Volunteer Management Training
Step Three: Listen

You are at the third of 6 lessons in the short course on Volunteer Management - Step Three: Listen. Links to the other five are at the bottom of the page.

Everyone wants to be heard. It is one of the greatest needs we have. Volunteers may especially need to be listened to. They have chosen to become involved in your organization to fill some need or desire in their lives. It may be a passion for your cause, a way to fill time, a need to be needed – it is easy to see why they would want a chance to speak.

Make time to save time. Because your volunteers have something to say, you must find a way to give them the time they may need. It can be challenging. You don’t want someone to wait until a meeting and spend an hour ranting (or raving). If you work with a lot of volunteers you may need some open office time, set aside specifically for this purpose.

Listening is an art. If you are not already good at it, practice. It takes a generosity of spirit to just listen instead of talking or giving advice. It is a valuable skill.

The other five Nonprofit Champion Actions for Great Volunteer Managers:

Ask – ask them to serve, ask for feedback, ask their opinions, ask for more

State – state your needs and expectations clearly, be sure they are understood

Inspire – be the person who inspires them by your work, your creativity and your enthusiasm

Include – include them in decisions that will affect them, invite them to serve on Teams

Thank – show your appreciation often and sincerely