What is lacking beyond the social media chatter is the firm action of having effective and experienced Volunteer Managers across the globe collaborate on what a certificate/diploma/degree should look like.
I have done so many courses and workshops over the years that have served me so well in Volunteer Management. This combined with practical experience has given me the ability to lead with confidence, passion and belief in my own journey.
I believe that as a sector we need to lead in determining what type of education or course needs to be created to bring forth our future leaders of volunteers. We have a choice. We can sit back and accept what others decree is best for us or we can contribute to the discussion on what such training or education looks like. The latter is most important.
Peak bodies for volunteering may eventually come undone when they ignore the voice of those working at the coalface. It’s such an important voice.
So to start the ball rolling here are my thoughts on the skills I believe need to be inducted into any Volunteer Management course! And please, when and if you have the time, add yours!
1. Management and coordination
2. Conflict resolution
3. Recruitment
4. Interviewing
5. Marketing/media/PR
6. Event Management
7. Retention
8. Recognition
9. Task planning
10. Time management
11. Reflective Counselling
12. Listening
13. Empathy
14. Leadership
15. Grief counselling
16. Financial Management
17. Business development
18. Legal frameworks
19. Workplace diversity
20. Health and safety
21. Public speaking
Great list, DJ. How about adding:
ReplyDelete1. Strategic planning
2. Advocacy and persuation (for in-house proposals)
3. Creativity and vision
The last one is critical as it speaks to the essential element that makes volunteer management different from other forms of human resources work. We are asked to dream -- to see the potential in a problem and its solution -- to look for the best (and sometimes unexpected) resources/people to get involved.
Amazing list DJ! Strategic planning?
ReplyDeleteWow Martin and Susan! Two people in two different places in the globe came up with "Strategic planning"! Great minds think alike! Let me remind readers that even though the posting times are different I get to vet the comments before they are published so both would have been unaware of each other’s comments!
ReplyDeleteStrategic planning of course is a great addition though I wonder if that could have fallen under business Development.
“Advocacy and persuasion” is a fantastic one Susan. In fact when I saw it I gave a Homer Simpson ‘D’oh!” because it is something I do all the time! Sometimes we might need to step back from our own roles to see the things we do well? Then again I wonder if it can be incorporated under number 5 “Marketing Media and PR”? And as any effective Marketing Manager would tell you their role also includes creativity and vision surely?
Thank you Susan and Martin for giving some of your time in responding to this post. I hope that more people can add to the list. Who knows where it could lead to? After all I think that thoughts can become things!
Formidable DJ! My addition is related to Organisations. I am thinking of Organisation Development (a profession in itself), Organisation Change, Organisation Psychology (a fascinating course of study). And now your next step is to persuade a tertiary institution to take on your good ideas.
ReplyDeleteGreat post DJ. I too have found that the combination of courses, workshops and seminars attended over the years, along with work experience, have provided me with a good skills set to confidently lead, encourage, engage and hopefully inspire others. Here are some other skills to add to your list from an operational perspective.
ReplyDelete• Customer Service
• Written Communications eg., Report Writing, Speech Writing, Presentations
• Running Meetings
• Multitasking
• Group Dynamics and Communication
• Change Management
• Networking
• Team Building
• Ethics
• Succession Planning
Great list and comments so far!
ReplyDeleteThese may be ´sub-categories´of topics already mentioned, but I would possibly add the following:
1. Volunteer policy development & enforcement
2. Awareness (being able to ´read´ volunteers=
3. Goal setting
4. Assertiveness
5. Delegation skills
I believe that as a sector we need to lead in determining what type of education or course needs to be created to bring forth our future leaders of volunteers. We have a choice. We can sit back and accept what others decree is best for us or we can contribute to the discussion on what such training or education event management looks like.
ReplyDelete