It is not easy to keep people engaged and especially hard when they are not being given compensation for their efforts. So how do we build environments where volunteers want to stay engaged for the long haul? We all have volunteers we want to keep around and on our teams forever but how are we going to ensure that this happens?

Pay Attention – There are 3 people that can keep things shaken up in organizations: Volunteers, Interns, and New Employees. Our volunteers have a different perspective then we do because they are not as inundated with the “stuff” we are working on. Volunteers have perspective and likely good ideas that could build a lot of momentum! Listen to volunteers and empower their opinions when it makes teams, systems, and process better.

Empower Irresistible Sharing – We are responsible to build a culture that encourages our best volunteers to invite others to serve with them. “Tapping On The Shoulder” creates better teams than cattle calls ever will. People will not invite their friends to join something that they don’t enjoy. Remove barriers that keep people from serving on our teams. We want serving to be an irresistible experience for our volunteers so they will be willing to invite other to join them, and us!

Show You Care – Value volunteers and show you care don’t just say it. Actions speak volumes so remember volunteers don’t have to do this, they do it because they believe in what is happening and they want to be involved. We must find ways to show that we care. There should never be doubt that we value the time, effort, and people that are contributing to our teams

Reward What You Want Repeated – A simple principle that changes everything. Good and bad behavior is contagious. As leaders we create team chemistry and dynamic by the type of behavior that we allow to exist. Place emphasis and value on the good behavior and quickly lean in and coach negative behavior away so that it does not cloud the chemistry we are building.

Create Community – Community matters and builds a valuable bond. When people feel they are on a team, and they love their team, they feel more responsible and connected. Community also creates deeper roots that we can count on in tough times to help keep our teams grounded. It is awesome when we see teams doing life together outside of church or your organization, and seeing them connect with each other. Community also provides a layer of peer management and accountability that helps leaders stay focused on the things that only they can do, which is so valuable.

Always Bring It Back To Vision – Vision leaks and when it does we have a responsibility to keep volunteers and teams in step with the vision. Vision is the engine for volunteerism. Always reinforce the WHY and make it sticky and sharable. The best coaches in pro sports always say they know that their message is clear when they hear players repeating it in the press. The same principle holds true here as well…repeat the vision so that the vision shares.

Volunteers are the most valuable people on our teams…let’s make sure we are doing our best to encourage their best!