Question

How would issues like time poverty, responsiveness, technology, and changing expectations create challenges for recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers?

Answer 1

Volunteers can play a very important role in an organization. Putting effort into recruiting and retaining volunteers can have great benefits to the organization in terms of volunteer productivity and commitment. The shortage of volunteers today, even makes more important for an organization to be sensitive to the needs of its volunteers.
Research studies across the county shows that individuals repeatedly identify a "lack of time". It considered to be the number one barrier or obstacle to volunteering. Respondents say I am too busy, or I have too little time, or I cannot make a long term commitment. This phenomenon is termed as "time poverty." People today feel increasing pressures and demands for their time. Volunteer groups and associations complaining because of the lack of people willing to assume leadership roles. Organizations find it easy to recruit volunteers for special events, but difficult to draw those same volunteers into ongoing positions.
Responsiveness: Volunteers want immediate access to resources, information, and people. They expects the answers will supply them promptly. They want easy, quick ways for training; they expect instant access to you and, they expect you to keep them well informed of all the happening. A monthly newsletter may no longer be sufficient. The challenge is to find ways to communicate information and resources quickly and equitably to all volunteers.
Technology: It certainly caused the challenge of responsiveness. It introduced us to the whole new ways of work and has also created even larger gaps between those who have the technology and those who do not have it. We are challenged to engage technology to help us change how we are doing business. Examples: Social Media, websites, video conferencing, etc. We have to use multiple formats to engage with today’s volunteers.
Changing Expectations: Volunteers and association members have changing expectations from the volunteer service. Example: The younger generation wants the freedom to try new things in new ways. They are technologically literate and prefer to use technology. Each generation has the differing expectations of volunteer service and the challenge for us is to bring these diverse generations together into a single organization through multiple options and opportunities. Spend time to understand the unique needs and styles of our volunteers and constituents and create a way for each to receive personal satisfaction and reward.