Volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer recognition ideas for you…
Thanks to everyone who either posted a volunteer management, volunteer recruitment or volunteer recognition question on the blog or as most people did, sent through their question directly via email. We can’t guarantee that we’ll get to them all but we’ll see how we go.
Now instead of starting with answers to these questions, this email was sent through to us by Christine (name changed) who is involved in the emergency management sector (organization supplied). This email represents the experiences of many involved in volunteer management, it is seldom talked about and we’d really like to hear what you think about this too.
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT – HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED?
Hi Judy,
I have a question for you! What keeps you motivated Judy? What keeps you so inspired? Does anyone ever inspire you or encourage you? How? I ask these questions as I’m sure there are many people out there whose job it is to recruit new volunteers and who don’t receive any recognition of their great work. They may be a volunteer themselves or they may be in a professional role and are paid to recruit new members or volunteers. I know they all do a sensational job of managing and recognising the tremendous effort volunteers put in.
But do these people ever receive any recognition or thanks or “anything” to say they do a great job? Or do they have to keep themselves motivated and keep reminding themselves they are doing a great job. Do they ever feel they are ignored and forgotten when the pats on the back are handed out? Maybe they do. Maybe they don’t. I would love to know and I would love to also know how many people feel this way.
For myself, it doesn’t take a lot to get me excited and I get amazing pleasure out of sharing my love of my organisation with others. If I recruit someone new, I am over the moon and then I’m always keen to support them in any way I can so they too can enjoy their volunteering. Often the only encouragement/recognition I receive to continue in my role is me telling myself “YOU ARE A LEGEND CHRISTINE” and that has kept me going great guns for nearly 30 years. I would love to know how others keep motivated.
Cheers
Christine
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?
Christine and I would really like to read your comments. Just below you’ll see the word ‘comment’ please click on the link and add your comments. If you would like to remain anonymous then just choose any name you like. Are you or others you know, struggling with the same issues in volunteer management?
Tags: motivation, recogition, taken for granted, volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, volunteering
We’d really like to read what you think. So add your comments. Again, if you would like to remain anonymous then just choose any name you like.
Cheers Judy
I agree that those of us who recruit and work with volunteers are often overlooked. It seems some people think we have an ‘easy’ job. I keep motivated by finding common ground and staying in communication with those volunteers I coach, mentor, recruit. Some of them have become great friends. We often see each other at various events as the agricultural sector is small and folks have a tendency to volunteer for more than one organizations. I absolutely love what I do! I also treasure and look forward to Dr. Judy’s emails each week.
I do agree that in this role of volunteer manager/coordinator we tend to be overlooked as we are not either saving the lives, contributing to the bottom line or showcasing whatever industry we fall into, saying that, I would say that we do contribute to all these areas, just not obviously. Also, many people is different roles are overlooked, its not just the volunteer sector.
I find it easy to remain motivated for a couple of reasons a) the people I recruit are coming on board because they want to, not because there is money or fame attached, just because they care, therefore its (more often than not) a very nice person with whom you become associated and they motivate you inturn. b) I think outside the square with the roles volunteers undertake, if I have a person who is going through emotional issues and through the volunteering they get through it, well its a nice feeling to have contributed. I also work with people rehabilitating through mental and physical illness, that is a great feeling when we have a ‘win’ with those volunteers. I think there are many ways in which to stay motivated that is not reliant on the ‘powers above’. Great topic!
I agree with Christine but had never really thought about it before to be honest! When I did just think about it, I believe my motivation comes from those volunteers I recruit, train and support. When I see the enjoyment and pleasure they get from working in our organisation, I get a huge sense of satisfaction and pleasure. Most people, including my higher management, think my job IS “easy” working with volunteers but I don’t always see it like that. Sure, there are challenges but for the last 22 years, working with volunteers, I feel I have gotten back so much from them that is has “almost” been easy. God Bless all those that recruit, train and support volunteers and God bless volunteers! Thanks to Christine for raising this and I will be most interested to see other peoples comments. Well done Christine, give yourself a(nother) pat on the back – we are terrific!
I’ve been to several network meeetings where this is often the topic of discussion. At one of these meetings it was suggested we start our own internal newsletters highlighting the events, bi-monthly stats, achievements of our programs, volunteer profiles etc. You could even publish the odd ‘challenge’ to see if anyone can come up with a solution. This is then sent to all staff, Board Members on a regular basis to let them know just what great things are happening. Even if no one responds at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that what you do is ‘out there’.
Perhaps I am one of the lucky ones as Volunteer manager at Cancer Council NSW I feel I and my team are very well recognized and appreciated for the work we do. Most importantly though, I think motivation needs to be self generated and I, like others responding to this topic enjoy my work immensely. Satisfaction comes from helping staff to recruit the right volunteers to meet there needs, from seeing the amazing outcomes volunteers enable us to achieve and also knowing the satisfaction and value volunteers get from doing what they do.
I suppose my biggest motivation comes from my experience of being a volunteer, as well as having worked in another organisation which excelled in volunteer management (“Org A”). I’ve seen what a well run volunteer Program looks like, and seen the volunteers, the clients, and the organisation reap the rewards. I began to volunteer for my current organisation (“Org B”), and actually had a negative experience. I expected the support and consideration which I saw in “org A”, instead I experienced a lack of communication, felt no support and eventually was ready to throw in the towl when I verged on burnout. The only reason I kept volunteering was because I loved the group of women I was working with, and saw that I was very much needed. I was on the verge of burnout, when the opportunity arose to become a volunteer coordinator with “Org B”. I decided to take on the role: I believe in our organisation, I believe in the value of volunteers, and my hope is that I’ll contribute to volunteers being treated better. I feel undervalued, and under-respected. I think the reason, though, is because our organisation doesn’t have a culture of appreciating the ‘cost’ of volunteers & what a good volunteer Program looks like. My motivation is wanting to make a difference. I might never see the results of my work, but I hope I contribute to a better experience for our volunteers, particularly our future volunteers. I have 3 people at work who I feel supported by, and they keep me sane. I am passionate about volunteering, it’s this that keeps me going.
I’m hearing you on this issue. I work in an event management company where we rely on volunteers to present our events. I feel the volunteers are sometimes taken for granted by some of the staff (and some of the competitors) – who in their defense have spent months bringing the event to the final stage and have their heads full of things that have to be done. I wrote to our company trying to highlight the role the volunteers play and their worth to our organisation. I think it is a bit like the nursing profession who were taken for granted for years, but the worm is turning slowly. I enjoy my work because I meet the most wonderful people – volunteer group leaders and volunteers.
I have also not thought about this issue before.
My thoughts are along the same lines as Ellen and Kerryn’s and my motivation comes from our volunteers, the friendship you end up developing over time is very rewarding. I also believe some of my motivation comes from my own belief in the standards I set and demonstrate for me and the volunteers. The reward for me every day is seeing the smiles and enthusiasm generated by happy volunteers.
Well done Christine- Three cheers to you!
My thoughts on what motivates me are reflected in many of the comments above, especially Kerryn’s comment on her volunteers.
Our volunteers also do what they do because they care and are motivated only by their desire to make a difference to the lives of other human beings. Knowing this, how can I not be motivated in my rewarding role as coordinator.
Each year on Manager’s of Volunteer’s Day I am presented with flowers by our Service Manager in appreciation for the work I do. I appreciate that. My team is recognised at special volunteer events throughout the year.
I am so interested in how others stay motivated themselves. I have only been in my position for a year, and although I feel I do a great job, it would be nice to hear from supervisors. I’ve decided my position is like being a parent: Just as you take pride in your child when he or she does well, you take pride in your volunteers when they perform well. That will have to suffice for me anyway.
Self motivation is probably one of the hardest things to do as a volunteer manger especially when you are tired. over worked and staff tells you what an easy job you have. I keep myself motivated not only by volunteers but by the clients the volunteers have helped. If that experience is a win-win, I have a new motivation to continue on.
I also belong to an area volunteer mangers group (we call it a community volunteer counsel) which is part of our area volunteer center. Every year we hold an one day conference where we offer sessions on volunteer management, self-care etc. We need this conference with honoring a volunteer manager of the year. Organziation nominate generally through the executive director their volunteer manager. A committee then reviews all the applications and selects the volunteer manager of the year. this is done last friday in October just before International volunteer manager day. We notice that since we have been doing this, more volunteer managers are getting the recognition they deserve from their organizations.
Yes, while volunteer managers get together on the committee to put this event on, we recognize that peer support is a great motivator. We also but on training all throughout the year, allowing volunteer managers to continue to educate themselves and most of the time finding out that we all have the same problems and concerns regardless of the type of organization we come from.
I find I’m motivated by a number of things:
1. Wanting to do a good job
2. Justifying my salary
3. Wanting to support other staff
4. Wanting to give volunteers a good experience
5. Promoting helping the environment as a cause
6. Keeping myself from getting bored
7. Trying to come up with new ideas
8. The fear that these ideas won’t work
9. The excitement when they do
Basically I think if you believe in what you’re doing you’re more than half way there.
I agree with all the comments posted. Personally I have found the best way to receive some recognition from management & others is to place a $ value to volunteer’s input & ensure that their efforts are advertised in my newsletter & in all interaction with management by myself. The $ value is a way to remind the organisation of how much they would have to pay to get the great results we achieve by volunteers..Money speaks louder than words sometimes!
When giving a report on volunteer recruitment to my local Rotary Club recently, I praised our star recruiter and congratulated him, to the applause of the audience. He must have liked it because he smiled broadly and gave a gentle tap on the shoulder of the person sitting next to him (whom he had recruited!).
I agree with what many others have written: that much of my job satisfaction comes from seeing the wonderful work that volunteers do, and the benefits they, and the people they work with, receive in doing that work.
However I firmly believe that primarily my motivation comes from a deep belief in the value of the work that I and other volunteers do – otherwise we’d all be doing something else!
Secondly I wouldn’t keep going if I didn’t belong to a small group of other people, doing a similar job to me, with whom I can joke, empathize, sympathize and whose company I generally enjoy whether at work or out of work hours. In this way many of the tasks we do together are a pleasure and fun, rather than work! when the hard times come we can share those too, and a burden shared is a burden halved.
An issue not just for volunteer managers, thanks for bringing it up! I attended an inspirational workshop re Appreciative Inquiry last year – worthwhile researching “AI” as a topic which can be applied to a community, an organization and most importantly for yourself. One way to stay self motivated.
Judy,
I just read the email from Christine. It is true. If looking for a pat on the back, it doesn’t happen often. I might get a “well done” when something big happens that involve volunteers.
Since taking over this position (with no knowledge at all) I’ve created a more formal volunteer program, including an online registration system, orientation classes, volunteer positions and much more.
I recently began a program to involve youth of all ages in service learning. I’m not real sure anyone noticed. To keep myself motivated, I remind myself how lucky I am to work with such giving people. I tell myself that I have the chance to make a difference in many children’s lives through the youth program.
As far as anyone else noticing, I feel like the people who lead the volunteer sector rate about as high as a receptionist in the eyes of others within the company. I do, however feel like many of the volunteers appreciate what I do. That makes a huge difference.
Jack (name changed as requested).