4.2 Motivation

So why is motivation (or, as some organisations now call it, ‘engagement’) important? As with paid work, volunteers will generally want to carry out activities they find satisfying and rewarding.

Understanding the volunteers’ motivations is important: volunteers are not dependent on the organisation they work for, and are not tied by a formal employment contract. As a result, volunteers are usually freer than employees to pick and choose the organisation to which they give their time and efforts. If organisations do not provide an appealing environment and motivating work, they are likely to experience problems in recruiting and retaining their volunteers.

Activity 8 What motivates you?

By signing in and enrolling on this course you can view and complete all activities within the course, track your progress in My OpenLearn. and when you have completed a course, you can download and print a free Statement of Participation - which you can use to demonstrate your learning.

Click on 'SIGN IN to enrol' to get started.

You can find out more about registering and OpenLearn in our FAQs.

Last week you explored expectations in relation to role. You will now move on to think more deeply about the relationship and expectations that exist between an organisation and its staff (and/or volunteers) – the ‘psychological contract’. It will help you when thinking about how your own volunteering (or work) is managed, as well as help you to assess how an organisation or a group you are interested in approaches volunteer retention.