My Tip of the Week: Saying No and Your PTO

"No

is

is not in the vocabulary of most PTO and PTA leaders. It's in our DNA to want to serve and please. When we're asked for help, we usually try to chip in. And it's a wonderful trait. But that same inclination also causes many of our challenges. We tend to say yes to just about every idea that comes up from an enthusiastic volunteer, and the result is a PTO schedule of activities too full of too many efforts. It becomes increasingly difficult to find the volunteers you need or to maintain the enthusiasm and quality that make your group really sing.   My message this week: It's much better to run a few events really well than to run too many and risk some falling short.  And the only way to live by that mantra is to say no to some ideas. You probably don't want to say "Heck no!" or "No way!" ( danger: clique), but you do want to create a culture in your group that carefully analyzes new ideas to see how they fit and make sure you have the resources to execute them well. This time of year -- when everyone is full of energy and optimism -- is when the ideas really fly. Be careful how many times you say yes in these next few weeks. Too many yeses now can make your Decembers, Februarys, and Aprils very difficult. No isn't easy, and you need to find a way to say it so that the requestors understand your reasoning and aren't turned off for the long term. But sometimes, no is necessary. Check these tips on how to best use your group's resources:

• Prevent Burnout in Your PTO


• 10 Mistakes Parent Groups Make

 

Also check School Family Nights for information on running successful family nights.