When Volunteers Tread Their Own Path

Today I learnt about Elephant Paths (sometimes called Desire Paths) - unplanned paths that are worn by humans or animals creating convenient shortcuts when constructed paths take longer or more indirect routes, have gaps or don’t exist.

This got me thinking about some of the reasons people don’t volunteer or have a poor experience when they do. Or how some people are drawn to informal rather than formal volunteering.

How often do we create barriers for volunteers, enforcing long onboarding processes or having blanket screening policies?

How often do we try to recruit an appropriate “number” of volunteers to manage an event or fill shifts rather than getting to know each applicant and designing an experience that meets their personal goals and expectations?

How many of us only communicate with volunteers digitally, never picking up a phone or pen to connect personally with volunteers, deepening our relationship with them?

How many volunteers create their own path away from our organisation, or new paths towards flexible, informal opportunities to support their communities, that fit in with their lives, are convenient, and meet their goals?

How often do you create reasons for volunteers to tread their own paths away from your organisation?