National Athletic Trainers'​ Association’s Post

🙋When managing a sports club, you can’t only care about the sport aspect of it. You need to be able to engage with your target audience (and potential members) and, especially in the early stages, rely on people volunteering to do certain tasks because they think your club is worth it. 📃How to get to a point where you can attract more people and entice them to give you a hand is the topic of today’s blog post. https://lnkd.in/dhpazDjK #sportsclubmanagement #sportscoaching #runningaclub #volunteers

What I wish I'd known as a new volunteer manager... I've been reflecting on my years working with volunteers - how much I've learnt, developed and grown, and what I would have appreciated knowing when I started out. Here's a few nuggets: ⭐ Be prepared for the unexpected - new situations and experiences arise all the time, so keep an open mind (and an open diary!) to apply yourself where you're needed most ⭐ Listen to your volunteers - they are some of the most fascinating and influential people you'll ever meet, and will happily tell you what you're doing well (and not so well) ⭐ Embrace the freedom - unless you are part of a team, you may find you have a lot of independence in how you apply your time and have more authority than you first realise - use this to reflect and invest in yourself and your volunteers' needs ⭐ Keep developing your skills - you'll never stop learning, and you may need to look outside of your org for training, support and advice. Bring in trainers if you have budget, and other staff will thank you for it ⭐ Join a network - get to know your peers locally/at similar orgs to you, to build your network of contacts and share experiences - being able to offload to someone who understands is vital! ⭐ Find your voice - volunteers look to be led by you, and staff will look to you as the 'expert' in volunteering at your organisation, so learnt to speak to both audiences ⭐ Time is precious for your volunteers - learn to appreciate the time they give and the conversations you have with them - the human connection brings so much joy and adds a deep meaning and purpose to your role I'm sure there's a lot more, as working with volunteers is a complex business. What have you learnt from your time working with volunteers? #lovols #volunteering #newstarter #volmgt #leadership #peersupport #volunteerengagement

#Volunteer Best Practices to Drive Success: "Volunteer management plays a pivotal role in the success and sustainability of associations. By implementing these four volunteer management practices, groups can harness the power of their volunteers and create an environment where they can help achieve mutual goals." https://lnkd.in/gKhztn9c ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership #assnchat

🌟 Turning Interest into Engagement: The Power of the Volunteer Funnel 🌟 In the Legacy Leadership program, we explore the transformative process of converting initial interest into meaningful engagement through strategic volunteer management. Our focus centers on the "volunteer funnel," a concept designed to guide potential volunteers from mere curiosity to dedicated involvement, ensuring a mutual fit for both the individual and the organization. At the heart of human interaction are the fundamental desires for Purpose and Belonging. From our earliest interactions, we seek to connect and find our tribe, aspirations that grow as we seek to make a meaningful difference in our careers, families, and communities. A well-crafted volunteer strategy not only addresses the operational needs to fulfill your mission but also builds relationships that satisfy these intrinsic needs. It provides individuals the opportunity to be part of something greater than themselves, contributing purposefully to a collective goal. 🔍 I’m curious to learn from your experiences: Have you ever held a volunteer role that made you feel part of something larger and gave you a profound sense of purpose? Share your stories in the comments below. Let’s discuss how purpose-driven volunteering can transform not just individuals but entire organizations. #VolunteerEngagement #NonprofitSuccess #PurposeAndBelonging #LegacyLeadership

Check out this insightful article from European Sting on what volunteering can teach us about compassionate leadership. Definitely worth a read! #compassionateleadership #volunteering #leadershiplessons View the HRM SKILLS Training Calendar for value-added training for all employees in organisations View at hrmskills.sg #hrm #skills

The Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference is set for October 22 (Pacific time) and October 23 (Eastern time). Our 10th Anniversary Edition! ✨ CREATING INFLUENCE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION: THINKING BEYOND 'A SEAT AT THE TABLE' The most frequently asked question at previous conferences has been related to how a Leader of Volunteers can have management level influence in their organization. This year, we'll be answering that question with a variety of experiences shared by some of your peers in volunteer management who have found a way. Each speaker this year has extensive experience in the field and has a great story to tell. This will be a conference you don't want to miss. Host site registrations are open now. Early bird rate ends July 1st for host sites. Individual registration also begins July 1st. Want to become a host site for the 10th annual VMHC? Registering to be a host site for the 2024 Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your organization’s capacity, visibility, and impact. It’s an investment in your team, your volunteers, and your community, ultimately leading to more effective and efficient volunteer management and greater overall success in achieving your mission. You can charge attendees or not, provide meals or not...it's up to each host to decide what's best for you. Visit www.betterimpact.com/vmhc for more details and to register. . . . #VMPC #VolunteerEngagement #LOVols #VolunteerManagement #Volunteerism #VolunteerCanada #CanadaCharity #CanadianNonprofit #GivingAndVolunteering @betterimpact @volunteeralive

The 2024 Impact Award nomination deadline has been extended until September 23rd! These awards are a national award program to recognize the work of volunteer management professionals in Canada. Let's work together to ensure more Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada Members are recognized for their hard work and dedication...and get your nominations in! ✨ Nominating colleagues or peers can strengthen your professional network and foster collaboration. ✨ Recognizing and being recognized can open doors to mentorship relationships, both as a mentor and a mentee. ✨ Celebrating achievements fosters a sense of community and shared purpose among professionals. ✨ Awards help to promote and uphold high standards within the profession, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation. ✨ Bring positive attention to the nominee’s organization, potentially attracting new clients, partnerships, or funding. There are so many reasons to nominate a VMPC member for an award! As volunteer engagement professionals, we make volunteerism happen. We leverage the skills and passions of our volunteers to help meet our organization’s mission and we keep a diverse group of volunteers motivated, happy and engaged. The awards are administered by VMPC, with cash prizes sponsored by Better Impact and the award recipients are determined by the Impact Awards Committee from the nominations received. There are 3 awards each in two distinct categories. Find more information about the nomination process and criteria on our website at www.vmpc.ca under Advocacy. . . . #VMPC #VolMgmt #LoVols #VolunteerManagement #VolunteerCoordinator #VolunteerEngagement #VolunteerCanada #Volunteerism #LoveWhatYouDo #VolunteeringAndGiving #CanadianNonprofit #CanadaCharity

I've been reflecting recently on how important motivation is in volunteer management. In my time I've generally found volunteer management to be very transient, with a high turnover of staff and too much focus on short term projects, with not enough long term investment in infrastructure and support. Despite the obvious social element of working with volunteers, often volunteer managers are working alone and don't have a close network to draw on in an organisation, which can be really isolating and have a huge impact on morale, identity and authority. I've found it really valuable to support my own morale in the following ways: 👍 daily reflections - taking time to think about my day, what I've enjoyed and learnt (to appreciate the good stuff!) and what I can improve on 👍 frequently meeting with peers at other charities to learn and share experiences (shout out to Sacha Hamed, Frankie Romer, Isabelle von Maltzan for our recent chats!) 👍 connecting with new staff and other colleagues internally to foster relationships and promote volunteering 👍 connect regularly with volunteers and making time for chats and conversation whenever possible 👍 reporting upwards and outwards regularly, to let my senior leaders and other teams know about my work and progress to stimulate dialogue and be visible 👍 taking time to chat with staff on site, over tea or in the corridor - physical connections seem to resonate much more in this hybrid world we work in! 👍 prioritise my learning - its easy to become stale after a few years and volunteer management is not one size fits all, so I regularly attend workshops, training and conferences to keep informed 👍 saying YES to new experiences and opportunities to support my growth and development when they're offered None of these are bullet proof, but they certainly help! How do you keep your morale high? #lovols #volunteerengagement #morale #motivation #leadership #volmgt #

When one door closes, find another to walk through! At the beginning of 2024, I missed the deadline to submit my proposal for a major conference. But instead of letting it discourage me, I found a new way to get involved by volunteering. Now, I’m thrilled to introduce one of the speakers and guide attendees through the event, helping them make the most out of each session. Sometimes, opportunities come in different forms, and stepping up in new ways can be just as rewarding! Every interaction is an opportunity. By volunteering, I’m creating visibility and opening new doors for connection. Sometimes, the speaking slot isn't the only way to make an impact. It’s about being present, building relationships, and making the most of what’s available to you. Leadership isn’t always about center stage, it’s about adaptability, persistence, and finding ways to be valuable in every situation. P.S. How are you turning unexpected opportunities into stepping stones for your goals?