Congratulations! You know how to recruit volunteers, how to retain them, and how to connect with them. It’s now time to discuss how to empower volunteers. Empowering volunteers enables them to be successful throughout their involvement with your association. If you empower them, they will be able to use that encouragement throughout their volunteer efforts. It is important to also keep in mind that the success of volunteers is not only important to the association, but also to the volunteers. Every individual who volunteers their time wants to feel as though their contributions matter. There are eight ways that an association can provide insight into reaching out and impacting a volunteer’s experience, empowering them.
Demonstrate Commitment: Show your volunteers how much they mean to you by demonstrating commitment. Above all, show them that you are committed as an association to their volunteer efforts.
Establish Credibility: Volunteers need to trust those with whom they work. Be sure to establish credibility early on to show them that they can trust you as their leader.
Remain Accessible: Many times, associations receive volunteers who are eager to enhance initiatives and further the mission and values of the association. It is imperative to remember that once you receive volunteers who are eager to dedicate their time and service you remain accessible. Show them that you are easily reached by answering their emails, providing them with your direct line or cell phone number, or even calling them to followup on how their experience is.
Offer Feedback: Some associations may struggle with differing personalities within their volunteer group. While it is good to have a variety of qualities in a volunteer, it can be difficult to manage. Be sure to constantly offer feedback. Most of the time volunteers may not even know if they are doing well or doing something wrong. Your advice will enable them to grow as a volunteer.
Encourage Solutions: Volunteers can often be hesitant to bring their fullest to an association because they are scared of making mistakes that can’t be fixed. As an association, you and your colleagues should constantly encourage solutions and let them know that mistakes can be fixed. Remember to be supportive and maintain optimism.
Recognize Activity: How many times do we really thank our volunteers? Think about it — they do so much work for free, how could we not possibly thank them enough? Remember to recognize activity by celebrating achievements and sharing accomplishments with all in your association. Above all, remind them of how thankful you are for their dedicated service.
Assign Tasks: There is a thin line between micromanaging volunteers and delegating projects. However,assigning tasks is very important to ensure volunteers stay on point and continue to develop successful outcomes.
Entrust Authority: Perhaps most importantly, show your volunteers that you trust their capabilities. Entrust their authority by giving them the power to make decisions on their assigned task. While it is good to delegate and assigned tasks, it’s also important to let volunteers be creative and independent within their assignments.
Think back to a time when you were empowered and how good it felt. Remember that feeling when working with your volunteers. Empowerment is one of the best ways to show your volunteers that you care about their success and experience within your association. Volunteers are responsible for excelling your association’s initiatives so remember to empower them to do their best.
Chrissy Kissinger, director of Committee Relations for the Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurses Society, graduated from Eastern University with a bachelors degree in communications. A seasoned professional in areas of development, public relations, and marketing, Chrissy joined the WOCN Society in February 2011, adding an innovative approach to membership and committee development. Chrissy previously worked in the development department at The Franklin Institute and has also lent her marketing expertise to Virtua Health. She is currently enrolled to receive her masters in business administration at Eastern University. Chrissy is an avid runner who enjoys running for causes such as Crohns and Colitis Disease and Cancer Research and Awareness. Chrissy resides in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
