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Tips for Exploratory Calls
Tips for Exploratory Calls

A detailed example showcasing how exploratory calls work and how they play a vital role in refining and improving Virtual Role connections

Mitchell Elequin avatar
Written by Mitchell Elequin
Updated over a week ago

The Purpose and Need for One-Hour Calls with Virtual Roles

At Switchboard, every connection begins with a one-hour call. With our part-time volunteering opportunities, called "Virtual Roles," this conversation is essential. Why? This initial chat allows Kingdom Consultants (KC) and Great Commission Organizations (GCO) to get to accomplish the following:

  1. Build a good foundation for collaboration

  2. Align around the desired outcomes

  3. Screen out a bad fit early in the process.
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Getting to Know One Another

What's your story?

How has God grown your heart for missions?

What are your hobbies and pastimes?

At Switchboard, we believe the best collaboration always starts with a simple conversation. Strong relationships are the solid foundation of impactful work for the Kingdom. Use these 60min to get to know each other, discover shared interests, and pray together.


​Align Around Desired Outcome

What are you trying to accomplish?

How do you think your gifts can help address this opportunity?

Do we need to modify this role description at all based on our conversation?

Lastly, work together over the course of your conversation to determine what you are trying to accomplish together, how the Kingdom Consultant's skills can apply towards that outcome, and whether or not the role still accurately describes the blend of outcome and skills you discover together during your exploratory call. In other words, make sure this really is a good match!

If it's not a great match, you have several options available to you:

  1. Configure the role to the volunteer. This works great if the GCO and KC are a great fit from a missional and relational standpoint but the role isn't a great opportunity given your new understanding of the KC's skills. Read below for an example of how this process unfolds:

  2. Bless one another and move on. Part of exploratory calls is checking to see if you aren't a good fit for each other. Simply part ways on good terms, blessing and praying for the other. You'll find other KCs and opportunities on Switchboard!

An Example of Configuring a Role to a Volunteer:

The GCO's Need: A Great Commission worker, Clara, is looking for a volunteer to enhance their online presence and creates a role called “Digital Marketing Coordinator.” With this role, Clara is trying to meet two primary needs:
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1. Website Design and Content Update: She wants to redesign her website and regularly update its content.
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2. Social Media Management: She needs someone to manage her social media platforms, increasing engagement and outreach.
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​The KC's Profile: John, a Kingdom Consultant, comes across this opportunity on Switchboard. He has a background in web design and content creation but limited experience in social media management.

One-Hour Call Exploration:

During the one-hour call between Clara and John, both parties discuss the organization's needs and John’s expertise. It becomes clear that John is well-equipped to handle the website redesign and content update. However, his skills in social media management are not as strong.

Tailoring the Role to the KC:

Recognizing John’s strengths, Clara decides to modify the role. John is now tasked solely with the website redesign and content management, aligning with his skills and interests.

Creating an Additional Role:

Clara still needs someone for social media management. Therefore, she creates a new role focusing exclusively on social media. This new role is then listed on Switchboard, seeking another volunteer who specializes in social media strategies and engagement.

Successful Collaboration:

John starts working on the website, bringing his expertise to the table and effectively meeting part of the Clara’s initial requirements. Simultaneously, Clara recruits Emily, another KC who is adept at social media management. Emily takes over the social media aspect, ensuring that the organization’s needs are fully met.

Outcome:

Through this process, Clara successfully fills her requirement by splitting the initial role into two parts, allowing each volunteer to contribute in areas where they excel. John is satisfied as he gets to work on a project suited to his skill set, and Emily finds an opportunity that aligns with her social media expertise. This exemplifies how Switchboard’s one-hour call enable KCs and GCOs to configure virtual roles, ensuring that both the needs of the GCO and the strengths of the KCs are optimally utilized.


Screening Out a Bad Relationship-Fit Early

An equally important aspect of the one-hour call is its role in early detection of compatibility issues. Sometimes, despite initial expectations, a KC and a GCO might discover that they shouldn’t be working together. This realization, although disappointing, is valuable. The call facilitates a no-fault conclusion where the GCO can re-list the opportunity, allowing another volunteer to step in, ensuring a better match for both the GCO and the new volunteer.

Conclusion

The one-hour calls at Switchboard serve a multifaceted purpose in the realm of virtual roles. They are pivotal in building an initial understanding between KCs and GCOs, fine-tuning the roles to match the volunteer’s skills with the organization's needs, and identifying early on if a pairing is a bad fit. This process not only ensures that each volunteer's talents are optimally utilized but also keeps Switchboard connections relational and adaptable. Ultimately, these calls foster successful and meaningful partnerships that serve our shared Great Commission purpose.

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