Invite, Don’t Recruit

Everyone wants to be invited to a party, to coffee with an old friend, for a shopping spree with the girls, or a guys night out. Have you ever heard anyone tell you how great their experience was when they were ambushed by the lady at church and basically forced into serving in the nursery on Sunday? Or, when they were voluntold or army volunteered into serving on Saturday doing home improvement projects? Those are great and noble acts of service but being forced into doing those, instead of being invited to participate, can create two very different experiences. 

When working with a volunteer team to execute events as I do, at a church for several years and now with a non-profit organization serving children’s ministry leaders, I have had the pleasure of serving with thousands of wonderful people. Some I have the benefit of living in community with and some I met via the event’s website and got to know over time. In both cases, I learned very quickly that a successful volunteer events team is built by inviting others into sharing the adventure and serving others rather than begging and pleading others into helping me out of desperation. 

As the builder of the event’s volunteer team, it’s your job to cast the vision, create excitement and anticipation for the event, and show volunteers how they will be part of something great; serving the attendees, exhibitors, or speakers throughout the event, and how they help the organization accomplish their mission. 

By sharing the vision and inviting them into the journey, the volunteers will also help to create excitement for, and can end up generating additional advertising for, the event when they talk to their friends and family about the opportunity they have been asked to be a part of.  Word of mouth invitation is also the best way to add members to the team.

Volunteers can also benefit from the positive serving environment you create at the event. They have the opportunity to be a part of something greater. They may gain satisfaction while serving others, learn a new skill, meet new people, or deepen current relationships with others on the team. Most volunteers I have worked with over the years have said they made lasting friendships with people that they looked forward to serving with at other events. 

So, next time you are responsible to pull together a team to help execute an event, no matter the size, don’t forget to invite others to share in the wonder of things to come…and leave the recruiting to the armed services.

Do you have a tidbit for inviting others to participate on a volunteer team? Please share here or send me an email, I’d love to hear what you do!

Please like this blog and pass this blog onto those you know who plan events!

Do you work with volunteers? Check out my book Cultivating a Healthy Volunteer Team!