Volunteers are an essential part of any charity or NFP, and it is important that they feel welcome from day one. You need to ensure that they feel confident and capable in their position to help motivate them to become active, long-term members of your organisation. So what should you be doing when you welcome volunteers?

First impressions do count

First impressions count more than you think, and being organised, will go a long way into showing how much you care. Allow them to feel welcome and be a part of your team from the start. While you don’t need to create a big ‘welcome’ event, a small informal afternoon tea might be helpful to enable them to meet the team and feel a part of something larger than themselves. A negative first impression can do a lot of damage.

Have a plan

Your volunteer will not feel secure in their role if you don’t have a plan to orient them on their first day. While it may vary depending on the particular volunteer or the position they will be carrying out, having at least some standardised actions will give their welcome some framework. This will also make it easier for those providing the orientation and those receiving it. Even for those individuals who are time limited, going the extra mile will help the volunteer feel welcome.

Let them do the talking

Lose the classroom approach. While you may feel you need to impart pearls of wisdom about the NFP and what they do, it needs to be a two-way conversation. Perhaps it means breaking it down into workable chunks so you can get to know the volunteer, enabling them to tell you their story, while you share yours? Avoid information overload at all costs. Remember, if you understand their motivation, then you will know how best to direct them in the future.

Advise them of training possibilities

An introduction to any role can be overwhelming. So lighten the load a little and let them know that they don’t need to know everything on the first day and that there are training possibilities in their future. This allows them to get excited about the role and helps them to see that the role could be of equal benefit to them and the charity. Talk about peer to peer training and external training opportunities if relevant.

Show them how they can make a difference

Showcasing how their efforts will make a difference will be the icing on the cake for them. This last step will enable them to feel inspired and empowered about their new role, not to mention confident and enthusiastic. It is these four emotions that will create the high level of engagement you need from your employees and your volunteers to run a successful non-profit.