My college classmate, Andrea, posted a lovely note on Facebook today in appreciation of her mother-in-law. While it was noteworthy in and of itself (how many of us take the time to appreciate our in-laws, let alone articulate that appreciation so eloquently and in a public fashion?), I couldn’t help but read it and consider the lessons that volunteer engagement professionals can learn from her post.
Andrea opened with the question, “What is it about my mother-in-law that brings out the best in everyone around her?” As nonprofit professionals, we have the opportunity to bring out the best in the volunteers who share their time and skills with our organizations. Here’s how Andrea’s mother-in-law achieves that in her life.
1. “She is always helpful. You need a tissue? She happens to have one. … A zipper breaks? Magically, a safety pin appears.”
We so often think about how volunteers help our organization, our community, our staff, our clients or visitors, but do we take the time once training is completed to consider the myriad ways we can – and should – continue to help our volunteers be successful? What tools do they need ongoingly? If they have a question, do they know where to find the answer? If a piece of equipment breaks such as a microphone, are extra parts or back-ups easily accessible? What tools and resources can you have ready and available to support the volunteer to success even when things don’t go as planned?
2. “She always has a joke or funny anecdote to share.”
Humor goes a long a way to motivating and engaging volunteers, as do meaningful stories of impact. Do you have stories of how volunteers make a measurable difference in the lives of your clients, students, or community? Are you gathering stories from current volunteers and sharing them with others? Take the time to listen to those anecdotes that volunteers share with you and be sure to share them with others, including volunteers, staff, and leadership. And, if volunteers don’t offer these stories on their own, ask them, “What happened today that made you realize the positive difference you are making each day with us?”
3. “She is completely unselfish and makes everyone feel as if they are the most interesting, important person around.”
While you likely don’t have time to make every volunteer feel as if they are the most interesting, important volunteer around (nor do we want to single out any one volunteer as the most important), I believe the lesson here is that truly engaging volunteers as partners in our work means being unselfish. It means sharing the credit with others. It means recognizing and acknowledging the meaningful contributions made by volunteers. And, it means ensuring that the community at large knows that volunteers are a vital part of our organization’s work and success. A sincere “thank you” goes a long way to recognize volunteers. In fact, a personal thank you is the number one motivator listed by the thousands of volunteers we survey in our work with clients. Nevertheless, you can take that “thank you” a few steps further by sharing the impact and outcomes of volunteer efforts with the volunteers, their peers, the staff, leadership, and community at large. At that point, volunteers may realize that they are, in fact, the most interesting and important people around.
So, if you would like to bring out the best in the volunteers at your organization take a lesson from my friend’s mother-in-law… and, while you’re at it, maybe give a shout out to your own parents or in-laws as well!
With thanks to Andrea Shlipak Mail and her mother-in-law, Zelda, for allowing me to share their story.
