It’s hard to recruit great volunteers! And in a workplace, volunteers are one of the great assets.
When you organize any political campaign, you notice that it’s more challenging to get capable and well-connected volunteers. Also, the kind you want to agree to cheer your campaign and serve on your political committees.
So once you get the volunteers on board, you MUST make them feel great to work with your campaign. Don’t wait to appreciate them until their job is done. Start it right now! You must know your volunteers and make them feel appreciated by recognizing their achievements and making a great impression.
Not only do volunteers enjoy it, but they observe that you care enough about what they like. If they feel great, they will tell their friends and other people to get involved. We have made a list of things that help campaign consultants to appreciate their volunteers and make them feel valued about their efforts.
Ways to make your campaign volunteers HAPPY as they agreed to serve
Give them task matches with their skills
You can show value to each volunteer by allowing them in a job that holds his interest and makes great use of his potential. They should not feel bored, but they should feel engaged and excited about their work.
- If a person is creative, involve in making posters and flyers about your political campaign. Give an artistic tool bag as an appreciation gift.
- If a person is more into social events, involve him making phone calls or hosting meetings at public events.
Trust your volunteers
Give campaign volunteers relevant tasks that have higher stakes, making them feel responsible by demonstrating trust. In this digital world, volunteers work virtually by promoting your campaign. Know some of the tips for your virtual volunteers. Also, trusting your volunteer will make them feel appreciated and valued. Finally, it lets you recognize their time and effort.
Express gratitude
‘Thank you’ word has the power to make the other one feel valued. Let your volunteers feel the same. You can do this formally at the meeting, informally in person, or through emails or telephone. You can even text to send out personalized thank yous. Another way to appreciate volunteers is to write about their contributions in newsletters. Keep in mind to stay consistent and fair and do not favor a particular group.
Create an identity
If you are an organizer, include political campaign strategies to make your volunteers feel like they are part of your team. For example, provide them matching clothes to wear or come up with cool badges or ID cards. It raises team spirit among volunteers and helps find them not in public but also in your organization. In this, volunteers will gain respect and recognition from the public and thereby increase their value.
Let volunteers voice their opinions
Allow volunteers to be in planning and shaping activities, tasks, and practices. Place an anonymous suggestion box where anyone can put their thoughts on making a better work environment. Campaign management firms will invite volunteers to be a part of the committee and ask for their comments. Also, acknowledge their involvement showing that you value your volunteers.
Make it fun for volunteers
Create a soothing hang-out space inside your organization. Give them refreshments so they can come early and get to know each other. Invite them or surprise them with something special like a cool Sunday brunch. You could keep your speedometers, scoreboards, or grades to encourage your volunteers and keep up with the healthy competition. Make things fun for volunteers and entertain them.
Provide food for your volunteers
I always liked them better when they offered me food back in my college days. And the same applies to volunteers. Make sure to provide food for them as they work. It allows them to be energized and shows that you care for them. Also, note that to mark food that is vegetarian and vegan!
Give them the bigger picture
Sometimes encouragement is all that we need. One way that campaign strategists can give volunteers is to broaden their perspective about what they are doing. Volunteers might be involved in mundane tasks and some tasks that they weren’t sure about. It doesn’t matter what they are doing, and let your volunteer know the larger context about not only what they are doing. But also why they are doing it and respect and appreciate their work.
Spend your time focusing on specific traits of the volunteer you are thanking!
Do your volunteers always show up to their opportunity with a smile? Do they make delicious cookies to share? Even a small act of kindness from your campaign volunteers makes your job even better. So campaign management has to thank them for it! Your volunteer should feel special and personal. We hope that these are the ideas that help you recognize and thank your volunteers this year.