Great ideas on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment and volunteer recognition! Ultimate Ideas Newsletter Bonus Article No 2 |
The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. Ferdinand Foch
Multiple motivations What motivates us moves us! All behaviour is motivated – even inaction. What actually motivates a person to volunteer is a complex and vexing question. Don’t assume that what motivates one volunteer, or one group of volunteers, holds true ‘across the board’.
WIIFM Always be able to answer the question for every potential volunteer – What’s In It For Me? (WIIFM). Consciously or subconsciously all recruits ask this question as part of deciding to volunteer. It’s not about being selfish, it’s about ‘cost benefit analysis’ – what are the benefits to me (feeling good about myself) and at what cost (giving up my free time)?
Here comes the judge Whatever a person’s motivations might be, it is important that you try to avoid making judgments about them. Once you become judgmental you no longer see that person’s potential as a volunteer. Just accept that we are all motivated by different things.
Win-win Explore each potential volunteer’s needs and reasons further. Embrace WIIFM to harness their motives rather than judge them. If a person is volunteering to assist in securing future paid employment, then provide tasks that complement their employment search and provide references for potential employers. Look for the ‘win-win’ for both sides.
Weaving a web So examine the motivations of potential and current volunteers – it can provide valuable insights into focusing your volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition efforts. Remember, people often have a combination of motivating factors in their decision to volunteer. This is why no single recruitment message is always the most effective. Weave a number of motivational elements into your volunteer recruitment message.
Life changes Realise that the motivations of volunteers can change over time. What motivates a volunteer to be recruited may be different to what motivates a volunteer to continue and be retained. One person might have joined for social interaction with others, but is now more motivated by the challenging work they are doing. Another person might have been motivated by wanting to give back to the community, but has now found the friendships formed are a major reason they have continued as a volunteer.
Researching further Get another perspective on volunteer motivation. Our latest research involving 2,444 volunteers identified 10 main types of motivation people have for volunteering – values, reciprocity, recognition, understanding, self-esteem, reactivity, social, protective, social interaction and career development.
As an added BONUS you can download the full report - The Volunteer Motivation Inventory. This article is adapted from the book Count On Me! 501 Ideas on Retaining, Recognizing and Rewarding Volunteers by Dr Judy Esmond Cheers Judy © Judy Esmond, 2007 Dr Judy Esmond is a leading expert on how to gain, sustain and retain volunteers. She is author of best selling books and numerous research reports on volunteer management, volunteer recruitment, retention and volunteer recognition. Subscribe to her 'Ultimate Ideas' Newsletter filled with 100s of great ideas on volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition at www.morevolunteers.com Save some time, energy and money! Are you looking for ideas for your own newsletters or other material? Take advantage of our FREE service. You may reprint part or all of this article or other newsletters for non-commercial use only. This is upon the understanding that you include a link back and the following information: Dr Judy Esmond is a leading expert on how to gain, sustain and retain volunteers. You can get her FREE E-BOOK and newsletter at www.morevolunteers.com
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