Hight Performance Group, Inc.1 Best Practices for Recruiting and Onboarding Volunteers Presented by Cathi Hight

Hight Performance Group, Inc.2 Overview of Session  In this session, you’ll learn how to: –Identify volunteer characteristics and profile your best volunteers –Provide an invitation for members to serve –Explore what motivates people to volunteer –Discover how to onboard volunteers successfully

m © 2011 Hight Performance Group, Inc.3 How Do You Recognize Great Volunteer Candidates?  Identify the traits or characteristics of your best volunteers  Create a profile Self- initiator Flexible Responsible Fun Easy-to- work with Team Player Engaged Follows- through Positive

Hight Performance Group, Inc.4 Examples of Volunteer Profiles  Characteristics of a volunteer leader: –Experience leading groups or teams –Good interpersonal and communication skills –Enrolls others in the vision and goals –Coaches and mentors to bring out the best in others –Respected among peers –Organized and disciplined  Characteristics of a volunteer team member: –Enjoys working with others –Easy-to-get along with –Flexible with change, new roles or responsibilities –Positive attitude –Sense of humor –Follows through on commitments –Wants to achieve results –Honors team decisions

Hight Performance Group, Inc.5 How Do You Recognize Great Volunteer Candidates?

Hight Performance Group, Inc.6 How Do You Recognize Great Volunteer Candidates?  Look and see who’s actively involved or engaged in the Chamber  Consider those who are new and seeking opportunities for integration  Ask your best volunteers if they know others just like them (“Birds of a feather flock together.”)

Hight Performance Group, Inc.7 What Motivates Members to Volunteer?  Achievement  Affiliation  Power

Hight Performance Group, Inc.8 Achievement-Oriented Volunteers  Motivational Needs: –Sense of accomplishment –Being unique and highly skilled –Ability to use talents –Challenges to overcome –Meet professional and personal objectives –Setting goals and planning how to achieve them –Interesting, exciting work –Learning new skills –Being the best  How to Meet Needs: –Recognize specific accomplishments –Provide “Best” or “Most” awards –Plaques, trophies, certificates for individual contributions –Letter of commendation –Handwritten notes of appreciation –Invitation or sponsorship of special training –Special assignments and task forces

Hight Performance Group, Inc.9 Affiliation-Oriented Volunteers  Motivational Needs: –Sense of belonging –Being with others who have common goals, values and interests –Ability to meet and connect with others –Exchange of dialog –Contribute to a higher purpose, worthy cause –Give back to the team or community –Help others –Friendship, support of others  How to Meet Needs: –Recognition in presence of team, friends, family –Team photo of members –Award voted on by peers –Plaques, trophies, certificates for team accomplishments –Card signed by teammates –Logo clothing (e.g., t-shirts, caps), badge, team ID –Celebrations, recognition lunches, dinners and parties

Hight Performance Group, Inc.10 Power-Oriented Volunteers  Motivational Needs: –Sense of effectiveness –Control of self and the environment –Authority or important position –Ability to influence others –Promotion or award –Ability to lead others –Competition, winning –Access to those in higher positions –Recognized by other leaders  How to Meet Needs: –Authority, leadership role –Promotion of role –Introduction to other leaders –Award voted on, presented by leader-peers or mentors –Acknowledgment in front of a large group of members –Letter from the President or Chairman-of-the-Board –Public and community recognition for accomplishments

Hight Performance Group, Inc.11 What Motivates Them?  Individual Exercise –Think of three great volunteers (e.g., Chair, Incoming-Chair, Council Chair) –Identify what motivates each of them –How could you meet their motivational needs better?

Hight Performance Group, Inc.12 How Do You Know What Motivates Candidates and Existing Volunteers?  The best way is to ask questions: –What do you like best about volunteering? –If you could have any opportunity to volunteer in the community, what would you choose to do and why? –Which volunteering opportunity is the most memorable for you? –Why do you volunteer for us?

Hight Performance Group, Inc.13 Provide an Invitation to the Party!  Approach volunteer candidates  Invite them to an volunteer orientation or meeting  Explore their interests, motivation for volunteering and their constraints  Other ideas?

Characteristics of Successful Volunteer Leaders  Experience in leading groups or teams  Good interpersonal and communication skills  Enrolls others in the vision and goals  Coaches and mentors to bring out the best in others  Respected among their peers  Organized and disciplined (they plan, follow through and things don’t fall through the cracks) Hight Performance Group, Inc.14

Hight Performance Group, Inc.15 How to Onboard Volunteers Successfully  Provide an orientation to the team (council, committee, board)  Give an understanding of the big picture and goals  Define roles and responsibilities  Ensure structure is in place  Provide training, best practices  Be accessible for support  Model respect  Reward and recognize appropriately  Evaluate and provide feedback regularly

Hight Performance Group, Inc.16 Lessons Learned  Small Group Exercise (10 min): –Share your best secret for recruiting, onboarding or retaining volunteers –Be prepared to share ideas you like with the larger group

Hight Performance Group, Inc.17 Summary  Recruit great leaders who can build teams and retain the best volunteers  Recognize great volunteer candidates—they are all around the Chamber  Understand what motivates volunteers and how to best meet their needs  Provide an invitation to serve and realize that serving is a two-way street  Recognize that you play an important role in helping volunteers be successful