In a world where people are increasingly time poor, volunteering competes with work commitments, family and recreational activities. As a result, many individuals are seeking a more meaningful volunteer role which provides greater impact. Simultaneously, a key challenge for volunteer involving organisations is the necessity to deliver more for less; to drive a greater return on investment. One way Volunteer Managers are able to address these needs is through the development of volunteer leadership roles.

 

Benefits to Volunteers

By giving volunteers the opportunity to take on a leadership role, Volunteer Managers are able to demonstrate their trust in senior volunteers who have the capacity and capability to support their less experienced peers. Volunteer leaders are given a new challenge and an opportunity to develop leadership skills and experience. In addition, taking on a leadership role can be an empowering experience which develops confidence as well as interpersonal skills.

Furthermore, by providing volunteer leadership roles, a support system is developed through peer engagement, coaching and mentoring. When volunteers have a successful peer support system in place, their connectedness and sense of community is enhanced.

 

Benefits to the Organisation

The development of volunteer leadership roles can build organisational capacity by enhancing productivity and performance. Additionally, by providing a pathway for volunteers to accept leadership responsibilities, their role satisfaction can be increased. This can aid volunteer retention, further increasing the return on investment to the organisation. Furthermore, volunteer leadership roles can improve the integration of volunteers with paid staff which can have a positive impact on the organisational culture.

 

Opportunities for Volunteer Leadership

Volunteer leadership roles can provide benefits to both your organisation and your volunteer community. Some suggested areas where experienced volunteers can become involved as volunteer leaders includes:

• Recruitment Process – Develop opportunities for applicants to meet and connect with experienced volunteers during the recruitment process. This can be a crucial avenue where social connections can be established. Volunteer leaders can support recruitment by attending information sessions and group interviews and sharing their volunteering experience.
• Onboarding Process – Assign specific tasks for volunteer leaders to support staff when inducting new volunteers. Providing opportunities for new volunteers to meet and learn from both staff and volunteer leaders further develops their connectedness.
• Recognition and Social Events – Provide opportunities for volunteer leaders to assist staff with planning and delivering recognition and social events.
• Mentoring – Partner new volunteers with volunteer leaders so they can learn the role with the guidance of a more experienced volunteer.

Recommendations for Developing Volunteer Leadership Roles

Developing volunteer leadership can play an important role in maximising the impact volunteers have on delivering value to your organisation. To ensure the role is effective and doesn’t create a negative culture amongst your volunteers, thorough planning is essential. Recommendations for developing volunteer leadership roles include:

• Provide clear parameters for the role – Develop a position description which includes the role’s purpose, key responsibilities and attributes;
• Selection process – Determine a clear process to select and recruit appropriate volunteer leaders; and
• Provide training (initial and ongoing) – Ensure volunteer leaders understand their role in supporting staff and in developing less experienced volunteers. Include information and discussion about effective leadership in the context of your organisation and provide the tools to support them.

Volunteer leadership roles can increase the sustainability of your volunteer program and nurture your volunteer community. As with all new initiatives, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the role and make improvements as required.

A condensed version of this blog post first appeared in the 2018 Top 10 Ideas in Volunteer Engagement ebook. To download your free copy please visit here.