Focused discussion on personal motivation

8 January 2025

“How do you motivate yourself to be the best leader you can be? But also, as a leader, how do you motivate others to be the best they can be?”

At the start of a new year with the short-day light hours and cold weather many of us can struggle with motivation. A group of network members came along to this session and chatted about their plans for the coming year, inspiring each other with some amazing ideas.

“The more action you take the more motivated you become”

Focus on:

• what you would like to achieve this year.
• a particular area that you love. A great example was new technology and how it can be used to give volunteers the best possible experience
• volunteers, making sure that they are having a positive experience as a volunteer.
• an area that has not been achieving its goals by starting conversations with colleagues on how to achieve those goals.
• joining up with other organisations and supporting each other by sharing experiences and learning.
• making connections, be seen and show that you’re approachable.
• keeping things interesting by creating new opportunities for your development.

Ideas shared

• Support sessions with volunteers to get them re-energised and re-energising your working relationships with them.
• Developing a wider vision. For example, integrated neighbourhood teams that can offer NHS health checks, or a pharmacy offering a warm space with specialist volunteer organisations delivering housing, financial or health specific conditions such as dementia advice and support. This could also include breast screening and reaching those who may not come forward for a variety of reasons.
• Look at your comms plan for the coming year to get the message about volunteering out to communities as well as staff and celebrate volunteer managers.
• Make sure that volunteer managers and coordinators see positive feedback from the volunteers to show the impact they have on individuals and that they are appreciated.
• Team building events with good facilitators and team development content.

Using AI

It was recognised that more people are now using AI to complete application forms.

There was some concern about AI being used as it questioned the person's ability to comprehend instructions.

Amongst the group organisations didn’t appear to have a set policy on its use and that it was being left down to the judgement of individual managers.

One organisation does use tick boxes on the application form asking the applicant if they used AI when completing any part of the application form and did, they require some assistance?

“A motivated volunteer manager/coordinator will motivate the volunteers”