Finding volunteers for those “blah” tasks…
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Dani Arbour
We all need volunteers to help us accomplish our mission. For me, it’s ensuring the lives of the animals we care for are enriched and comfortable during their stay. This doesn’t always mean working with the animals, however. Many of the tasks necessary to run the shelter are dull – data entry, photo copying, cutting blankets, washing dishes – boring but important tasks. It’s difficult to retain volunteers for most of these tasks because of the monotony. I try to break it up through work with the animals as well, but once they begin to work with the animals they often give up the boring task.
These tasks are extremely important as we work to keep donor information updated and clean dishes available – so how do I keep the volunteers assigned to these tasks happy and coming back? Every once in awhile there is one person that has no problems with the repetitive nature of the job, but most give up after just a few weeks. Any suggestions on making the “blah” more fun?
Dani Arbour is a featured blogger and the Volunteer and Events Manager at the Bangor Humane Society.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Perhaps - as they’re working - bluntly admit it’s boring work and at the same time express your appreciation for it - especially if you’re right there doing it with them. A simple “thank you” goes a long way.
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:09 pm
In addition to creating a work environment in which it is understood by staff and volunteers that we all pitch in to get the necessary but unglamorous work done… I would suggest looking creatively at different types of volunteers to recruit for these tasks.
A few examples:
1. Is there a mindless task that can be done by a group of people who are allowed to chit chat and /or listen to music while they work? I did letter stuffing as a teen and enjoyed it because I could do it with my friends and gab the whole time.
2. Better yet, is there any work that can be done from home or virtually by a volunteer that might care about your mission but not be able to get in to your site to help?
3. Is there work that is simple but necessary that someone with an intellectual disability might find rewarding? My colleague has found a fantastic volunteer who is developmentally disabled and an extremely good worker - she does all of their mailings!
June 9th, 2009 at 6:09 am
I have this same challenge for both volunteer and paid staff. Here are a few things I’ve tried.
I think admitting that a task is dull is good (it can build appreciation and trust with volunteers) but that acknowledgment should be followed up by pointing out how important it is in the big picture. Why is the task important to the mission?
Dull tasks can also be fun if the setting is right. As stated above working with others as a team, listening to music, taking breaks to have a conversation can make the mundane fun.
Expressing the value of the work before, during and at the completion of a task can help keep up motivation as well.