Supporting student volunteers in building leadership skills
Abstract
Once students have been recruited to assume volunteer leadership roles, there are many ways they can become engaged in project development and implementation. Identifying the skills that they need to be successful early on, helps make best use of their time and energy, and furthers the goals of academic and career advancement. Lori Jean Mantooth of the Hands On Network shared this effective practice in August 2007.Issue
Recognizing abilities volunteers want or need to develop and then helping them translate these skills to their academic life and career objectives.Action
Engage students in brainstorming and project planning from the very beginning. This builds interest and momentum and gives student volunteer leaders more opportunities to develop job skills.
Understand that student volunteer leaders may not have every skill needed to plan a project and lead other students in service. Help them identify the skills they do have and determine the skills they need. Then, coach the leaders to develop the skills that will make them successful in their role.
Some of the skills that student volunteer leaders can build through the many aspects of project development and implementation include the following.
As a result of project budgeting and resource management, volunteers build skills in
- Fundraising and solicitation
- Creating and working with a financial plan
Communication
- Corresponding with community agencies and partners
- Conveying service goals and tasks to volunteers
Cultural competence
- Volunteering with people of different cultures
- Engaging with new populations in community
Delegation
- Identifying key project tasks
- Determining leaders for specific tasks
Managing people
- Guiding volunteers during the service activity
- Coordinating an event
Marketing and recruitment
- Promoting service opportunities throughout the campus
- Recruiting volunteers
Planning
- Developing a project scope of work
- Creating a project timeline
Presentation skills
- Leading the volunteer orientation
- Facilitating the service-learning and reflection activity
Problem-solving
- Troubleshooting during the service activity
- Developing contingency plans for projects
Context
Additional ways to support student leaders to develop the skills they need include the following:
Identify a clear "point person" for students to contact.
This person should be able to answer questions, provide direction, and assist students in their volunteer leadership efforts. The contact may be someone in your organization or someone on campus, such as a dean or the staff of the volunteer/service learning office.
Remember these key elements of effective coaching:
- A trusting, honest, respectful relationship between the coach and the individual being coached
- Time for preparation and reflection
- Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and expectations
- Effective listening skills
- Strategic questions that promote thinking
- Data collection and thoughtful feedback
Recognize student volunteer leaders for their work.
Recognition makes volunteer leaders feel appreciated and valued, and it can bring a sense of closure to the project. Come up with a creative way to thank and honor volunteer leaders and the volunteers who served with them.
Outcome
Serving in a volunteer leadership role is a great way for college students to build expertise they can apply in their careers.Posted On
September 14, 2007For More Information