Category Archives: organizations

The 1pinion Effect

17 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by in NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, prospective volunteer, recruitment, staff and volunteer relationships, Uncategorized, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer statistics

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“Our CEO has a next door neighbor who has a son who got into minor trouble,” Marlee, a volunteer manager says. “The neighbor asked our CEO if his son could do community service at her organization. I called the son repeatedly, left messages, but he never returned my calls. Wouldn’t you know it, my manager told me our CEO was annoyed because the neighbor blames me for not connecting with the son. My manager said our CEO made the comment that volunteers never seem to be able to get started here.” Marlee sighed. “I can’t win.”

Ehhhhhhhhhh. How can one opinion or circumstance create a belief? Why didn’t the CEO say, to her neighbor, “that’s certainly not typical of OUR volunteer department.” How could she seemingly frame an entire belief on one opinion?

There is something known as Confirmation Bias, an effect that feeds our assumptions. So maybe, Marlee’s CEO might have simply felt that her neighbor’s son was just one more example of the volunteer department’s failure to properly onboard volunteers because she already believed it to be true.

Where did this belief come from? Did the CEO hear other examples (and it doesn’t matter how accurate they are, it’s the perception) of volunteers not onboarding quickly while not hearing enough success stories? Or maybe it has nothing to do with Marlee. Perhaps the CEO had a poor experience volunteering when in college. Maybe the CEO heard horror stories at networking events and applied those stories to all volunteer departments.  Is that fair? No, and even worse, perceptions are really hard to change.

So what should the strong volunteer leader do when hearing these 1pinion comments?

Don’t get mad or hurt-get curious: What is fueling these opinions? Do some research via surveying the staff or a one on one chat with senior management to find the sources of these perceptions. Say, “I heard something that concerns me. I think there is a perception that I don’t get in touch with new volunteers and I’d like to find out what happened to create that perception.” Then, be prepared to act! Refuting assumptions is one route to take, but there are better ways as in…

Double down on positive reporting: Counter negative perceptions by offering facts supporting positive volunteer department accomplishments. Review your stats to find areas that are lacking. Create new categories of reporting to freshen up the numbers. But, again, this is somewhat akin to refuting, so there is another thing to try…

Create your own performance improvement plan: No one wants to be unfairly criticized, so if there is a perception floating around that volunteers are not being contacted in a timely manner, embrace it on your terms. Let go of the frustration at having been unfairly labeled. A self-imposed performance improvement plan accomplishes two really important things.

One, it says a great deal about you-that you are always willing to improve (and here it’s not about being unfairly labeled, it’s about always striving for excellence).  Say, “If there is a perception that new volunteers are not called back in a timely manner, well it came from somewhere and I’m here to change that. I don’t want one prospective volunteer to slip through the cracks.” This approach shows that you don’t harbor an us (volunteer department) versus them (upper management) attitude, that you are solution-oriented, and that you are proactive and approachable.

Two, it allows you to create a new narrative by moving forward from this point of misconception.  (It’s so much easier to create new impressions, than fix old ones). By acknowledging the old perception, you are not positioning yourself for a fight. You are forging a new, cooperative path, one in which your future statistics will be embraced in a positive light. And you will find your critics becoming supporters along this journey.

We are all prone to confirmation bias. As proactive leaders, we must put aside our personal feelings when hearing negative perceptions, and work to change those perceptions by creating new, positive ones.

Let’s face it. Opinions are not facts. Opinions can be unfair. While we may not be able to control each and every negative opinion, as proactive leaders, we certainly can control what we do about them. And the thing we do best is understand people and their motivations.

When confronted with 1pinions, we can gear up for a pointless fight or we can use our strengths to create new and more positive realities.

-Meridian

Interview With a Volunteer: Ellie Part 2

10 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by in charities, NGO, non-profit, organizations, recruitment, Uncategorized, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer recruitment

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Part two of an interview with Ellie, a volunteer for 18 years with a hospice.

VPT: Let’s look at things in retrospect now. What advice do you have for volunteer managers? How can we keep someone like you?

E: I’d say that having someone a volunteer can count on is important.

VPT: In what way?

E: It’s trust. I trusted my supervisor and he trusted me.

VPT: You moved away. But you stopped volunteering before you moved. Was it because you were contemplating the move?

E: (pauses) No.

VPT: What was it then?

E: Things were changing.

VPT: In what way?

E: Well, my supervisor was taking on more and more work. I began to realize that when I needed support or a chance to talk, I may go to his office and he would not be available or at another location.

VPT: That support was important.

E: Well, yes, because I wanted to make sure that I was doing the right thing. I did not want to do anything wrong.

VPT: And so, you saw change happening.

E: Yes.

VPT: Ok, I am asking you to be honest here. As volunteer managers, we’ve all done this. We sometimes share our frustrations at the amount of extra work with our volunteers, although we don’t mean to do that. Did your supervisor start sharing his frustrations with you?

E: No, not at all. See, the type of relationship I had with my volunteer supervisor was so successful. He didn’t have to say a word to me. I instinctively knew that he was overburdened all on my own.

VPT: Do you think it is harder for new volunteers if they don’t forge that deep relationship with their volunteer manager?

E: I don’t know because I can’t compare it to anything I experienced. I would ask though, are volunteers getting what they need? I know I had it pretty good, and by the same token, I wonder if volunteers who don’t receive the same vote of confidence will stay.

VPT: So when did you decide to stop volunteering?

E: I had this patient, Joy, the sweetest lady you’d ever meet. I would go to her house and take her to do her shopping. We had so much fun together, But one day, I went to her house. I was tired, out of sorts I guess and I felt a bit like I didn’t want to go to the store. Joy said to me, Are you all right? Have I done anything to upset you? Well, I assured Joy that she could never upset me and I apologized over and over. I thought long and hard about that moment.

VPT: And that had something to do with your leaving?

E: I knew then, that I was done. How? It was my attitude and reactions that told me. I knew that it was time. I had nothing more to give. And if I can’t give 100%, then I’m not doing any good for the people I’m supposed to be helping.

VPT: How did that make you feel?

E: (sighs) It made me sad, because it had been such a good ride.

VPT: Eighteen years. That’s a long time. Did you feel any guilt over leaving?

E:  No, no guilt because I gave my all while I was there. It was just time.

VPT: How do you look back on it, now?

E: I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It was enlightening, rewarding, and was almost like a second carer.

VPT: What advice would you give to volunteers?

E: You get out what you put in. And, it is crucial to ask if you have questions and to share problems and experiences with your supervisor.

VPT: Any advice for volunteer managers?

E: Yes. Supervisors need to know that volunteers go through what I went through. They need to realize and look for signs that volunteers are going through a period of ineffectiveness and they need to address that. Nurture the volunteers you have.

VPT: Would you go back now that you’ve had some time off?

E: No. That is in the past now.

VPT: Thank you Ellie, for your honesty, your insights and your incredible volunteering.

E: My pleasure.

-Meridian

 

 

 

 

Interview With A Volunteer: Ellie

03 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by in charities, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, prospective volunteer, staff and volunteer relationships, treatment of volunteers, Uncategorized, Volunteer, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention, why should I volunteer

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We all know volunteer feedback is invaluable, during and after projects and assignments. There is also value in gathering feedback from former volunteers who have had the time to process their experiences and take aways.

Recently I was able to catch up with a retired volunteer, Ellie, and I asked her to look back on her years of volunteering for a hospice.

VolunteerPlainTalk (VPT): How many years did you volunteer?

Ellie (E): (laughs) “oh about 18.”

VPT: That’s a long time.

E: It was a long time, but it was good.

VPT: What was your favorite part of volunteering?

E: Hmmm, my favorite part. I liked the idea of giving and I always felt that I was receiving so much in return, but I guess you hear that a lot.

VPT: Do you remember the beginning?

E: Yes. I remember my training. At the end of training, the volunteer trainer handed me my first assignment. She told me that she believed I was ready. And she took me over to the window and pointed to the house of the person I was assigned to. She sort of let me know that it wasn’t far away and I would be close to help if I needed it.

VPT: How did that go?

E: I was nervous, but I felt prepared.

VPT: Was your first assignment the impetus that kept you going?

E: Actually, it was my first long-term patient, who came right after. We became incredibly close. Before she passed away, she said that she had added one more daughter to her family. And shortly before she died, she called me in and said that she needed to know that I was going to be ok. The extent of our connection was something I never expected.

VPT: How much of a role did your volunteer manager play in your success?

E: Oh my goodness, so much. The fact that my trainer and my supervisor, Jim trusted me, had faith that I could do this was huge. And, I always felt that if I had a question, he would be there. I remember I was sitting with one patient whose wife had a part-time job. He had a morphine drip and he thought it wasn’t working and he said to me, I don’t understand why this is not working, can you find out? Now, I have no medical knowledge at all, but I immediately got on the phone and my supervisor got me to the right person. That went a long way to building my self-confidence.

VPT: So, having someone to contact was hugely important.

E: Absolutely. I always counted on being able to knock on his door, go in and receive the support I needed.

VPT: You are also a thirty year now retired school teacher. Why did you volunteer at a hospice and not with children?

E: (laughs) I think I needed to do something different. After my husband died so young, I felt like I wanted to do something that was meaningful.

VPT: Did his death influence your decision to volunteer for a hospice?

E: I don’t think so. It was over three years between his death and my decision to volunteer.

VPT: How did you find hospice?

E: I saw this ad, and I knew right then it was a way to fill my life with some meaning.

VPT: So, there was no magic formula for recruiting you?

E: Sorry, no.

VPT: Many people think hospice volunteering is depressing. Were you burdened with sadness?

E: No. It was quite the opposite. It was fulfilling.

VPT: Was there any opportunity for fun?

E: Oh, my yes. I had so much fun with the staff. We let loose all the time. The seriousness of our work was a contrast to the silliness we experienced. I remember the time we made over 100 pumpkin pies for a Thanksgiving dinner in our care center. We laughed the whole time. Having that fun kept us wanting to do more, you know what I mean?

VPT: I do. Was having fun a good use of your volunteer supervisor’s time do you think?

E: Absolutely. Life is full of balances. The balance between serious work and letting off steam goes a long way to bond us together. It strengthened our team.

VPT: I’m pushing here, but I wonder. Have you ever connected your losing your husband, the man you had planned on retiring with, and your work in hospice?

E: Ehh, no. I just know that I had a lot of years to give and it was a way to fill my life with some meaningful work.  But I do remember one year, I signed up to volunteer at a children’s grief camp.  That day, while driving on the way to camp, I thought about all the little kids who were coming. They had all lost someone important in their lives and I had a little meltdown. I missed my husband.

VPT: That must have been tough.

E: I thought about these kids and it occurred to me that I went through this years ago. It brings something home. While I was there, we had a ceremony at night. I was really grieving for my husband. It comes when you least expect it. Sometimes you have an epiphany to a particular circumstance you’ve been through. It was almost like a total realization I had been through a significant loss and I released that.

VPT: I’m at a loss for words.

E: I even had grief counseling after his death. But my meltdown shocked me. I thought I had processed the grief.

VPT: So, in retrospect, did your volunteering have a personal positive impact on you?

E: Oh my, yes.

Next time: Part 2 of this interview. Ellie moved away from her hospice, but she stopped volunteering before she moved. Why?

-Meridian

Two Upcoming Events

19 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in charities, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, Uncategorized, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management

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Where can you learn from the world’s best authorities on volunteer management? At the 2017 National Summit on Volunteer Engagement Leadership scheduled for July 26-28, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Here, experts will share their wisdom and experiences in over 100 breakout sessions during the three day summit. Choosing the sessions to attend will be an incredibly difficult undertaking, given the excellent lineup of foremost authorities in volunteer engagement. Here is a partial list of the presenting superstars:

Susan J. Ellis-Energize Inc., Rob Jackson-Rob Jackson Consulting , Elisa Kosarin- Twenty Hats, Betty Stallings, Barry Altland-Head, Heart And Hands Engagement , Tony Goodrow-Better Impact , Liza Dyer-Liza’s blog, Tobi Johnson-VolunteerPro, Jennifer Bennett-VolunteerMatch , Beth Steinhorn-JFFixler Group  

I am honored to also be presenting a workshop on elevating volunteer management by focusing on creating the building blocks for a volunteer leader’s personal brand. You are after all, the face of your program. I am so exited to be part of this amazing summit. I would love for you to join me if you are attending. The breakout will be interactive, fun and you will leave with concrete tools to utilize in strengthening your leadership. The session particulars are:

Breakout 1-Wednesday, July 26th, from 2:15-3:45pm

Track: Professional Development see track here

From Manager to Leader: Elevating Volunteer Management
Meridian Swift, Author and Blogger | volunteerplaintalk.com
Join this interactive session that focuses on developing your own personal leadership brand. Explore the six building blocks that define proactive versus reactive volunteer management. Awaken the leader within to advance your program’s standing within your organization through re-imagined thinking.

Hopefully we will see you in Minnesota in July.

The other exciting event is a joint venture between myself and Elisa Kosarin (see above list of superstars) from Twenty Hats. Because we are both passionate about supporting all the great volunteer managers who work tirelessly in our profession, Elisa came up with this wonderful idea for a national retreat to be held in the fall of 2018. I was more than happy to get on board. But wait! A contest is involved! Here are the particulars from Elisa:

On the board of your volunteer managers association or DOVIA? We have a contest for you!

Volunteer Management Pros Meridian Swift of Volunteer Plain Talkand Elisa Kosarin of Twenty Hats are teaming up. They would like to host a weekend-long retreat just for volunteer managers.
This first-ever national retreat would include two days of workshops, conversation, and fun to help you revitalize your professional passion. This is not a conference! Elisa and Meridian are providing the setting and the coaching for you to discover new insights into your path, career, and personal goals.

The event is planned for the fall of 2018 — but they need your help in finding an awesome spot to hold the retreat.

And that’s where the CONTEST comes in:

If you are a Leader of Volunteers who sits on the board of your volunteer manager association, please help find the venue for the 2018 retreat!
The association that finds the winning venue receives the benefit of THREE FREE REGISTRATIONS for this event. In addition, the winning association will receive a special discounted price for any other members who would like to attend.
Is your organization in?  If yes,here are the specs for the retreat venue:
  • Available for two nights, Friday and Saturday
  • Time frame is a weekend in October 2018
  • Large enough to accommodate 30-50 guests
  • Meals provided, or list of catering options provided
  • At least two meeting spaces available
  • Price average $150 per day, if meals provided

If you represent an organization that’s game for this contest, email Elisa at Twenty Hats to enter.

The deadline to identify a venue is May 31.

Email Elisa if you have any questions and happy searching!

Thank you for all you do.

-Meridian

Luncheon and Food for Thought…

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, staff and volunteer relationships, treatment of volunteers, Uncategorized, volunteer appreciation week, volunteer coordinator, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention

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Luncheon and Food for Thought 001

Get your dancing shoes on! This year, volunteer appreciation week in the US is April 23-29. It’s coming up in May for Australia, and June for the UK and New Zealand.

If you have a luncheon planned, you’ve long ago selected the venue and contacted the speakers. You’ve ordered the cute online mini calculators for giveaways. (of course your calculators were shipped late because the vendor mixed up your order with one from the company, “Meals on Wheelies” who is actually a pizza delivery joint in Appleton Wisconsin) You will give up your Friday night tickets for the punk concert, “Zombie Brains Munchfest” and instead, you will sit alone, wrapping the calculators in cute purple tissue paper (which serves nicely to dab your tears) because your friends and family say they are tired of being unpaid labor.

Volunteer appreciation events vacuum up our time and emotional energy like giant tornadoes trailing balloons. Expectations are high. Is the food great? Are the speeches sincere? Will I be able to make each volunteer feel special? But what about the volunteers who are out-of-town or are ill or just can’t come? What about the day after the event? The week? The year? Do the speeches and chocolate fountains last?

I’m not against events. Not at all. I am though, for grabbing any opportunity to improve volunteer engagement. What if we made volunteer week a kickoff, rather than a stand alone event?

Why not use volunteer week as a brightly colored launch to enlist staff support for acknowledging volunteers all year-long? It makes sense to jump on the festive events as a springboard for a volunteer recognition calendar. With our orchestration, ongoing volunteer appreciation can become a learned behavior within organizations.

While the “we heart volunteers” posters are up, the splashy balloons float in the hallways, and the staff is sampling that star shaped cherry cheesecake, it’s time to pounce! As these vibrant visuals draw attention to your volunteers, it’s the perfect time to visit each department and share your recognition calendar for the year.
A sample calendar can look something like this:

The Volunteer Department Yearly Calendar of Volunteer Recognition!
Every first of the month I will pass around birthday cards for the volunteers who are celebrating birthdays. I would appreciate your signature. The cards will then be mailed to the volunteers. These simple but effective cards remind each volunteer that the entire organization appreciates them on their special day. Individual recognition goes a long way towards volunteer retention.

Every third Wednesday of each month I will visit one department to write down testimonials from staff on the incredible impact volunteers have on supporting our mission. These testimonials will be published in our volunteer newsletter which is shared with all volunteers. In addition, the testimonials will serve to recruit prospective volunteers as well. Here is the list of scheduled departments for the next twelve months. Please be thinking about our volunteers and their contributions. Your testimonials serve to reinforce the volunteer support your department deems beneficial. (Bonus: keep all the testimonials for other purposes such as recruitment ads, speeches to groups etc.)

Every quarter I will be videotaping several staff members expressing a simple ‘thank you’ to our volunteers and I will be showing the videos at the beginning of our volunteer meetings. These videos will serve to remind the volunteers that they are important members of our team. (Bonus-you can show all of the videos at next year’s luncheon)

I will remind everyone in an email blast the first of each month. Thank you for participating in our plan to retain our valuable volunteers and to encourage new volunteers. Staff appreciation is a motivating factor in cultivating a supportive team.

Your written plan can include:
A-what and when (the schedule)
B-how (the particulars)
C-why (the benefit to volunteers and organization)                                                                       D-in addition, your reminder schedule

Volunteer recognition is meaningful and fun on event day. We serve up praise along with chicken salad and we may even give awards for volunteer of the year. But awards look backwards. Let’s also look forwards. Let’s develop a plan to set the tone of appreciation for the coming year. Heck, maybe announce that at next year’s luncheon, there will be an additional award for the staff members who excel at engaging and recognizing volunteers.

Now wouldn’t that be something to truly celebrate?
-Meridian

New Words Added to the Volunteer Management Dictionary

05 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in charities, corporate volunteering, group volunteering, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, prospective volunteer, staff and volunteer relationships, Uncategorized, Volunteer, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer project, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention, volunteer statistics

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Added to the Volunteer Management Dictionary

It’s that time of year when the Committee to Define Volunteer Management gets together at a back table in Pete’s Bar, Grill and Bait Shop. Together, these brave members scratch their heads over several pints and attempt to come up with a succinct explanation of volunteer management. This year, they gave up once again after rejecting the phrase “herding cats,” but they decided to add the following words to the dictionary of volunteer management.

Volvorce: When a volunteer divorces the organization as in “No, I just can’t go get new volunteer Dinesh, because since no one called him back about getting started after I introduced him to finance, he volvorced us.”

Meetcolepsy: When too many meetings cause you to simply fall into a stupor at the thought of another talk-fest as in “No, I couldn’t make that fourteenth meeting about using the volunteers to stand by the back door in case someone gets confused because I contracted meetcolepsy. Want to see my doctor’s slip?”

Latespectation: A last-minute request for volunteers that is expected to be filled as if you were given weeks to prepare, as in “Oh, so you need 5 volunteers tomorrow morning for an assignment that you said was extremely important? Your latespectation is showing.”

Creditjacking: When another staff member takes credit for a successful endeavor that you or your volunteers accomplished as in “Yes, I’m glad you praised that project during the senior managers’ meeting, but let’s not creditjack the volunteers’ work, ok?”

Duhtistics: Stats that are so incredibly obvious, like volunteers are super nice as in “I won’t bore the board with duhtistics that you’ve heard before. No, instead I want to point out some new and exciting projects we are undertaking.”

AVOL: A volunteer who inexplicably does not return calls, emails or letters as in “I’m glad you noticed volunteer Myrna has been missing lately. I’m trying everything in my power to get in touch with her. Right now she’s AVOL.”

Volunteer Lite: A request for a volunteer to do a menial, mindless task as in, “You’re asking me for one of our highly trained volunteers to clean out the storage closet so you can use it for your supplies? You don’t want a full-bodied volunteer, you want a volunteer lite.”

Miracalls: Calls made to volunteers for an especially challenging or late request as in, “Woah, that’s a really challenging request (or time frame). I’ll be holed up in my office for the rest of the day, making miracalls.”

Informashunned: (pronounced in-for-may-shunned) Not given the essential information needed to properly place a volunteer as in “I have recruited four of our best volunteers for that assignment, but my pleas for crucial information have been ignored. Right now, our volunteers are informashunned.”

Nopinion: Volunteers wanted, but not their opinions as in, “I’m glad you were able to use volunteer Mark’s expertise, but he felt rebuffed when he offered additional knowledge. I guess you really want an expert but nopinion volunteer.” 

Vombie: That volunteer everyone is afraid of and no one wants to council or fire, as in, “I know Janey is a handful and she’s been here for what, twenty years now. I guess she’s been allowed to attain Vombie status and now that I’m here, I will deal with it in a professional manner.”

Callwaiter: The notion that volunteers sit by the phone just waiting to hear from us as in, “It is Friday afternoon and most of our volunteers have already made plans for tomorrow. I’ll make some miracalls, but our vibrant and diverse volunteers aren’t callwaiters.”

Marathonitor: The running around, checking, double-checking and rechecking to ensure that volunteers have all the information and tools they need to succeed as in “Our fifteen volunteers are ready for Saturday’s important annual event, but in order for them to excel, I will be marathonitoring their involvement, so I won’t be attending any meetings tomorrow or making miracalls to fill latespectation requests.”

Well, there you have it. As one of the senior members of the Committee to Define Volunteer Management said after several glasses of Pinot Grigio, “Dang, defining volunteer management is really impifficult.”

-Meridian

Volunteering is All About Helping, Isn’t It?

29 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in charities, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, treatment of volunteers, Uncategorized, Volunteer, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer retention

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Volunteering is About Helping, Isn't It

Let’s hope for the best

“No good deed goes unpunished.”   … Oscar Wilde

“I couldn’t stop, not after I’d been with her for so long.” Volunteer Jill spoke of her decision to keep seeing the client assigned by her volunteer manager, even though the client was no longer on the program. “Aren’t we supposed to be helpful? I mean, I have a strong connection with her and her family. I can’t just pull the plug.”

“I didn’t see the harm,” said Miranda, Jill’s volunteer coordinator. “I felt it would be cruel to keep Jill from continuing this great connection. But then, my CEO summoned me the day this former client called in to complain. It seems that Jill gave the client some advice and the client thought she was back on our program.”

What do we do with volunteers who want to stay with clients after the client no longer is receiving our services? If we’ve made a meaningful match between volunteer and client, then we understand how hard it is for the volunteer to pull back. Severing the relationship seems cruel. Besides, don’t volunteers have free will?

Although this situation appears muddy, it really is crystal clear: The relationship forged with the client belongs solely to the organization. Staff, contractors, and volunteers all participate in the organization’s relationship with a client. None of us would have created a connection with this client on our own, therefore we do not have a personal relationship. When the organization severs that relationship, we are done.

It is one of those tricky realms where clear boundaries, policies and documentation is crucial. If you no longer provide support for the volunteer’s efforts because the client is not in your care, the volunteer is then free to establish their own boundaries and set their own limitations.

Here’s the question: Should a mishap occur, will the family have a clear understanding that the volunteer is not representing your organization?  That lack of understanding can become a liability nightmare.

What steps do we need to take when a volunteer feels they must continue to help a former client or family member?

  • Include organizational ties vs. personal ties during orientation, induction and training. Make sure each and every volunteer is aware that they are part of a team, and not individually forming relationships with your clients.
  • Have a clear policy already on paper. The strictest policy would be to fire the volunteer. Or, you may place the volunteer on a temporary leave. Or you might place the volunteer on suspension. Or, you could trust the volunteer to act in a professional manner and monitor their behavior. The point is, have a policy to follow.
  • Communicate with everyone involved. Communicate your policies and boundaries with your volunteer.
  • Speak to the former client. Explain that your volunteer is continuing to be involved as a private citizen, but this means your organization does not support or back the volunteer’s actions.
  • Explain to staff. Be up front, tell appropriate managers and staff and show them the steps you have taken to ensure no harm will befall the organization, client or volunteer.
  •  Document every step of this process. Draft a letter to the client outlining the conversation you had with them and keep a copy in the volunteer’s file. Have the volunteer sign a statement absolving you of all responsibility concerning their actions.

Connecting volunteers with clients is one of the most satisfying outcomes of our profession. Witnessing a bond formed between volunteer and client is immensely gratifying. Having to cut those ties can be frustrating and painful.

But we have to remember that not all aspects of our jobs will be easy. At times, we must do the hard things, the necessary things in order to maintain a professional program.

Leadership means developing the strength to confront and manage the harder parts of engaging volunteers. And elevating volunteer management means becoming a strong leader.

-Meridian

Induction vs. Orientation: The one year volunteer committment

22 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in corporate volunteering, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, prospective volunteer, recruitment, treatment of volunteers, Uncategorized, Volunteer, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention

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Induction vs. Orientation

Two volunteer managers, Jessup and Chloe were both excited when the brought in new volunteers.

Jessup, who manages volunteers for a start-up, said, “I was asked to find volunteers to help with our kick off campaign. I brought in a trio of talented volunteers and one of our marketers patiently showed them what needed to be done. The volunteers did exceptionally well, but they didn’t stay with us very long. I had to recruit again and again.”

Chloe, meanwhile, who manages volunteers at a different start-up said, “I recruited a few volunteers to help with our kick-off. I was a bit worried because the volunteers were from varied backgrounds and had really different talents. But, you know, although it took them a bit to get going, all the staff here helped out. Those volunteers are still with us today.”

Volunteer retention is a nuanced and complicated concept. Some parts of it can be controlled and some cannot. But one thing we can control is induction and orientation. Why does a seemingly perfect volunteer become disinterested? Why does another volunteer fit in like a glove? How do volunteers gel with the mission?

Let’s look at induction and orientation: Can we get away with offering one and not the other?

Induction is the formal process in which to introduce a volunteer to their job. (the mechanics)

Orientation is the integration of the volunteer into the organization. (the gel)

Jessup’s organization lost volunteers because they did not orient them. Chloe’s on the other hand, used both induction and orientation.

As volunteer managers, we need to use both induction and orientation to retain great volunteers. And, our entire organizations must be involved. Here is an example:

Induction:

  1. Volunteer manager shows volunteer where break room is, supplies are kept, what the policies are, etc.
  2. Staff member who best knows the job shows volunteer how to do the work, where bathroom nearest station is located, etc.

Orientation:

  1. Volunteer manager welcomes, presents organizational goals, history etc.
  2. CEO welcomes volunteers to organization, emphasizes contributions from volunteers.
  3. A seasoned volunteer is paired with newbie to mentor and encourage.
  4. Staff introduces themselves to volunteer, thanks, offers assistance, assures volunteer they are appreciated and part of team.

Both induction and orientation are vital to engaging volunteers. If we make them feel a part of the team, but do not give them the knowledge and equipment to do their jobs, they will leave. If we give them all the training in the world, but do not integrate them into our mission, they will also leave.

And here’s the thing. Most of us toy with the idea of having a volunteer sign a one year commitment. But maybe that’s just backwards. What we might do instead is ask our entire organization to sign a commitment for each and every volunteer. This commitment would look something like this:

I, the undersigned, ___________________________ commits to do my part in  orienting, inducting and engaging each and every new volunteer for as long as that volunteer is ethically representing our organization and mission.

Ask the CEO to require each staff member to sign this commitment. And maybe if you are feeling a bit ambitious, you can point out that volunteer engagement should be part of each employee’s yearly evaluation.

Woah, be still my heart.

-Meridian

 

The Inner Volunteer

15 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in charities, corporate volunteering, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, prospective volunteer, Uncategorized, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer project, volunteer recruitment, volunteer retention

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The Inner Volunteer

Do the words, skilled volunteers make you shudder?

One day Marcel reported his recruitment efforts to the executive action committee. “I had just reported on the addition of several new corporate groups when the executive director stopped me and asked why I couldn’t just get public school teachers to come in on Saturdays and read to the children at our shelters.”

The CEO asked, “wouldn’t it be a lot easier because teachers already have the skill set?”

Marcel continued, “In my head I wanted to ask her if, after a hectic week directing a charity organization, why didn’t she go on her day off and volunteer to run a startup charity organization. I mean, yes, I’m recruiting teachers because of their skill sets, but so many other types of volunteers passionately want to read to our clients’ children. To me, passion is what makes for a great volunteer.”

Skilled volunteers are often equated with perfect volunteers. Often, the term skilled volunteer becomes synonymous with the notion that volunteers are easy to recruit. Why not just get a lawyer, or a carpenter or an IT technician? But we know it isn’t so simple. Does a person with a certain desirable credential want to use that credential in volunteering? Sometimes, but of course, not always.

We’ve all had volunteers who wanted to forgo their professional skill set. We’ve seen them unlock their inner volunteer and utilize a side that would never appear on paper, but one that excites them and ultimately serves us so well. For example:

The FBI agent that becomes a hand holder for older male clients, This agent’s inner skill set came from having to listen carefully when interviewing suspects. Now he uses that skill in a new and gentle way.

The IT professional that creates an art therapy program. While her left digital brain is writing code, her right analog brain thirsts for the inner creativity she passionately exercises while volunteering. Ironically this volunteering outlet makes her better at her IT job.

The Stay at Home Mom who takes charge of a new program and excels at giving direction and getting results. At home, her inner manager directs her family’s activities, finances, and schedules with a precision borne out of love and necessity. She brings these honed skills to the program and treats her fellow volunteers as beloved family. They flourish under her direction.

And on the flip side, what about the skilled volunteer who taps into their inner director or educator and looks for more ways to help? What if they offer their expert advice and opinion on the workings of our organizations? Are our organizations prepared to accept this advice? For instance:

  • The teacher who wants to replace the reading program at the shelter because it is outdated and insensitive.
  • The carpenter who advises that the repairs on a project are unsafe and non-compliant with code.
  • The attorney who suggests that policies and procedures are antiquated, potentially a risk management nightmare and need a complete overhaul.
  • The marketing expert who points out that the latest campaign is fraught with errors and tired themes.

This begs these questions:

  • How does an organization define a skilled volunteer?
  • Are organizations willing to accept the advice that comes with experienced and accomplished people?  
  • Do organizations view skilled volunteers as peers, useful tools or something else?

This is why clarification is so important. When an organization asks for skilled volunteers, we need to ask these questions:

  • Do we value skill over passion and commitment?
  • Who is responsible for a skilled volunteers’ mistakes? Are these volunteers’ licenses or credentials at risk?
  • What are the legal ramifications of utilizing volunteers in a professional capacity?
  • Who is going to field expert questions from skilled volunteers? The CEO?

As organizations ask volunteer managers to recruit skilled volunteers for expert help, clarification is essential. Clarification goes far beyond a simple job description. It goes to the very core of the inner volunteer. Passion vs. skill. Sideline expertise vs. full skill set participation. Legal consideration vs. a laissez-faire attitude. Hands on vs. hands off risk management.

With skill there is ramification. Are we prepared legally to engage volunteers with licenses and certifications?

With skill comes expert advice. How much skilled advice are we willing to accept?

Or, are we just throwing out a poorly defined concept?

-Meridian

For a great article on skilled volunteering, please see Rob Jackson’s post on this subject.

 

 

 

We Should Start Our Own Cirque du Vol Show To Raise Money!

08 Wednesday Mar 2017

Posted by in charities, fund raising, NGO, non-profit, organizations, part time volunteer manager, Uncategorized, volunteer coordinator, volunteer management, volunteer project, volunteer retention

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We Should Start Our Own Cirque du Vol Show To Raise Money!

After Harry closed the door, Rasheem just sat for a moment, allowing himself to refocus. “Harry is one of those volunteers,” he said, “whose brain is constantly on the move. He is forever suggesting ways to improve and ways to reinvent. Often his ideas have nothing to do with the volunteer department. No, often he wants me to bring his ideas to marketing, fund-raising, finance, administration, and just about every other department we have. He’s not critical, but rather a great volunteer and he just wants us to be the best. But, this is exhausting.”

Some volunteers are their own whirling mini brain trust.  They see a challenge or an area that needs improvement and their minds go into overdrive. Funny thing is, most of the time, they’re right and you can see their point.

But when they come to you with their ideas, all you feel is the burden that comes with one of these choices facing you:

  1. Present the new idea to the appropriate person/dept and become a stressed middle man/woman.
  2. Tell the volunteer that while the idea is valid, this is not a good time.
  3. Refer the volunteer to the department in question and hope that they do not brush him/her off.
  4. Fib and say you’ll look into it and string the volunteer along for as long as you can.
  5. Quit-which is cowardly, but feels like the easiest thing to do.

Each choice presents such a VM burden that just hearing the words, “I have an idea,” sends you into a catatonic state. You begin to create little hiding places in your office so that you can slip under your desk, hands over ears, mumbling “If I don’t acknowledge it, it doesn’t exist.”

The question then becomes: Are volunteers just there to do what is asked or do volunteers bring vast amounts of creativity, knowledge, energy and experience to our organizational table? We, VM’s know the answer. So, what do we do? Besides quit.

One way to handle a volunteer improvement idea (vii)is to start a volunteer think tank. Gather your most creative volunteers and ask them to sort through each vii. Let them decide which ones are worth pursuing.

And here’s the thing about vii’s. They take an enormous amount of work to implement. No wonder marketing doesn’t want to hear how a cirque show will bring in loads of publicity. They’re busy with 50 other organizational ideas that they need to implement.

And while vii’s are lovely concepts, it is the results that matter. A think tank can pilot a program on a small-scale and present the results. Ask them to work on one project at a time to keep from overwhelming the system.

Your volunteer think tank wants a cirque?  Pare that big vii down to a manageable beginning.  Maybe they can hire a juggling clown for a marketing event so the kids in attendance will be entertained. See how that goes. Tell the think tank to: Start small. Get results. Gather stats. Take pictures. Tell the story. Compile feedback. Then do it all again.

We all have great ideas. But, ideas without the willingness to do the hard work are worthless. Instead of hiding under your desk, throwing your volunteers to chance, and  passing ideas on to other swamped departments, create a volunteer think tank and put those creative ideas to this test: Are we, the volunteers who believe in this great idea, willing to pilot a smaller project to prove that it is viable? And are we willing to put in the hard work in order to show results?

If the answer is yes, then who knows? The volunteers may start with a juggling clown. Then they’ll add acrobats. Then a full-blown cirque du volunteer may result. And you may just keep your sanity.

-Meridian