How do you maintain volunteer morale when faced with unexpected challenges in your program?

Volunteering at the Isha Foundation has been a transformative journey. The foundation nurtures our personal growth by providing energized, consecrated spaces and nutritious organic sattvic food. I have opportunities to explore my capabilities through guided meditation and advanced programs. A unique aspect is experiencing complete silence for at least three days, disconnecting from phones and communication. Time spent at the Dhyanalinga and Linga Bhairavi Devi temples fills me with energy, calmness, and clarity. Volunteering also allows me to work in various teams, showcasing or learning new skills. Following the path of Karma Yoga adds depth to my service and growth.

Most importantly, recognise their hard work and contributions to the cause Offer guidelines and resources to help them navigate difficulties Your support will boost their morale and confidence at the same time Additional training help them to become aware about the culture and make them comfortable with the environment

Share details with inner group and then work out strategy to involvine wider group. Aim is to involve all stakeholders with suggested options (incl.barinstorming) s so that a consensus emrges to which all or most are committed.

Be as honest with your volunteers as you are with employees. Don’t default to an “it will be alright” message if the threats faced are potent, and may result in adverse consequences, such as a program or agency closing or cutting it services. Assure your volunteers they will be “in the information loop.” And pass along information about any progress in removing the challenge as you receive it. In the worst case scenario, provide your volunteers with letters of reference and documentation of training received or skills mastered. Acknowledge their contributions; then help them find meaningful new service roles within your nonprofit network.

Keep all *eyes on the prize*, meaning recenter everyone's focus on the reason all are part of the organization...including the volunteers. A lot of unexpected challenges to organizations are where volunteer's objective opinions & expertise turn out to be the fresh eyes that are needed to examine and remedy said challenges.

In my experience emphasizing flexibility in response to unexpected challenges is a key leadership trait. Showing volunteers that you're adaptable in adjusting roles, goals and methods not only helps the program stay effective but also encourages a resilient attitude among the team. Your willingness to redefine objectives and modify schedules as needed demonstrates a commitment to both the program's success and the well-being of your volunteers. This approach fosters a supportive and dynamic environment, inspiring volunteers to stay committed and adaptable in the face of challenges.

in my experience being flexible with volunteers makes them feel valued and heard. Often volunteers have other commitments and flexibility in scheduling and objectives will give them a feeling of autonomy which is paramount when you are giving up you precious time on a volunteer basis. Flexibility allows for newer ways of doing things but will also add to the credibility of the organisation thus attracting more volunteers.

Bing flexible with volunteer schedules and tasks can help accommodate volunteers' personal and professional commitments, reducing stress and burnout.

Relationships- develop them, maintain them. Get in there and work side by side with volunteers. Don’t wait for a problem to develop to try to build relationships.

In my experience volunteers add value to the community and such need to be treated as valuable members of the organisation. Support is a vital pillar that is related to volunteers. This support needs to be present from beginning to end. I knew volunteer needs just as much support as a volunteer of 10 years. More and more volunteers are being asked to help in challenging situations - they need to be equipped and supported. Having regular team and individual check ins is important. It may be time consuming but will be well worth it in the long run.

Providing the necessary training and support to help volunteers overcome challenges can boost their confidence and competence, leading to higher morale.

Maintaining volunteer morale during unexpected challenges is crucial, and recognising their efforts plays a significant role. Since volunteers aren't financially compensated, acknowledging their hard work is essential. Use a mix of informal and formal recognition at appropriate times. Simple gestures like saying "Thank you" can make a big impact. Additionally, highlight their contributions in meetings, newsletters, or on social media. Personal messages or awards can also be effective. Consistent and heartfelt recognition helps volunteers feel valued and motivated, fostering a positive and resilient team.

One of the key morale boosters in any team rather than being limited to a volunteer team. Is the internal relationship of the team. Wether between members themselves or between team members and the team leader. Creating an open relationship based on efforts acknowledging and collective goal aiming is a must within a team. Based on a previous experience, when you create an atmosphere of comfort within a team, you, as a team leader, will be the go to in any bad scenario. Where then you can direct your team members in a way that boosts their morale and help them be stronger under pressure.

A volunteer appreciation event is a great way to keep your volunteers motivated and with you. Share the successes of your organization. Remind them that they a a key component in that success, a driving force for helping the community you serve. You can never say thank you too many times.

One thing I have found helpful is to always voice your gratitude for both the volunteers and the paid staff of the organization. Celebrate them and all of the ways they help the organization to make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve! Utilize campaigns like “volunteer of the month”, birthday cards with a gift card and public recognition. By showing our volunteers how much we appreciate them, we are able to grow the organization and the mission!

Regularly acknowledging and appreciating the efforts and contributions of volunteers can be done through public recognition, awards, or simple thank you notes.

Giving volunteers the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their tasks can make them feel valued and respected, which can boost their morale.

One thing I have found helpful to boost volunteer morale when faced with unexpected challenges in our program is to give examples of similar situations in have encountered before and how I was able to navigate through. I encourage them to focus on the positive impact and progress made no matter how little and then provide more tools, training and guidance to help navigate through. Many times, feedbacks are always great.