How Do You Use Leadership In Volunteer Management?
Volunteers need guidance from nonprofit managers about what to do and how to do it. Dealing with volunteers, however, is different from supervising staff. Because they have no monetary incentive, volunteers can walk out on a project at any time if they get too frustrated. You also want them to come back. Here’s how leadership skills can benefit the way you manage them. Ask volunteers how they’d like to help your organization. A leadership style of management delegates tasks according to preferences whenever possible. Your volunteers will be more willing to take on unpleasant work when they see you’re making an effort to please as many people as you can. Give your volunteers clear instructions. There shouldn’t be any doubt in their minds about what they need to do. Brief all staff members involved in a project about the different tasks that need to be done so they can guide anyone who asks for help. Learn the names of each volunteer and open a dialogue with them at least once throughout