Be Directive

Policies should clearly tell people what is expected. While one would hope for complete compliance with all policies, it is obvious that compliance with some policies is much more important than compliance with others. It is appropriate, therefore, that some policies be more strongly worded and more authoritative than others. For example, there are some policies for which the imperative mood - a command - is entirely proper. More

Prepare for Training and Orientation

Retention begins when you have accurately described the volunteer position and assessed whether the potential volunteer is right for the job. Hence, retention begVolunteers who are prepared and supported throughout their service experience are more likely to volunteer again. As a volunteer manager, you should always set aside time to orient and train them with the skills they need to be successful. As with any learning or service experience, your volunteer orientation and training will be most effective with careful planning. More

A Choice Blend – What Volunteers Want from Organization and Management

Much recent commentary emphasizes the changes in voluntary work, some of which are seen to put volunteering under threat. In the midst of these changes, organizations are seeking the best ways to attract and retain volunteers. Volunteer management has been the object of recent scrutiny, with a general consensus that the dominant professional/ workplace model is not an adequate response to the diversity of volunteers' characteristics, motivations and needs. More

Getting Help That is Helpful: How to Get the Right Volunteers

Technology support providers and nonprofits, especially small nonprofit organizations, often find themselves challenged to effectively manage volunteers to deliver services and support administrative functions. In recent years, many people with technology skills have become increasingly motivated to donate their time and expertise to nonprofits. Often the first reaction to this help is "great--bring it on!" But there can be many pitfalls in relying on volunteers that make offers of help not too helpful. More

Awkward! Sticky Work Situations and How to Handle Them

Dealing with weirdness in the office is never easy, but it's essential to running a successful company. "Human resources problems that get ignored have a really nasty habit of not going away," says Margaret Hart Edwards, a shareholder at employment law firm Littler Mendelson. Never fear: The experts are here to offer their advice for handling 10 sticky HR situations that might otherwise leave you floored and fumbling. More

Retail Selling 101

This bare-bones list may seem basic, but all the information bears repeating. These are the top ten mistakes retail salespeople make, and they are all preventable. More

How To Improve Your First Impression Image

In the eyes of the customer perception is reality. Your image is important and research shows that 70 percent of a stores image, in a customer’s eyes, is obtained during their first impressions which is approximately the first ten seconds. More