31