Thomas McKee, a trainer, motivational speaker and co-author of The New Breed: Understanding & Equipping the 21st-Century Volunteer, points out that making the following mistakes will not only chase volunteers away, but also burn them out.
1. Expecting only announcements to get volunteers. "Many people will never volunteer. Why aren't people volunteering? Because people want to be asked."
2. Going it alone. "One of the most effective recruiters I knew was my father. His team would meet once a month with a list of vacancies and brainstorm possible people who could fill those positions. Partnering is another effective way to recruit volunteers."
3. Recruiting lifetime individuals rather than short-term project teams. "Many people are afraid of getting tied into a job for a lifetime and never getting out of it."
4. Assuming that "no" means "never." "Sometimes the 'no' means that the prospect volunteer feels he or she would rather do something else."
5. Falling into the BIC ("butt in the chair") trap. "Most times the chair is better empty than filled with the wrong person who does nothing or is high maintenance."
6. Being people-driven rather than position-driven. "When I look at the volunteer team, I think 'position.' I ask, what positions do I need to accomplish our mission?"
7. Giving the position the wrong job title. "By the (job) names we use for our nonprofit professional staff, we are telling them that volunteer administration is not their primary job--which it really is."
For more information, visit www.volunteerpower.com.
(From the March-April 2009 issue of Advancing Philanthropy.)
Posted by Howard Barlow, NRS, Fargo
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