To Lead Is to Serve: How to Attract Volunteers & Keep Them

In To Lead is To Serve, Shar McBee talks about the challenges and skills necessary to manage and maintain a volunteer group. I would even go further than that. Since most employees can choose to quit and move on at any time, I feel these same skills are important for ANY people you work with - whether they are paid or not. Every person wants to feel important, wants to feel appreciated. What Shar lists here can work in any type of group situation. Shar talks about how maintaining a healthy view of the situation is critical. An example she gives is of finding a group of drowning people. You would not sit down and start discussing with them the basics of swimming. Instead, you would throw them a life raft. If people have an immediate need, you meet it. Only when they are ready to learn can you start providing instruction. Before the workers can accomplish anything, basic needs have to be met. An important message Shar reiterates several times is based on iChing - "to rule truly is to serve". You cannot go around thinking "what can I get out of my volunteers / workers". Rather, you need to think about "the workers need something - what is it? How can I help?" In another example she talks about how you need to meet people where they are, and help them from there. If someone doesn't know a certain skill, it does no good to berate them for the lack or to complain about it. Instead, realize that starting point, teach them the skill, and go from there. A key reason most volunteers stay is that they get continuous and immediate recognition and appreciation. They like to know that what they are doing is being seen. Everybody likes to be included and welcomed. Shar offers a variety of helpful tips. If you get discouraged, contact five people and express your gratitude for specific things they've done to help you in the past. It reminds you of the blessings you have and the opportunity you have to help out others. She also points out that people work best when we show strength first, sweetness later. We need them to respect us first. If you show sweetness first, human nature is for them to walk all over you and see that as a sign of weakness. Shar explains that the number one reason volunteers quit is they have hurt feelings. The Chinese say that patience is putting breaks on strength. This means you have to hold up, just listen, let them talk. Sympathize. Only then can you start to offer solutions that they will appreciate. I do have a comment. In one area Shar says, if you're in an accident, to always jump out of the car and say "Gee, I'm sorry" to diffuse the situation. You should NEVER do that. Countless research has shown that this can easily lead to a lawsuit. You should never express guilt. You should express NEUTRAL concern, such as "are you all right" or "Neither of us needed this today". You should never make any statement that YOU are the one at fault. Finally, Shar warns that while workers support modest, kind and humble leaders, they de

I remember very well the first time I read "To Lead is To Serve." I was on my way to a meeting that Shar McBee was going to keynote. I wanted to introduce myself to her philosophy of volunteerism prior to the meeting. Since then, I've re-read the book several times, and each time I get more and more out of it. The writing is fresh but timeless, new and invigorating. It's book that's so good you can tune everything else out when you're reading it. "To Lead is To Serve" is also a quick, easy read - you can read it in just a couple of hours.The principles that Ms. McBee espouses in "To Lead is To Serve" can absolutely turn an organization - any organization, be it for-profit or a non-profit, around. Unlike many who write about non-profits, the author skillfully differentiates between management and leadership. The heart of the book is the recruitment and retention of volunteers. Membership-based organzations will find great benefit in using Ms. McBee's ideas to not only recruit members, but to also retain those members. Drawing upon her extensive background as both an employee of and volunteer for non-profits, the author sparks different, exciting and creative ideas for serving others. Truly, to lead is to serve. This book tells how; a real bonus is that many of the ideas can be implemented immediatly and individually. Whatever your position in a for-profit or a non-profit, I enthusiastically recommend that you read this book and then apply its life-changing and organization-changing principles and ideas.

The concept has always been with us. Shar McBee articulates these ancient, well-proven philosophies in human relationships. I highly recommend this book to anyone in management.

"To Lead Is To Serve: How To Attract Volunteers & Keep Them," is well written, moving logically from one point to the next as it lays out a number of practical keys to leadership in a volunteer organization and to attracting and keeping volunteers. Its counsel applies, however, to leadership in other than volunteer organizations and to leadership in general. A good book on leadership from an author who began a complete novice but now has and writes from extensive successful experience in leading volunteer organizations of various types. The principles listed can be put to practical use immediately.