The Nonprofit FAQ

What supervision styles work best for volunteers?

Nancy Macduff said in the February 1997 VOLUNTEER TODAY at http://www.bmi.net/mba/recrui.html Phil Jackson is the head coach of the winning Chicago Bulls basketball team. His book Sacred Hoops: Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior reveals his secrets of motivation. Some of them are listed below. Be prepared to push when it is needed. He suggests allowing people to try things you might not think they are ready for, being prepared to help them as they take risks. In his view modern life requires bold decisions and frequent improvisation. This means confidence is built by giving people permission to take risks, if not encouraging it. Help the person prepare, but encourage them to think on their feet and for themselves. Knowing when to act is as important as acting. The secret of a motivator is knowing when to be quiet and let others solve a problem or resolve a crisis. By restraining your action you allow people to work together and affirm their common goals. Motivators learn to accept setbacks as stepping stones to success. Jackson says that losing is like looking through a lens where you can see more clearly. It helps remind you that in life all things change. Build awareness in those who work toward a common goal. Groups function best when everyone is pulling the wagon in the same direction. This requires that they be aware of what is going on around them. It is sensitivity to the work load of others and helping out when it is needed. Each person is working to fit into the whole.