I Hope You Dance

Recently I have engaged in many conversations with folks who work for Imagine!, trying to get a descriptive handle on the culture at work here. These conversations came in handy after Imagine! rolled out an updated version of our employee performance reviews which provided an organization-wide methodology for measuring performance based on assigned job duties. While this new performance measurement system is a another vital step in our never ending quest to improve our services, after going through the process, many of our staff members and leadership team felt that measuring performance against job tasks only tells part of the story.

Why? Because the review process does not take into consideration the value one can bring to the table when going above and beyond assigned job tasks.

Let me share an example of what I’m talking about. Nate George, an Administrative Assistant for Imagine!’s Innovations department, was recently selected as the June 2012 winner of the Imagine! Excellence in Customer Service Award. One of the reasons that Nate was honored with this award was because he organized an event at Imagine! on May 25 called "On the Move - Celebrating Mobility Awareness." The event included vendors, demonstrations, and information on mobility services and products, as well as some “hands-on” activities.

Now, I can tell you that nowhere in Nate’s job description does it say that he needs to arrange an event like this. But the event brought a tremendous amount of value to Imagine!, and more importantly, to the individuals and families we serve, and Nate certainly deserves recognition for what he has done.

I believe Imagine! has a culture that honors and encourages going above and beyond assigned tasks, no matter what level of employee or pay grade. We are inspired to exceed the job tasks because we have a greater purpose. We have learned not to pass up opportunity. When we go to the park, we do not sit on the bench watching others play, we engage, like Captain Picard.



Nate’s example of going above and beyond is only one of many I have seen at Imagine! over the years, and I fully expect to see many more in the coming years. I present his example in hopes that when an Imagine! employee, or anyone in the field of serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, gets the choice to “sit it out or dance” … I hope you dance.



Then again, what do I know?