Getting Staff & Volunteers to Cooperate

What a terrible waste of time when someone refuses to do their job the way they're asked to do it!


But what about creativity? What about self-expression? What about empowerment? What about..what about...hey, I know! What about doing it the way the boss asks you to do it! Ewww! Does that sound harsh? Yes. Get over it!


Every organization needs order and that means that someone (a/k/a the boss) has to make the decisions. Even as every boat has one captain, every department or church or organization has one decision-maker. If you are that decision maker, let me encourage you to hang on to the authority that's been given to you. God places authority over us...whether we're paid staff or whether we're volunteers. We must submit to that authority. Not only is it company policy, it's God's policy!


Usually it's easier to get paid staff to do their jobs right but it's just as important to get volunteers to do their jobs right, too. And it's often not easy at all to get both entities to work together for the good of the organization.


If you're in a leadership position in a company, a service organization, a church or ministry, and you need a little guidance on how to get your staff and volunteers to do what it is you need them to do, just write to us and we'll be glad to send you a free white paper on how to get them to cooperate! We've cut through the hype of being "politically correct" and gone straight to the "how to" of getting things done. This guide addresses issues you deal with every day and resolves them...step by step.


It's FREE, no strings attached, nothing to buy, nothing to join...just some good advice if you need it! Go to our website: www.powerintheworkplace.com and request a copy. We'll be glad to email it to you with our blessings.

Keeping Volunteers Happy

Over 85% of all nonprofit organizations have volunteers and in some instances, these organizations could not have attained the success they are enjoying without these valuable staff members. Volunteering in America states that in 2005, over 65 million Americans were volunteers contributing 8.2 billion hours of service, totaling nearly $150 billion in donated volunteer labor!

Churches and non-profits could not be nearly as effective without their volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of many organizations yet they are often the “forgotten stepchildren” when it comes to many mainstream business and organizational procedures. Let’s look at orientation programs, for example. Why? Because most volunteers are asked to help out without actually ever learning how or why. A job description for a paid employee is typical but try to find one for a volunteer!

But you know, volunteers need to receive the same type of information as paid staff. They need the same facts, they need to know what’s expected of them, and what they can expect from you, and they need to know that the organization is supportive of them and appreciates their contributions.

A volunteer orientation program is critical if you really want your organization to communicate effectively with your volunteers and see them work in cooperation with your paid staff.

Click on the “subscribe” button below, and Power In The Workplace will send you a FREE volunteer orientation program with everything you’ll need to create productive and rewarding relationships with your volunteers.

America is a nation of people who like to give back. Keep your volunteers happy and they’ll be glad to keep giving their time and efforts to your organization.

Listen to Your Staff

The wife of a friend of mine once said, “Don’t listen to what I say; listen to what I mean!” You’ve got to admit, that’s some pretty good advice! But too often we don’t listen for meaning, we only listen to formulate our own response.

Employers have an especially hard time listening to employees. The boss always seems to be rigid when it comes to communicating with employees. On the one hand, you have to be because it’s your company and you typically know what needs to be done to run it successfully. But on the other hand, you have to remain flexible because…surprise!…you really don’t know everything that your organization needs and it’s your employees who are out there on the “shop” floor who know how things are really operating.

I think one of the best shows to come along in a quite a while is “Undercover Boss”. Now granted, it’s a reality TV show and we all know it’s orchestrated, but the basic premise is this: the boss can learn from the employees.

So I’d like to encourage you to take the time and effort to listen to your employees. Like any other person, an employee needs to be understood, needs to be affirmed, needs to be validated, and needs to be appreciated.

You’d be surprised what a difference you as the boss can make in the life of an employee, both on and off the job.