Managing Volunteers Is Closer to Managing Employees Than You Think

There's a lesson to be learned for leaders on both sides.

Most people draw a clear line between for-profit employees and nonprofit volunteers. Money changes everything, right?

Yet, after many years working with organizations on both sides of that fence, it’s clear to me that managing people in each setting is much more similar than anyone wants to admit. Whether you issue a paycheck or a thank-you note and some swag, the real job of a leader is surprisingly consistent.

The Illusion of Retention: Everyone Can Walk

Perhaps the most striking similarity between managing employees in a for-profit business and volunteers in a nonprofit organization is the need for sustained motivation.

Think paying someone to work for you guarantees that motivation? Not so.

Both employees and volunteers show up because they choose to. That choice can be revoked at any time, regardless of whether it’s due to a better offer, burnout, or just a change in weather. (Of course, that is as it should be.)

The most common reason a for-profit loses an employee is some form of d…