Getting the Most from Your Unpaid Workforce

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many non-profits. They come with challenges, however. For example, you have to find reliable people who fit your needs, integrate them into the organization, manage them effectively, and keep the good ones around. Easier said than done, perhaps—sometimes, volunteers may seem like more trouble than they’re worth. You need them, though it can be difficult to get the right people engaged and keep them in the fold. Do not be troubled, though. A volunteer workforce can be surprisingly effective, if you turn five big myths about volunteers on their heads.

The Myths

1. “Getting the right people is sheer luck.”

Target the right populations in the right places, and pique their interest in both your non-profit and the jobs. Recruiting will be less of a hassle, and you may be shocked by the quality—if not quantity—of the volunteer applicants you can generate. Read more

2. “Beggars shouldn’t be choosers.”

It’s usually better to go without for a period of time than to accept someone who doesn’t represent you well, and do the job to your standards. Be patient, and be selective for volunteers who can meet the requirements and fit your culture. Read more

3. “Realize half of your volunteers won’t show up.”

Accept individuals with the characteristics that make them likely to get fully engaged and perform effectively. Then, deliver the experience you’re promising, and you’ll build a volunteer base you can count on, and keep them coming back. Read more 

4. “Volunteers will motivate themselves.”

It’s easy for people to burn out, so you have to feed the fire. In short, if you effectively engage your volunteers, you’ll keep them interested and motivated, and benefit from new ideas, better performance, and consistent participation. Read more

5. “You can’t hold volunteers accountable.”

You can push volunteers to produce and hold them accountable, using tools from transparency-driven “peer pressure” to formal reviews that encourage high performance. At the end of the day, though, you can’t be afraid to cut ties. Read more 

Whether you have a Board made up of volunteers or you use them for administrative and operational work, you can get a lot out of those who are willing to help you on their dimes. You just need to get past the “volunteer mystique” that has many non-profits thinking “all are welcome.” It’s a lot like managing paid talent—not everyone fits the need, and “bad people” can be worse than no help at all. If you don’t buy into the myths, you can build and maintain a capable, committed, energetic, and highly productive volunteer workforce, give them a rewarding experience, and keep the best people coming back.

Learn More

Read the full article here and contact Snowflake for more information