Last updated May 7, 2020
For many organisations, volunteers are the glue that holds everything together. Staying out of touch with your volunteers may lead to that glue becoming unstuck. One of the best ways to ensure you and your team of volunteers are on the same page is to seek feedback from them.
Through this process, you are:
- Valuing Your Volunteers’ Perspective
Through seeking feedback, not only will your volunteers feel valued and appreciated, you have provided the opportunity for their voice to be heard. Their ideas are valid and worth considering, especially given many of them are on the front line of what you do. This is important to remember if you want your volunteers to consistently lend a hand now and in the future.
- Understanding Your Volunteers’ Thoughts and Feelings
Ask the right questions and you may gain insight into how your volunteers are feeling or what they are thinking. This may sound light and fluffy but just as their perspective matters, so do their thoughts and feelings. Providing a satisfactory experience is important! Whether good or bad, address their feedback appropriately. Don’t just brush it under the carpet.
- Providing the Opportunity for Organisational Growth
The saying goes, ‘you don’t know, what you don’t know’. The easiest way around this is to ask questions! Your volunteers may offer suggestions on how to improve aspects of your service or have ideas on extending your reach. Take it on board, consider it and respond accordingly. I guarantee you will discover little nuggets of gold.
Above all, seeking feedback from your volunteers demonstrates that you see them as valued members of your team. Without volunteers, many organisations could not provide the services that they do. I encourage you all to take the time to engage with your volunteers through this process.
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