Don’t Get Caught Without Your Cheese: Navigating Change in Volunteer Leadership

Hey everyone! Let’s talk about change. Not just “change is coming” kind of change, but the “your cheese just disappeared!” kind of change. If you’ve ever felt that gut punch of disruption, then you’ll understand why I keep coming back to Spencer Johnson’s brilliant little book, Who Moved My Cheese?

For those unfamiliar, it’s a simple parable about four characters – two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two “littlepeople,” Hem and Haw – who live in a maze and rely on a constant supply of cheese. One day, the cheese is gone. The mice, with their simpler instincts, quickly adapt and go searching for new cheese. The littlepeople, however, struggle. Hem resists change, clinging to the hope the old cheese will reappear. Haw, after much trepidation, eventually learns to adapt and finds new cheese.

Now, why am I bringing up a children’s book in the context of serious volunteer leadership? Because, my friends, the principles in that book are invaluable when you’re serving in capacities like the Virginia Area Director for Phi Beta Sigma, an Executive Board member for the Board of Directors of the ODU Alumni Association, or the Chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Portsmouth, VA.

Think about it: In these roles, our “cheese” is constantly moving.

As Virginia Area Director for Phi Beta Sigma, my “cheese” might be the traditional ways of engaging our brotherhood, the preferred methods of community outreach, or even the established pathways for leadership development. For a while, during the pandemic, we found comfort and efficiency in virtual meetings, online programs, and digital brotherhood. But now, the “cheese” has moved again! We’re challenged with re-engaging our members in person, bringing back the energy of physical gatherings, and balancing the convenience of virtual with the vital human connection of face-to-face. Do we Hem and Haw, lamenting the loss of our virtual comfort zone? Or do we Sniff and Scurry, strategically planning vibrant in-person events, revitalizing our community presence, and blending the best of both worlds to keep our brotherhood strong and relevant? We have to adapt to these new realities.

Then there’s my role as an Executive Board member for the Board of Directors of the ODU Alumni Association. Our “cheese” here is often the engagement of our alumni base – how we connect them back to the university, how we encourage their support, how we create meaningful experiences. But the alumni landscape is always shifting. What resonates with a recent graduate might not resonate with someone who started college 27 years ago. Economic downturns affect giving. New technologies change how people want to interact. If we stubbornly cling to the “old cheese” of solely in-person events or traditional newsletters, we’d miss out on a whole new generation of engagement through social media, personalized digital content, and diverse virtual opportunities. We have to be agile, constantly sniffing out what motivates our alumni and scurrying to meet those evolving needs.

And finally, as Chair of the Planning Commission for the City of Portsmouth, VA, the “cheese” is perhaps the most dynamic of all. We’re talking about the growth and development of our city, the needs of our residents, the demands of infrastructure, and the ever-changing landscape of economic development. One day, a major business decides to move, leaving a void. The next, a new residential trend emerges, requiring different zoning considerations. Or a new state mandate comes down that completely shifts our existing plans. If we were a Hem or Haw on the Planning Commission, we’d be stuck in the past, unable to address the real-time challenges and opportunities facing Portsmouth. Instead, we must be proactive, anticipating changes, being willing to re-evaluate our long-held assumptions, and constantly searching for the “new cheese” that will help our city thrive and prosper for all its citizens.

So, what’s the takeaway here for all of us in leadership, whether volunteer or otherwise?

• Be a Sniffer: Pay attention to the subtle shifts, the early warning signs that your “cheese” might be moving. Don’t wait until it’s completely gone.
• Be a Scurrier: Once you recognize the change, don’t hesitate. Be willing to quickly move, adapt, and experiment with new approaches.
• Don’t Be a Hem: Don’t let fear or a longing for the past paralyze you. The cheese isn’t coming back.
• Learn from Haw: It’s okay to have initial resistance, but ultimately, be willing to overcome it and embrace the search for new opportunities. Write on the wall of your “maze” those lessons learned!

Serving in these volunteer capacities has been an incredible journey, and if there’s one consistent lesson I’ve learned, it’s that leadership is about navigating change. It’s about empowering others to adapt, too. Because if you’re not actively looking for the new cheese, you might just find yourself hungry.

What about you? Where has your “cheese” moved recently in your own life or leadership roles? Share your thoughts in the comments below!