Www.hightperformance.com© 2011 Hight Performance Group, Inc.1 Best Practices for Recruiting and Onboarding Volunteers Presented by Cathi Hight.

www.hightperformance.com© 2011 Hight Performance Group,

Inc. 1

Best Practices for Recruiting and

Onboarding Volunteers

Presented by Cathi Hight

www.hightperformance.com

© 2011 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



How Do You Recognize Great Volunteer Candidates? Identify the traits or characteristics

of your best volunteers Create a profile

Self-initiator

Flexible

Responsible

FunEasy-to-work with

Team Player

Engaged

Follows-throughPositive



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



How Do You Recognize Great Volunteer Candidates?



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 forintegration

Ask your best volunteers if they know others just like them (“Birds of a feather flock together.”)



What Motivates Members to Volunteer?

Achievement Affiliation Power



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



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



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



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?



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?



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)





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



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



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

Www.hightperformance.com© 2011 Hight Performance Group, Inc.1 Best Practices for Recruiting and Onboarding Volunteers Presented by Cathi Hight.

Documents

hight performance group

best volunteers

cathi hight slide

volunteer characteristics

volunteer team member

positive slide

volunteer leader

great volunteer candidates