3 Keys to Engaging Association Volunteers
A challenge unique to associations is the need to recruit, retain and ENGAGE volunteers. Once an association can do this, many other challenges seem to disappear. The question is: “How?”
Kate Cole, Certified Association Executive (CAE), leads two client associations for Management HQ, an association management company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“One example of successful volunteer engagement is a housing authority association client that I manage,” says Kate. “We have supported the association in developing strong committee leaders, and they are now seeing the fruits of our efforts.”
Developing strong future leadership can be a challenge. Kevin Ward, President of Management HQ, shares some best-practices.
“Be very clear with your volunteer board leaders and committee members about duties and expectations,” says Kevin. “Having board member, and committee member job descriptions is a tremendous asset.”
“Committee members participate because the committee has a strong chair who is great at delegating tasks,” Kate says. “This year, the committee chair tasked all committee members with a specific duty: to tap into their peer resources for content and speakers for their conference.”
Some recommended best practices to engage volunteer leaders include:
- Cultivate a leadership pipeline reflective of the future. Ask volunteers to serve in co-chair or vice-chair roles before taking the lead. Look in different places for your future volunteer leaders; they may think, look, and behave very different than the leaders of the past. Be open, and invite everyone to the table.
- Prepare your future leaders. Developing a solid orientation and leadership training programs for volunteers can yield enormous returns on investment.
- Set measureable goals. Once you have your leaders ready to go, they will need to be supported in setting and meeting measurable goals and outcomes. Goals motivate us all to get the job done.
“Measurable outcomes enable volunteer leaders to effectively support, engage, and guide groups,” says Kevin. “Plus, goals provide a built-in reason to celebrate when major milestones are achieved!”
Kevin, explains how important it is for associations to understand that volunteers are just that: volunteers. They may have full-time jobs, and often have full lives outside of their volunteer work.
“It is extremely important that the association’s management team supports volunteer engagement and retention efforts,” says Kevin. “By respecting the time, and best using the expertise of volunteers, associations have the opportunity to truly thrive.”
About Management HQ
Founded in 2012, Management HQ (MHQ) exists to serve associations that are determined to thrive. Driven by the vision of a thriving, vibrant community, MHQ is serves statewide, regional, national and international associations with full-service and project-based management services. MHQ manages and provides infrastructure to professional and trade associations in a range of industries, including identity-based organizations, health care, education, information sciences, real estate / construction, among others. For more, visit www.management-hq.com.
