Valuing our volunteers, valuing ourselves

Recognition and feedback are everywhere. Many corporates and organisations are moving towards immediate and real recognition in a timely fashion.

Yet in the values, not-for-profit or community sector, many of us struggle with how to recognise the impact of the people that make up our organisations. Whether you call them volunteers, members, or supporters - recognition of the people working ‘at the coal face’ to create change and do good should focus on how to foster a sense of connection, to make their action feel valued and show them how their effort contributes to something important. Doing this on a limited budget and within the constraints of time and energy of other volunteers often poses a problem.

Feedback  can foster these connections and create further impetus and passion for the organisation by valuing the action of a person rather than their tenure. Organisations should make a conscious effort to recognise people and contributions as they arise, rather than waiting for a specific period, like National Volunteers Week or an annual ceremony.

Most current recognition systems lack the immediacy and personalisation that can really build momentum for doing good in networks and communities. We need to value our people so we can value ourselves.
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The people of the organisation are the heart of the organisation and if we do not value them intimately, then we risk loosing everything that the organisation represents.