It’s a new year, which can bring new challenges when trying to manage your volunteers. You may also see an influx of new volunteers as we navigate through the end of the pandemic. To help you retain and manage your volunteers, we have four volunteer management best practices for the new year.
1. Create detailed descriptions of volunteer positions available
Doing this will help inform your volunteers of what they are signing up for. It will also lead to less confusion that you might have to deal with. Volunteers will be better prepared for their job and will be able to get right to work. Volunteers will also be able to know if they have the skills needed for the job. You will be able to see which volunteers fit into what positions, and begin to prepare them. Volunteers will think highly of your organization and feel like they are at the right agency. This will improve overall volunteer management.
2. Provide training and orientation to those who need it
Some volunteers may need more training than others, which is why it is important to provide it. Provide training and orientation so your volunteers can be successful at their job. Give them the necessary tools by training them. They will be more effective in their role and excited to work. This will also allow them to make a bigger impact on the community. Having prepared volunteers will make your job as a volunteer leader more efficient and more rewarding.
3. Define goals for your volunteers
Defining your goals for your volunteers will help them stay motivated. It will also allow volunteers to know what they are working towards. They will work harder when they are working towards a common goal. Having these set goals for your agency shows that you are ready for your volunteers. This also shows you’re willing to put them to work. Give your volunteers different goals to work towards so they feel valued and special. This will make your volunteer management for the new year much easier.
4. Group your volunteers accordingly
The 4th best practice for managing your volunteers for the new year is to group them accordingly. Putting volunteers in groups will make managing them much easier. You can group them based on their skill level, knowledge level, or experience level. Smaller groups of volunteers are easier to manage than one large group. Appointing a group leader for each group can make managing them less challenging. These group leaders can be volunteers with more skills and experience. It also gives them a reason to keep coming back to be in charge of their group.
