Institute for Organization Management - A Program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  • About
    • General Information
      • Institute Policies and Procedures
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
    • Recruitment Toolkit
    • Prospective Student Toolkit
    • Media
    • Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
    • Core Curriculum
    • Elective Curriculum
    • Webinars & Resource Center
  • Sites & Dates
    • Winter Institute
    • Midwest Institute
    • Southeast Institute
    • Northeast Institute
    • 2022 Institute Schedule
  • Registration
    • Register Now!
    • Deadlines and Fees
    • Scholarships
      • Enrollment Incentives
      • State Partner Scholarship
  • Who’s Who
    • Staff
    • Volunteers
    • Faculty
    • Sponsors
    • Alumni
      • IOM Alumni Database
  • Blog
A PROGRAM OF THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION
 

IOM Blog

April 2, 2015

Volunteers: Grow with Intent

We all have them at some point – those rock star, give all that they got volunteers that lead our organization to new heights.  They have the energy and drive to follow through on any commitment they make, and the results are top notch.  Many have their finger on the pulse of opportunities and/or warning signs in the community and become strategic advisors if not members of the board. Yet, these volunteers don’t just magically appear – they have an origin story, a path they have taken. Organizations that succeed in discovering them earlier, in empowering that growth, in turn have developed the very volunteers they wish to see lead.

So where to start? First, know the qualities you are seeking for the key volunteer roles that define your organization.  Yes, there are commonalities – honesty, integrity, loyalty, etc. but there are also unique traits that can often be ascribed to specific volunteer roles. Define those traits.

Next, create paths of volunteer discovery. Do you have a volunteer referral program, where current volunteers know the above traits you are looking for, and can pass along contacts that they meet for an invitation to get involved? Do you have an easy to access portal where new professionals, either to the field or to your area, can self-identify with what role they would like to take? And, are there opportunities throughout the year, so the person who wants to get involved doesn’t have to wait 11 months for the next ‘Call’. Finally, are you tracking the involvement of current volunteers. There may be a member who has helped plan local events, getting more and more involved – how are you tracking those efforts so they don’t fly beneath the radar, but are highlighted through data analysis of the roles they have played as a diamond in the rough?

Finally, share the stories of volunteers whose paths serve as an example for those just getting started. Short vignettes from your current super-volunteers – why they got involved, how, what impact it has made on their career – personal stories make an impression. By sharing their stories, you share inspiration for what a difference a volunteer can make for your organization, and for their field.

While there is no foolproof plan to discovering tomorrow’s leaders today, and we have always had volunteers step up and hopefully will continue to do so, focusing intent on the leaders that your organization needs and wants to see will increase your chances of finding those key players. Investing in the effort of volunteer discovery and growth will reap a stronger led organization down the road.

 

Lowell Aplebaum
Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF, FASAE
CEO & Strategy Catalyst
Vista Cova, LLC

Lowell Aplebaum, CAE, CPF is the CEO and Strategy Catalyst of Vista Cova – a company that partners with organizations on strategic visioning and planning, creating stronger governance models, and reimagining value and engagement. Lowell frequently provides dynamic sessions to organizations – conducting deep-dive interviews and getting members and volunteers involved through experiential learning approaches. He is past chair of the overseeing commission for the Certified Association Executive certification, and Chaired ASAE’s Task Force on CEO Pathways. He is a Certified Professional Facilitator and the creator of a master-level learning series called Through the CEO Lens and Association Charrette – a co-creation retreat experience. His work on global efforts for associations has included experience across five continents, hundreds of volunteer groups, and all 50 states in the U.S.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
DONATE NOW!
UPDATE CONTACT INFO
Sign-up for Emails
Approved Provider

About

  • General Information
  • Contact Us
  • Curriculum
  • Prospective Student Toolkit

Sites & Dates

  • Winter Institute
  • Midwest Institute
  • Southeast Institute
  • Northeast Institute

Resources

  • Scholarships
  • Faculty
  • Sponsors
  • Update Contact Info
  • Volunteers

Follow IOM

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
IOM Blog

Institute for Organization Management - A program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce © 2022 | Privacy Policy