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Valuing your volunteers

After many decades of volunteering, I felt I had the necessary skills when I was offered a paid position as volunteer coordinator in a library. In addition to my ability to get along with most anyone, I was also able to work with computer programs such as Word Document, Excel, Power Point and Access.

What I didn't realize was that there was one component of leading volunteers that I was using that would turn out to be one of the most significant skills a volunteer manager ever needs.

One day I was talking with a library patron about how I also have a personal business in which I help set up customized "volunteer programs with heart". Before I could give my explanation of "with heart", she enthusiastically nodded and excitedly gave me her views on the term. I took her explanation seriously and now consider it the core definition of this term: a volunteer program that has "heart" is one that truly values it volunteers.

Now, that may seem rather simplistic. Of course volunteers are valued. She pointed out, however, that having volunteered herself, she found in some instances she felt valued while in others, she felt devalued. She wasn't able to pinpoint the exact reason what was done or said, or what was not done or not said to provoke those feelings. She just knew one or the other of those feelings was always present and of great importance to her in deciding whether or not to continue with an organization.

Most volunteers insist they don't need verbal recognition or concrete rewards in response to their community service. "I love to volunteer because it affords me the opportunity to give back to my community," one volunteer reported. "I don't even need a thank-you, although I appreciate it... especially if it's a thank-you naming a specific task."

Not sure if you have mastered the skill of valuing your volunteers, not so much for what they do as for who they are? It is difficult to define and even more challenging to pinpoint. If that's the case, how do you decide if you are good at making them feel valued?

Can you just ask them? Yes, you can and that's apt to be the only way you'll ever know for sure.

Do you feel you are a valued member of our volunteer program?
Do you think you are ever underestimated and given tasks that don't measure up to your abilities?
What other volunteering do you do or what other groups do you belong to where you feel valued? Or, not valued?
What will it take to make you feel you're a valued member of our volunteer program?

If your volunteers feel a true sense of being valued, then you're well on your way to having a volunteer program with heart and you have the most important skill for being a leader of volunteers.

Learn more about this author, Kathleen Richardson.
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