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Identifying and Recruiting Future Volunteer Leaders
By Heidi Richards, MS
'We sometimes feel that what we do is just a drop in the ocean, but the ocean
would be less because of that missing drop.' - Mother Theresa
Identifying and Recruiting Future Volunteer Leaders:
Did you
know that for the most part, the higher the education level of people the more
likely they are to volunteer - and the more hours they will give the
organization? Now is the time to look at your community and focus on finding
those volunteers. Not only will they be able to contribute their time and
experience, they most likely will have a specific talent or skill that will move
your organization forward.
Here are some other ideas for developing
future leaders in your organization:
Create a volunteer
leadership-training matrix (master plan). Give volunteer leaders many
opportunities to further their education, through training and continuing
education.
Host volunteer orientations on an annual basis, or more
often. Job descriptions change and grow, and volunteer leaders should be the
first to know of these changes. Knowledge equals power.
Allow your
volunteers to start where they are. Do they need to begin with a committee
assignment before co-chairing or chairing a committee? Oftentimes we want to put
high profile people in roles of leadership and authority before they have had
the proper training or gotten to know all the processes of their particular
committee. Experience builds leadership.
Learn about the people involved
- beyond their volunteer roles. Learn their likes, dislikes, talents, what
excites them, why they volunteer, etc. This will create a sense of Team and
unity that nothing can diminish.
Give potential leaders the chance to
prove themselves by providing limited opportunities for them to learn, grow and
shine. Have them run a meeting, co-facilitate a training program, or make a
presentation.
Provide continuous opportunities for feedback. This
includes needs assessments, and interim 'job applications.' People evolve and
learn new skills. The organization that stays on top of their volunteer
leadership development will never run out of potential and future leaders to
carry on the mission.
Build in 'term limits' so that you have a
continuous need for new, fresh ideas. Otherwise you will continue to hear 'we
have never done it that way,' from the old guard making it difficult if not
impossible to recruit people who wish to make a difference. Volunteers want to
be heard. Volunteers want to know that their efforts are appreciated.
©
2005 - Heidi Richards
About the Author:
Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing
Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is also the Founder
& CEO of the Womens ECommerce Association, International www.WECAI.org
(pronounced wee-ki) - an Internet organization that 'Helps Women Do Business on
the WEB.' Basic Membership is FREE. Ms. Richards can be reached at
Heidi@speakingwithspirit.com or heidi@wecai.org.
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