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What does community spirit in a Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt mean? How can voluntary cooperation be motivated from inside? For whom the motivation-formula is helpful and how is it used?
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The Base of Community Spirit
“Voluntary work makes sense, if several people
want to, like to and can do something,
they could not do alone!”
(Faenderl 2005)
But many processes are built on external ‘motivation’ – which means stress and group pressure - from outside. You must follow given aims and duties, shall obey orders and obligations and may not dismiss permissions and rules.
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Motivation from outside, over-directed and considering purpose
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The Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt is based on a concept which makes the essentials of the process more transparent to all participants. The Community-Spirit-Concept focuses on a small number of simple criteria, which can be derived from psychological and philosophical theories and practical experiences (e.g. the Motivation-Formula). These criteria offer helpful orientation, in order to reflect and communicate upon form and quality of personal engagement. Along with the Triple-Win-Formula it rapidly pins down, whether a process is community-spirit based or not.
Motivation-Formula
The heart of each Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt is the motivational concept. Main goals are the participants’ intrinsic motivation (I), self-directed activities of voluntary teams (WE) and meaningful cooperations involving the larger community. This understanding is visualised with a picture.
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Motivation from inside, self-directed and considering meaning
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Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt supports this inner motivation, but nevertheless each situation shares both motivational directions. A formula helps to visualize and understand that we are invited to support what realy counts: the counter!
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The motivation-formula of the Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt:
can + like + want
must + may + shall
> 1 = Motivation from inside,
self-directed and
considering meaning
< 1 = Motivation from outside,
over-directed and
considering purpose
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The Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt is a ‘space for voluntary participation’. It offers a project framework in which many different people want to, like to and can accomplish different activities related to a common urgent issue. To create a suitable atmosphere the voluntary participation process resorts to numerous methods, which are selected and developed, together with the participants.
Triple-Win-Formula
Whoever appropriately involves others gains much. The Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt offers structures to optimize this exchange: it does not have ONE project manager but MANY. Participants can expand their methodological repertoire and may use their knowledge for further enterprises. The participants apply their individual strengths and resources for the benefit of all. The surplus of this procedure is the triple-win-effect, which can be considered as ‘Gemeinsinn’ (community spirit): Win for oneself, for other partners and for the larger community.
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Triple-Win-Formula
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Definition of Community-Spirit
Out of this the core of a Gemeinsinn-Werkstatt, the Community-Spirit is defined. It flourishes, if social competence, social engagement and social consciousness are supported in a prepared atmosphere. The energy of Self, Attitude and Action can freely flow towards their destination. This is arranged by developing
- common goals and sustainability
- mutual understanding and trust
- shared responsibility for me and others
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Community-Spirit-Definition
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