Inspiring Your Team to Volunteer
Studies have shown that volunteering can reduce stress, prevent depression, and improve your overall health, making it as beneficial to the volunteer as the organization. These benefits, in turn, can keep employees happier and more engaged at work. But how do you get your employees or coworkers to spend some time volunteering instead of dwelling on the day-to-day aspects of running a business? Here at EON, we’ll take care of the minutiae of running a business so you can use these tricks to inspire your team to volunteer.
Organize volunteer events that your team can take part in
Volunteer work doesn’t just give your employees a certain sense of fulfillment; it can help build your internal team culture, as well. When you partner with local non-profits to offer special volunteer opportunities, you create an atmosphere of positive change for your team. Local causes also help improve a team’s sense of camaraderie, and there’s something very rewarding about knowing your hard work is going to serve people in your own community. For example, our annual EON Backpack Drive, in partnership with The Salvation Army Intermountain Division, gives our team the chance to help the students of Colorado return to school with the supplies they need to be successful.
Keep your team aware of volunteer opportunities
Oftentimes, people don’t know where or how to get involved with a cause. Or, perhaps your teammates or staff will want to volunteer for different organizations. Instead of choosing one place to volunteer with your team as a whole, keep an up-to-date list of volunteer opportunities across a wide range of interests. Some employees would love to volunteer for an animal shelter, while others would prefer to work at a food bank. Keep your team abreast of various organizations and their needs, and sooner or later they will find a cause they want to support. This makes volunteering feel less like an obligation and more like a passion project.
Reward those who participate
While it may seem a bit counterintuitive to reward your team for volunteer work, it’s actually a great way to build a culture around giving back. For example, taking into consideration hours spent volunteering for promotions or raises is a great incentive. Or, consider hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Day at work and provide free food and gift cards to those who’ve dedicated their time to a cause. Write handwritten thank you notes for volunteers so they know you appreciate their work as much as the organization does. Alternatively, you may want to recognize them publicly: have a volunteer of the month spotlight, or a feature on your website highlighting specific work a team member is doing. The options for acknowledging your team are nearly endless, and people will always appreciate knowing you care as much as they do.
Finally, you can always encourage your team to take leadership roles in volunteer positions and give them a pathway to gain skills they may not yet have. Letting newer employees coordinate a volunteer day gives them the opportunity to shine and you the ability to take a step back. Another way you can step back and delegate is by having EON take care of all your office needs. You have a company to run; let us keep the machinery in perfect working order. Contact us today so that you can spend more time volunteering with your team.
