subject: Mobilizing The Board To Get The Job Done [print this page] Mobilizing The Board To Get The Job Done Mobilizing The Board To Get The Job Done
So many times I hear staff and board members complaining that they can't get volunteers to do what they promised to do.
I believe there are several reasons why we are often disappointed when commitments made are not commitments kept. Three critical factors can keep volunteers motivated and assure that decisions that are made are carried through. These are the Mission, a strategic plan with clear goals, and a culture of ownership by the board. And they are having fun.
Let's look at each.
Mission: Is your agency's mission statement clear and compelling. Does it excite and energize the board. Is it short and memorable. When we hear, "we're the best kept secret in town", it's probably because of an unclear message and confused messengers. Do we hear, "what does that agency really do" or "I'm not sure why I should support them." The Mission must be written in language that moves and excites the listener. When people don't follow up on commitments it may mean they have forgotten the urgency and the critical reasons why they are volunteering. Stress the Mission.
Strategic Plan: If we don't have a clear road map, it doesn't matter how fast we go, we'll never get to where we want to be. Activity without direction may feel good, but people can lose sight of the end goal. Knocking on doors to get a candidate elected is a boring and often scary task for volunteers, but they are clear why they are doing it. Do our volunteers know why they have agreed to undertake a task. The end goal must be clear and compelling.
Ownership: People who are involved in making a decision will own it. People who are just told what to do are likely to disappoint us. Going through the process of getting "by-in" may take longer, but has a better chance of getting the job done than by constant "nudging." Leadership should make sure that the Board understands that when they make a decision, they own it. If they are going to raise more money, they have to develop a mechanism to do so, not just hand it off to staff. The more that the leadership focuses on the mission and is a cheerleader, the better chance that the volunteers will be successful.
Have fun! Wherever possible, do things together. People enjoy being with others when they are doing mundane tasks, such as sending out flyers, making follow-up "thank you" calls, packing meals for delivery, assembling mailers, or dozens of other critical support tasks. This builds the morale of the board or committee. They can celebrate little successes together. They can laugh and have fun. Bring in the pizza and have a good time.
