What are some strategies for ensuring equal contributions in a volunteer team?

Between 2013 and 2018, I was the President of the PMI Southern Germany Chapter, leading volunteers performing operations and projects. I would have never been interested in equal contributions. There were skilled volunteers with passion, dedication, diligence, and ability. People who were happy to contribute to the Chapter and the profession. There were others, less skilled, less passionate, less dedicated. And less able. They were rather interested in titles and used the Chapter mostly for their own business interests. Leading the chapter, it was far more beneficial to take the most that I could get from each of these people, accepting that this meant, some will give more, others less.

In my early days of work, I struggled with delegating tasks since I had to work with team members who did not deliver as expected. So when in lead, I only worked with team members who I thought were reliable. But this did not create a healthy work environment for growth of the other team members. Working on different projects with diverse ideologies and expertise has really opened my understand of the power of task delegation and inclusion. The key is to set clear goals and expectations, communicate them clearly to team members and run systems to send reminders and check progress. Also ensure that every members' perspective is welcomed and valued.

In my volunteering experience, I've learned that fostering equal contributions within a volunteer team is essential for the team's success. To achieve this, it's crucial to establish clear roles and responsibilities for each team member based on their strengths and interests. Effective communication and regular check-ins can help ensure that everyone has a voice and feels valued. Encouraging an open and inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are celebrated can lead to more innovative solutions. Additionally, recognizing and appreciating individual contributions through acknowledgment and gratitude can motivate team members to actively participate.

Set clear and measurable goals for each volunteer in your team. Track progress with tools like Gantt charts or Kanban boards. Celebrate successes, address weaknesses, and offer support. Simple yet effective, this approach fosters teamwork and ensures everyone contributes meaningfully to the shared objectives.

I agree with this because it ensures Accountability and Productivity in a Team. My inputs: 1. Rotating Roles: Consider rotating roles and tasks to give everyone a chance to take on different responsibilities. This helps prevent one or a few members from consistently bearing the burden. 2. Skill Assessments: Conduct and assess the skills and strengths of each team member to allocate tasks that match their abilities and interests. 3. Inclusive Decision-Making: Involve all team members in decision-making processes to ensure that everyone's voice is heard and valued. 4. Feedback Mechanisms: Encourage feedback from team members about the team's dynamics and contributions, and use this feedback to make necessary improvements.

As a volunteer coordinator, you know that volunteers are the foundation of any successful nonprofit organization. They dedicate many hours to help you achieve your mission, and in return, it’s your job to offer a seamless recruitment process for everyone to ensure a memorable volunteer experience.

Foster teamwork by promoting open communication through tools like Slack, Google Drive, or Zoom. Establish a safe environment for all members to freely share ideas and feedback. This approach builds trust, rapport, and synergy, ensuring equal contributions and a more harmonious volunteer team dynamic.

Flexibility: Be flexible with volunteers' schedules and commitments. Remember that they are donating their time, and life. Team Building: Foster a sense of community within the volunteer team. Organize team-building activities or events to strengthen their bond.Mentoring and Support: Assign mentors or experienced volunteers to provide guidance and support to newer members.Quality Control: Implement quality control mechanisms to review and assess volunteer contributions. This can help maintain a high standard of work.Incentives: Consider offering incentives like certificates, references, or opportunities for skill development to motivate volunteers.

Communication using remote platforms is key to increasing involvement and avoiding double-work. Encouraging collaboration instead of hoarding responsibilities to one volunteer can effectively grow the organization to its full potential.

When conflicts pop up in your volunteer squad, tackle them head-on. Swiftly address conflicts using tools like conflict resolution models, mediation, or feedback loops. Listen, understand various viewpoints, and collaborate on solutions. Nipping issues in the bud prevents bad vibes and keeps the team harmonious and thriving.

As a volunteer coordinator, you know that volunteers are the foundation of any successful nonprofit organization. They dedicate many hours to help you achieve your mission, and in return, it’s your job to offer a seamless recruitment process for everyone to ensure a memorable volunteer experience.

I have worked on teams in church, higher education, arts and community, and political teams. Although they may seem very different, one thing that is constant is there WILL be conflict at some point. What has worked for me in leading and moderating teams is to focus on making sure that everyone is seen, heard, and understood. That often means allowing a way for introverted or conflict-averse team members to anonymously share how they are feeling as well as performing "good and welfare checks" with folks on what is going right in their world and how we can support and/or cheer them on. Lastly, I frequently remind team members (including myself) of the origin and mission of the organization, and what drew us together in the first place.

Stay nimble! Keep things flexible by regularly checking in on how the team's doing. Use tools like SWOT analysis or surveys to spot strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Get everyone's input, make adjustments, and track the results. Stay adaptable to keep the team strong and everyone contributing their best.

Volunteering as the team lead at Abeyie Innovation Studios, I ensured equal contributions from all team members by creating a clear and shared vision for the team and assigning tasks based on each individual's strengths. This resulted in a highly motivated and engaged team that successfully launched the Abeyie app which was our goal.

Volunteering is a passion project for most people, and it is important to praise and celebrate the time given by individuals to the organization. Once a volunteer role feels like a job, or volunteers feel reprimanded, retention becomes an issue. It is no fun to be chastised at something individuals choose to give their time to without pay. While it is important to be responsive and continue practices of the organization, key volunteers should allow flexibility and welcome "mistakes" to keep the experience enjoyable, fun, and engaging.

Assigning tasks based on volunteers’ interests and skills will lead to better attendance, less turnover and volunteers wanting to come back and keep contributing because they are enjoying what they are doing. People are more likely to contribute when they are doing something they enjoy and are good at.

Three things that I think are important. 1. I would not begin with the assumption that volunteers will contribute equally. In my experience, each contributes as they can in their own way - but it’s never equal and that’s just fine. Being “Equal” doesn’t get you to your goals any faster. 2. Having a single volunteer lead and take on the main goals is better than having a paid staffer lead the effort. That volunteer will find it easier to motivate their peers and then get credit for leading. The staff can then support the project in whatever way is needed. 3. With volunteer efforts, some people will drop out. That’s just the way things work. So just plan to need more people and ensure the work is divided into small deliverables.

1) Make everybody in the team feel important. This I have found very helpful in volunteering. As the team lead of the campaign I am leading (Ogugu, MakeOurHospitalWork Campaign), I ensure that everybody makes input when any topic is been discussed. Before any major meetings that involve stakeholders in my community, we do a pre-meeting to get everybody's input on our agenda. By this, everybody has a say and is equally involved. 2) Delegate Duties One thing I have also found helpful is the delegation of duties to every team member. I got this insight from the full meaning of T.E.A.M (Together Everybody Achieve More). This also gives them a sense of belonging.

Excellent points thus far! Two things I would like to add is: 1.Diversity and Inclusion: Promote diversity and inclusion within the team, as it helps bring different perspectives and talents to the table. 2. Open-Mindedness: It is a good thing to be open-minded, because oftentimes, we may find ourselves in situations that calls for it. I have found myself volunteering in a remote village, with no mobile network, seen houses made of mud, and camels used as a source of transportation. And the beneficiaries didn't speak English! I welcomed the challenge, stayed, and learnt about their culture for 5 years! Volunteering takes us on unexpected journeys sometimes, and it is best to not just adapt, but remember why and for who we do what we do.