Character in Fundraising - Principle Number Seven: Be Socratic
By Roger Richard Breault, MCS, CFRE
September 27, 2004
This article, Be Socratic, is the last in a series about the seven
character traits to develop to become an effective, productive and authentic
fundraiser. It is written with the intent to fill a sizable gap in the formation
and education of those who want to be true fundraising professionals.
Socrates, the father of Western philosophy, is often considered one of the
wisest men that ever lived. He founded a school of philosophy whose principles
of enquiry continue to shape the manner in which we think, gain ken, advance
as a community, and as individuals within it.
Socrates was not a man of great artistic talent; he was not an Olympian; he
was not a business success; he was not even good looking. He was a simple
man. As Cicero aptly stated: "Socrates brings philosophy down from the clouds
and makes it commonplace." And as Socrates himself rightly said: "An unexamined
life is not worth living." He was gregarious. His humour was infectious
and he acknowledged that everyone had something to teach us, including slaves
and women. His seven principles mirror the seven character traits exposed
in this series of articles. They are: Know yourself, Ask great questions,
Think for yourself, Challenge convention, Grow with friends, Speak the truth,
and Strengthen your soul.
As a fundraiser, are you asking the right questions? What are they? Are the
values espoused by your charity truly yours? What's the best method to achieve
objectives? Are you constantly learning from others to become effective at
work and in your personal life? Is your resolve to accomplish fundraising
objectives coming from within? Do you have the courage of your convictions?
If you can affirm that answers to these questions are changing daily, you are probably on the right path. By definition, you are questioning yourself and those around you about fundamentals to arrive closer to the truth about you and your cause. This form of inquisition demands a sense of detachment doesn't it?
One of the best ways to gain a detached perspective is humor. If you were
the manager of a muffler shop, a sign in front of your business might read:
"No appointment necessary, we can hear you coming." A plumber's: "Let
us repair what your husband fixed." If you were an obstetrician, the sign
on your front door might read: "Push, Push Really Hard." A criminal lawyer's
sign might state: "I have knowingly defended a number of guilty men. But the
guilty never escape unscathed. My fees are sufficient punishment."
What greeting can you post at the entrance to your office to describe your
feelings and approach? I hope it indicates that you do not take yourself too
seriously. It can be a way to show that you have a Socratic perspective. It
might read: "Give me all you've got" or "My guess is liable to be as good
as anyone else's." Here is a saying that might apply: "Take my advice,
I'm not using it right now." Finally, consider choosing one of these
two caution signs: "I get 100% of what I don't ask for" or "Beware, I
appeal to noble motives."
When you look at your net worth, you are looking at your consolidated statement. When you look at your value to an organization, what does your consolidated statement look like? Are you a net contributor? Don't just look at the money you bring in, do you add value by questioning practices and helping colleagues and yourself discover the truth?
As fundraisers, we are constantly performing "size-ups" of our organizations, aren't we? Where do we fit into the philanthropic marketplace? How can we modify methods of solicitation to achieve or exceed objectives? How can we improve the systems? Socrates would tell you point blank: "Conduct periodic "size-ups" of yourself too!"
To feel comfortable as a fundraiser, you want to conduct your activity with
alacrity and felicity. This will be accomplished with aplomb when you adopt
a Socratic disposition. It will guarantee that you will be consistently on
the learning curve. It will force you to scrutinize your values and improve
your fundamental (previously examined) character traits as a successful fundraiser:
Intelligence, Fervency, Self-Confidence, Direction, Efficiency, and Persuasiveness.
A Short List of Selected Readings on the Subject of Being Socratic in Fundraising:
The Anatomy of an Illness by Norman Cousins
Man's Search For Meaning by Victor Frankl
Socrates' Way by Ronald Gross
You Can't be Serious, Putting Humor to Work by Michale Kerr
Socrates' Cafe by Christopher Phillips
Roger Richard Breault has prepared the articles for the benefit and
the advancement of the profession. Roger has a Masters' Degree in Communication
Studies, and a CFRE accreditation. He is a dedicated reader and Manager of
Fund Raising Consultants of Alberta and the Speakers' Bureau of Alberta.
