How do you manage and motivate your community engagement team and volunteers?

The most impactful application for projecting the vision is through the use of good social media content. As the go to place in a contemporary world it ensures clarity at all levels. Furthermore, highlighting individual narratives of success boost the process of sending the right message out with positive accountability.

An often overlooked aspect for non-profit organizations is the inclusion of the community they serve in the decision-making process. Engaging the community in setting the organization's vision and goals not only fosters alignment between purpose and productivity but also establishes a strong reputation. By actively involving community leaders and working collaboratively to drive impact, your organization will build trust, credibility, and belief in the services it provides.

I do motivate the community with leading by example. Giving community members a stage , showing business value that has been created by the community. Introduction of people , celebrating a success story and sharing new developments of the community.

Yes. Inspire, motivate (remove barriers, like fear and self-doubt, messages in our head that we don't have the time), and provide opportunities for inclusion. Finally, acknowledge efforts and achievements with lots of gratitude!

Consider implementing a culture of curiosity and innovation. Encourage team members and volunteers to explore new ideas and approaches in their roles. This can be done by creating a safe space for them to express their thoughts and ideas, and by promoting a learning mindset where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth.

Yes to the skills and training, and modeling and positive encouragement help your team to take the first step to applying their skills and talents. Success breeds success, so yes to the celebrating the wins and creating the support and momentum to achieve even greater results.

Building a thriving community engagement team hinges on effective management and motivation. Training plays a crucial role, in equipping team members and volunteers with the knowledge and skills to excel. Onboarding programs tailored to specific roles ensure seamless integration, while ongoing training in communication, conflict resolution, and community-building best practices empowers them to navigate diverse situations effectively. Mentorship programs foster individual growth and provide valuable guidance. Beyond training, recognition and appreciation are key motivators. Celebrate successes, acknowledge individual contributions, and offer opportunities for professional development.

Empowerment: Empower team members and volunteers by providing them with decision-making responsibilities and autonomy in their roles. Resource Support: Ensure both the team and volunteers have the necessary resources and support to carry out their tasks effectively.

I love this question! Community Engagement is one of the HARDEST fields in which to be because there is so much emotional weight and personal stake that you have to pour into developing these relationships in order to be successful. When managing a team, it's important to recognize the toll that it takes and be lavish with praise and gentle with criticism. I've found Dale Carnegie's book "How to Win Friends..." to be a huge help.

One thing I've found motivating for community engagement teams and Volunteers is giving of incentives and celebration as a way of being recognized and rewarded for their efforts. It's motivates them to do more and do well in their tasks as a community engagement manager. As a non profit founders, I give monthly incentives, certification, praise & positive feedbacks, and opportunities to motivate, recognize and reward my community engagement team and Volunteers.

Recognition and rewards are most effective when genuine, timely, and specific. Public Recognition: Showcase achievements through newsletters, social media mentions, or internal platforms. Celebrate milestones and highlight individual contributions to keep spirits high. Shared Success: Celebrate collective achievements through team outings, social gatherings, or volunteer appreciation events. Foster a sense of community and reinforce the impact of their collective efforts.

Often starts with a simple thank you. I have seen many communities criticise openly, but appreciate scarcely or in private. This has to change for communities that run more out of passion than out of necessity. Talk to your team and volunteers regularly. Do this individually and in groups. Request for feedback on what you can do for them, before considering feedback for them.

Recognition and Feedback: Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of team members and volunteers, offering feedback and opportunities for growth. Training and Onboarding: Provide proper training and structured onboarding processes for volunteers to understand their roles and responsibilities.

It helps to facilitate cross-collaboration between the community contributors and the project teams when applicable. This could mean including the community team in some internal communications, roadmapping, or strategy sessions. These contributors represent the most active and passionate members of the community, and always have insights that are valuable. The contributor's access to the process is likely to foster a powerful connection, and helps to build trust with the greater community that they will be supported.

Key networking skills have become essential for building the cohesive team which I belong. I encourage full team collaboration for decision making and socialisation to ensure there is a sense of belonging.

Engagement Relevance: Offer tasks and roles that are engaging and relevant to the interests and skills of the volunteers. Communication and Appreciation: Keep volunteers informed about the organization's goals and regularly express appreciation for their contributions.

Making the right decision only comes when the whole team are involved from.the outset. This is something highly encouraged. Utilising the skills of each member of the team ensure that projects have the best chance of succeeding.

Support and Flexibility: Provide support and flexibility to accommodate volunteers' schedules and personal commitments. Community and Growth: Foster a sense of community among both team and volunteers, encouraging feedback, skill development, and growth opportunities.

My biggest key to delivering a team which is focused on engaging with the community is to focus on developing a really good team. Ultimately if you have defined the vision and goal, and you have a well functioning team, the work will get done and the community will be engaged. What more often than not stops us is not having our team working together to achieve the common vision. So my first job, before even defining what the goal and vision are is to make sure I have a team which knows their roles, know their own strengths and the strengths of their team mates. In many cases the team will be made us of a multi disciplinary team, and may not have worked togther. Focus on making sure they know and trust each other and the work happen.

Stay resilient and determined, even when faced with obstacles. Motivate yourself and those around you (including team members and volunteers) to persist and find creative solutions to project difficulties. #TheYouthandCommunityGuy

I've always found that a thematic approach is a really effective way of enabling people to come together. In Stockton-on-Tees I worked as the local authority's Creative Partner, a role that tasked me with generating ongoing and increased community engagement. Things like this... The Loudest Whisper which brought 10000 people together across the Borough to respond to the filming of Channel 4's Benefits Street. It resulted in an ongoing PSST! Campaign which celebrated all things positive in Stockton on Tees. The result was a massive shift in attitude - a collective sense of positivity and micro-projects that continue to this day - sharing stories, singing, walking, gathering, https://youtu.be/904VHPMzimI

The best approach is to pay attention and gain insight into the stories and vibrancy of the community. . Show interest in the feedback coming from the team, . discuss possible solutions to all raised matters from the community with the team, and ensure that the team has the space and room to propose solutions for the community after the engagement. . Take time to attend engagement meetings with the team