Caring for Your Volunteers by Karen Whiting

AWSA Member & LH Columnist Karen Whiting—karenwhiting.com

Understand. Take time to get to know each member. Take time to know their personality and gifting to best use their talents and skills. They will feel accepted because you get them. This will also help you know what motivates them.

Appreciate. Show you appreciate each individual and their work. Remember birthdays and let them know you value their ideas. Set up a suggestion box or invite volunteers to email ideas. Implement some of those ideas to foster personal initiative. Praise workers for their accomplishments. Kind words of encouragement go a long way to retaining volunteers and developing a sense of belonging.

Listen. Pay attention and listen with your heart and eyes when a volunteer speaks to you. Ask what they need and what they like about the ministry.

Notice body language to pick up on signals that a volunteer might be feeling low. Be available if they face struggles in their personal life. Knowing someone cares gives hope and helps each person feel valued.

Provide. Provide what they need in training, supplies and comfort. If there’s a meeting place or office, make it comfortable and keep the atmosphere positive and friendly. Stay on schedule so volunteers know you value their time.

When there’s a big task, be sure to have all the supplies and tools needed to complete the work. Being prepared makes the ministry run smoothly and creates faith that the ministry is organized and well run.

Involve. Include volunteers in making decisions, and ask for their input. Ask for feedback or an evaluation of the ministry and staff. This builds accountability. When members are engaged, they develop a vested interest in the ministry.

Inspire. Volunteers want to believe the cause is worthy of their time and impacting lives. Let all members know how every member makes a difference. Present new ideas and opportunities that foster enthusiasm for the ministry and increase team spirit.

Recognize. Acknowledge each person’s contribution, no matter how small. That helps volunteers feel respected. Consider holding an annual dinner to celebrate the ministry and all the helpers. Let it be an event where they can invite friends and family who will see they are important to the ministry. Fill the room with photos of volunteers in action and words of thanks for the hard work. LH