The power of Multigenerational working

Last week end, we stayed in Turangi. It’s a small village in the centre of the North Island most famous for trout fishing and as a base for walking on the Central plateau. It is quiet. Nothing much happens there usually.

Last Saturday it was different. There was a buzz of activity opposite the information centre. A new building had at least 50 people engaged in construction. There was scaffolding, people moving quickly in hard hats from one job to another, there was urgency but laughter and energy.

The builders ranged for teenagers to elders with a few women. What could this be? We wondered if it was apprentice training – but soon discounted that as it was a Saturday. Maybe it was a public  ‘mucking in’ effort like Habitat for Humanity – but this was not a single house – it was a grand public building with a portico.

In our confusion, we came across three ladies carrying cool boxes. They were walking across the road from a huge circus style tent.

‘Excuse me, what is going on here’? ‘We are Jehova’s witnesses building a Kingdom Hall for Turangi’. Slightly taken aback but curious I continued ‘ How does this work? ‘ Well’, she said ‘there are about 100 brothers who volunteer to build each hall. Many come from other areas. We build a hall in two weeks. Some brothers take time off work to be here and many work around the clock at week ends. This will be finished tomorrow’.

I looked at the structure – roof on but no internal fittings and only half of the external walls completed. Scaffolding still up and no painting done. I worked for Fletcher homes, built two houses and watch Grand Designs; I knew this would be at least a six month job; they were at best half way through. ‘Come back tomorrow and you’ll see’ said one of the women who had obviously read my mind. Watching the pace of construction we believed her!

I wanted to know how it could be completed so quickly and efficiently.They patiently explained: ‘We all work together.  We help each other to build; the older more skilled teach the youngest. We women provide three hot meals a day to support them. It happens regularly. I would sum it up as a combination of careful planning, practice and very willing people working together to achieve an important goal’.

We returned the next day to see the lights on, scaffolding gone and people finishing the painting. It was true!

This experience changed our view of working. It made us realise that although most of us don’t work for God, there are some basic pointers to engagement, quality and productivity here. Multigenerational workforces are self organising systems. The combination of energy and wisdom can produce extraordinary results when combined with a meaningful common purpose, shared values, respect and good organisation.

If you want to see this in action – I found this you tube video of a similar ‘quick build’ Kingdom Hall… watch it here

see what I mean?