A few days ago, I learned that my beloved judo teacher, Sensei (Master) Keiko Fukuda, was awarded her 10th degree black belt. At age 98, she is the only woman in the world to ever receive this honor. Her promotion reminded me of many of the leadrship lessons I leanred from judo that I still use today, years after I left the sport.
What is the #1 thing that creates loyal customers? It’s the social construct of reciprocity. Reciprocity is one of those social norms we live by. No matter where we come from, we feel obligated to return a favor. But, how can this concept work for volunteer programs?
In the harried rush to meet deadlines and respond to email, phone calls, and crises, we often communicate the best we can to our colleague, cross our fingers, and then rush of to the next thing. But is this most effective tactic in the long run? Probably not -- not with our paid staff and certainly not with our volunteers.
If you’ve been involved in volunteer management for any length of time, you’ve inevitably come across people who just don’t get it. They either view volunteers as widgets who can be automatically plugged in to shore up the organizational need du jour, or they think volunteers are too much hassle to be worth it. If the decision makers in your organization feel this way, you’re not likely to get the support you need.
We assume that volunteer programs enhance the capacity of nonprofit organizations by supplementing and extending the work of paid staff. But by how much? Maybe it’s time for us to get down to the business of calculating our volunteer program ROI.
Many people think of volunteer screening interview as an exercise in risk management. That’s only partially true. Interviews can also be an opportunity to more deeply understand the motivations of your applicant, which can help you with volunteer retention down the road.
I have a new friend who is an engineering professor at a local university. He’s been struggling with implementing a new student service program in one of their dorms. He asked for suggestions, so I thought I’d share them with my readers, too.
Gratitude shouldn’t be overlooked. It may be one of the most powerful tactics in the your arsenal to combat stress. For overwhelmed nonprofit staff and volunteers, it can be an amazing coping strategy.
How to Boost the Power of Your Volunteer Orientation Process Most nonprofits use presentation-style training to deliver their volunteer orientations. Research shows, however, that presentations, by themselves, don’t teach behavior skills or promote critical thinking. It’s no wonder volunteers don’t always learn what they need to during the orientation process. Luckily, the effectiveness of presentations [...]
In the midst of scandals and declining trust, businesses are increasingly concerned with maintaining a positive brand reputation in the public eye. This represents a potential windfall for nonprofits who are looking to leverage needed resources from the business community, including volunteer support. So, what does buisness want?