You're navigating power dynamics with volunteer leaders. How do you effectively communicate with them?

Effective communication with volunteer leaders in power dynamics involves transparency, respect, and collaboration. Begin by actively listening to their perspectives and concerns, demonstrating that their contributions are valued. Clearly articulate expectations and goals, ensuring alignment with the overall mission. Foster an inclusive environment where feedback is encouraged and appreciated. Address conflicts promptly and constructively, focusing on solutions rather than blame. Regularly acknowledge and celebrate their efforts, reinforcing their importance to the team. Maintaining open, honest, and respectful communication will build trust and a strong, cohesive leadership dynamic.

There's not a one-size-fits-all solution to effective communication with volunteers in our high-tech world today. There are seemingly unlimited number of ways: text, email, tweet (or I guess 'X'em), call, FaceTime, Instant Message, WhatsApp, etc. Every volunteer has a preference of how they like to be communicated with. I find within church culture; this means we need to over communicate on all major channels. It takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks of pushing communication out there before people begin to get the message. This is partly due to the inconsistency of church attendance, but also because of the barrage of messages people have to filter through every day.

Recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions regularly in meetings, newsletters, and on social media. Send personalized thank-you notes or emails to express gratitude for their specific efforts. Assign tasks that match the volunteer’s skills and interests to make their work more meaningful. Communicate how their work contributes to the organization’s goals and mission. Include volunteers in team meetings and decision-making processes to make them feel like part of the team.

I bring up "scope" a lot. "I appreciate your extra effort on that, but I wanted to remind you of the scope I need you to fufill - and give you some perspective about how exceeding that scope can sometimes be more harmful than helpful." Often volunteers are trying to be helpful rather than making a power grab - and they don't need "put in their place" as much as they need to understand how their piece fits into the whole. This creates a respectful conversation starter to talk about what you need them to accomplish - what you need them to avoid in order for the whole project to work out well - and what options they have if they feel like they want to contribute more than their existing role allows.

Remember that we're all in this together. Too often volunteer programs, volunteer leaders, and the organizations that use them perceive themselves as competitors rather than collaborators. We shouldn't be competing with each other for a finite group of existing volunteers. Instead, everyone wins if we collaborate with each other to get new people into volunteerism. The new people win, all organizations win, existing volunteers win, the community and society as a whole win.