In the last edition of Common Ground, we introduced the thinking behind our refreshed approach to Employee Voice and why creating meaningful opportunities for colleagues to contribute matters.
Now, we’re getting closer to putting that into action.
Soon, nominations will open for our new Your Voice Representatives, giving colleagues across YMCA Fairthorne Group the opportunity to put themselves forward or nominate someone they think could make a great representative.
Before then, we want you to understand what the opportunity really involves and, perhaps, start wondering whether it could be for you.
It starts with listening
Being a Your Voice Representative isn’t about having the loudest voice in the room, having all the answers or bringing your own opinions to a meeting.
Representatives are there to understand the collective experiences of the colleagues they represent and help ensure those perspectives contribute to wider organisational conversations.
That starts by listening.
A representative might hear different experiences from colleagues, ask questions to understand what sits behind them and begin identifying common themes. Rather than simply reporting a problem, they can help turn those conversations into constructive opportunities for improvement.
They then bring those themes, ideas and experiences into Your Voice, working alongside representatives from other parts of YMCA Fairthorne Group to contribute to wider discussions.
The conversation doesn’t end at the meeting
One of the most important parts of the role happens afterwards.
Representatives will take agreed outcomes, progress and information back to the colleagues they represent, helping create a stronger two-way connection across YMCA Fairthorne Group.
That cycle continues throughout their term: listening, identifying themes, preparing, participating, feeding back and then continuing the conversation.
Your Voice can explore shared themes such as workplace communication, ways of working, wellbeing, recognition and culture, colleague engagement and opportunities for improvement. It isn’t a replacement for existing processes relating to individual grievances, disciplinary or performance matters, safeguarding concerns or confidential HR issues.
What could you get from it?
Representing your colleagues comes with responsibility, but it also creates an opportunity to develop.
During their term, representatives will have the chance to build relationships beyond their own setting or service, contribute to organisational discussions and develop their own communication, leadership and engagement skills.
And nobody will be expected to step into the role already knowing how to do everything.
Successful representatives will receive a structured induction and ongoing support, alongside a dedicated development programme covering areas including communication and listening, gathering colleague feedback, effective meetings, influencing positive change, leadership and representation. Managers are also expected to provide reasonable time for representatives to carry out their responsibilities.
You don’t need previous committee or leadership experience. What matters is your willingness to listen, learn and represent colleagues fairly.
Who are we looking for?
There isn’t one type of person who makes a good representative.
We want Your Voice to bring together different experiences and perspectives from across YMCA Fairthorne Group.
You might be someone who naturally builds relationships with the people around you. You might be good at seeing different sides of a conversation. Perhaps colleagues already trust you enough to share what they’re thinking, or you’re someone who spots opportunities to make things work better.
The qualities we’re looking for are straightforward: listen well, build positive relationships, communicate respectfully, represent others fairly and want to help improve YMCA Fairthorne Group.
Could it be you?
When nominations open, eligible colleagues will be able to put themselves forward, and colleagues will also have the opportunity to nominate someone else.
Where more nominations are received than there are representative positions available, colleagues within the relevant constituency will be invited to vote. Candidates will provide a short biography so that colleagues can understand who is standing and why before making their choice.
So before nominations begin, look around your team.
Who listens when people speak? Who can see beyond their own experience? Who could bring people together and represent different perspectives constructively?
And don’t only think about everybody else. Every improvement starts with a conversation. Every conversation starts with someone willing to listen.
