New volunteers need to be nurtured. They need to see clearly what you’re asking them to do, how the work matters, what their time commitments are, and how their gifts and efforts will affect the overall mission and outcome.
Someone who has just joined your team needs well-communicated direction about when, where, and how! And they need a leader who can follow through with the details.
The worst is a new volunteer who shows up with little or nothing to do, is never contacted, or arrives at a disorganized situation.
Here are some key tips for helping the new volunteer on your team.
Share The Vision
The best motivation for a volunteer is to see the vision and grasp the potential outcome of their work and ministry. When they understand what you’re working towards, it will help them determine how they can best contribute.
Be Optimistic And Thankful
Volunteers and team members want to be a part of something good, not a sinking ship. Why are you asking them to join you? Avoid speaking negatively about the organization, your team, or others around you. Be thankful for them, be optimistic about the mission and the organization. You may be facing some struggles, and things may not be perfect, but focus on the bright spots.
Share Specific Information
At the beginning, the more information and details the better – share the time, place, what to wear, what they will be doing, and their role for the time slot—also, share who they will meet, what they will experience, and stories of success.
Remind Them Of The Outcome
Remind the new volunteers of the vision and their role. Share the positive feedback you receive from others. Keep the outcomes and successes in the forefront!
Follow Up And Ask Questions
Follow up to see how the new volunteer is liking their work. Ask them 10 to 20 questions about their favorite part, how they felt, if they needed more information or resources, what they enjoyed most, and anything else you can think of.
Stay In Touch
After a while, a volunteer on your team can become self-sufficient, seeking you out when needed, connected to the group or ministry as a whole. However, start by checking in with your new team member. Please keep them informed, provide them with updates, and stay in touch with ongoing information about the ministry. Check in a few weeks to see if this is still their “thing.” Don’t take it personally if your new volunteer discovers that this wasn’t what they had in mind, or it won’t work. There may be a more suitable place for them, but bringing that out in the open will offer a better chance for another volunteer role, as opposed to quietly slipping away. Stay in touch with and help your new volunteer thrive. Don’t take any of your volunteers for granted. Find ways to thank them regularly.
