What a Manager of Volunteer Programs at Adler Planetarium Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Volunteer Programs Industry
Grace, a Manager of Volunteer Programs, learned that volunteer "passion can look very different," with some showing diligence and others offering emotional connection; success requires embracing this diversity and recognizing that different personality types create a strong team.
Volunteer Management, Nonprofit Management, People Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Interpersonal Skills
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Grace Souza
Manager of Volunteer Programs
Adler Planetarium
Loyola Marymount University
N/A
English, Writing & Education
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Volunteer passion manifests differently; some are diligent and punctual, while others contribute with enthusiasm and strong interpersonal skills. Both are equally valuable.
2. Effective volunteer program management involves accepting diverse personalities and approaches to achieve success.
3. Maintaining an open mind during the recruitment process is crucial to building a well-rounded and productive volunteer team, recognizing that different personality types offer unique strengths that complement each other.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
I've learned that volunteers are very passionate people, and that passion can look very different from person to person. You might have someone who comes very diligently, who arrives on time, and that's how they show their care about this role. They are diligent about their start and stop times, sign up every month, and fulfill the role in that way.
You might also have someone who may not be as diligent in that capacity, but brings a ton of heart to an organization, a lot of emotion and feeling. They have great connections with people when they're here.
One type of person is not better than, equal to, or less than the other. You have to accept lots of different personalities in order for this organization to succeed as a whole.
So, trying not to find just one specific type of person to fulfill something is important. Really keep an open mind when hiring, knowing that these different people can make up a good whole and contribute to a team in a way you might not have foreseen. That'll really keep an open mind with the different personality types that volunteering can attract.
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