3 Tips for Enhancing the Volunteer Experience

One of the challenges I hear all the time from chamber execs is the non commitment or lack of participation from the volunteers.

I attended a recent program by Lowell Aplebaum, CAE on this very subject although his session title was a little different.

The three things he focused on to elevate a volunteers experience in your program of work, and by the way, it also gives you a chance to see who might be a potential great volunteer in the future for your chamber, were:

Micro volunteering is a great way to get the younger generations involved in your program of work - use them as content specialists - write a blog, etc.

Create a quick volunteer role at an existing program - volunteer behind the registration desk, then recognize them and ask them to do more.

Micro opportunities to participate in your organization - What can they do?  Photograph your next event if they love photography.

The other thing he mentioned that I thought worth noting here is to make it personal, allow your volunteers to share their professional, personal, and family stories with each other and staff.

If you’ve had a chance to read a previous blog post of mine HERE, you’ll know I’m a fan of creating a job description for each level of your governance structure:

  • Board
  • Standing Committee
  • Task Force

And in that job description you want to make it crystal clear that you expect their:

  • Intellect
  • Passion
  • Money

In return, they’re getting recognition for serving on the chambers board, standing committee or a task force.

Always make sure you are thanking your volunteers publicly and often through your website, social media outlets and printed publications.

Your intended goal should be to have a list of potential board, committee, and task force members lined up to serve for years to come.

Make it meaningful and make it fun!

Defining a Customer Service Vision for your Organization

Let’s face it, we’re in the relationship business.

Never forget that!

Stated another way, it’s all about customer service.

Think about the last time you had a bad customer service experience with a retailer. I bet you shared that experience with your circle of friends.

Guess what folks, your members are paying you, “the retailer,” in this case, and buying your product/s every year.

Let’s not give them a reason not to rejoin!

Make every touch point they have with your chamber a great experience from a phone conversation to attending your monthly breakfast, luncheon or annual meeting.

Build a culture of customer service, make your members feel wanted, and they’ll return that back to your organization, in their participation, in your program of work.

For more information on customer service or the experience economy go HERE and HERE.