Here is another great guest blog post from Becky Lunders. Enjoy! -Katrina
One of my favorite things about the holiday season is taking my kids to see Santa and watching as their eyes light up! It truly is magical, even as they get older. As we read the traditional stories and sing the holiday songs, I’m reminded of how life at the North Pole represents model leadership. I realize how much truth there is in the inspiring book The Leadership Secrets of Santa Claus. This quick read from walkthetalk.com talks about key leadership traits. I’ve twisted it here a little to make it more applicable to nonprofit volunteer management.
As we take time to reflect this holiday season and plan for the New Year, remember this: volunteer managers, like Santa, have to carry the sack, lead the pack, and keep (the volunteers) coming back!
Santa Management Lessons for Nonprofit Volunteer Management
Santa lesson #1: Choose reindeer wisely and keep them engaged.
You think Santa just put Rudolph in charge of the sleigh without seeing if he was a leader? I think not! Rudolph showed leadership skills so he got the job at the front of the pack!
More than likely Santa observed all his reindeer to determine their strengths and weaknesses (imagine if all the fast ones were on the right side – the sleigh would go in circles!). Then he placed them in roles where they could be successful. And, I wouldn’t be surprised if he changes it up each year to keep things fresh and to make sure his reindeer stay engaged.
We’d be wise to do the same thing with our volunteers. Observe them. Talk to them and find out their passion, their interests, and their desires. Then place them in a leadership role where they can succeed.
Santa lesson #2: Elves make the magic. Make sure you have enough of them.
Nothing would get done without the elves working diligently year round in Santa’s workshop. They do their job and make Santa and the reindeer look good. Without them, the magic wouldn’t happen.
So look in your workshop and see if you have enough elves to do the job. Do you have subcommittees so the workload is manageable? If not, recruit some more elves to be the “do-ers” in your organization. And don’t forget to listen to them. They may have ideas to improve the way you deliver programs or manage events. They will be the ones to tell you if something is broken!
Santa lesson #3: Recognize Hermey, the Tall Elf, and the other co-workers.
Often times, the volunteer doers (elves) in your organization don’t get the recognition like Santa or the reindeer, so it’s up to YOU to recognize them. An elf who knows they are appreciated will continue to work hard and may even recruit other elves to help. A simple thank you will go a long way to motivate and retain your team.
Santa lesson #4: Let Rudolph lead.
Imagine the trouble Santa would have if he didn’t have a leader like Rudolph. Sure, he’d be able to direct the sleigh from the rear for a while, but after a few stops, he’d get tired. By empowering the reindeer to lead the way, Santa can sit back, enjoy the ride, and scratch them on the belly now and again. It keeps him from burning out and gives him time to focus on other things, including showing his reindeer some appreciation for their effort.
Volunteer managers should do the same with their leaders. Guide them, but let them take the lead. That will give you more time to let them know how much you appreciate them. (I recommend you forgo the belly rub, though!)
Happy Holidays to you all!
- This post written by Becky Lunders, Turnkey’s Volunteer Management Guru. You can reach Becky directly at becky@turnkeywow.com orbecky@totalteamworks.com.
great blog, from miss kitty wish we could get more people thinking like that..