Method in Madness
from Volunteering England
In the voluntary sector, it is often the case that we follow Einstein's recipe for madness - endlessly repeating the same process hoping for a different result. This occurs for a variety of reasons, from a lack of proper research to a perception that insufficient resources are available. More

Keeping Volunteers Happy and Content
from Kori Rodley Irons via Associated Content
There are several things volunteer coordinators, school administrators and others who rely on volunteer labor and expertise can do to make the best use of volunteers and make them feel welcome, necessary and appreciated. After all, a volunteer who contributes five hours of time a week, would cost an organization around $15,000 a year in personnel expense if he or she was a paid employee. That’s a lot of value from one well-meaning individual! More

Slideshow: Get Started With Social Media
from Inc.
Too many non-profit and volunteer organizations are ignoring social media. This overview from Inc. includes basic information about LinkedIn, Facebook, Ning, Plaxo, Bebo, and other sites that can help you network, reach customers and support your business. Consider this the syllabus for Social Media 101. More

Everything I Needed to Know About Customer Service I Learned in a Tokyo Convenience Store
from Smart Biz
During a recent trip to Tokyo, the differences to everyday life in the United States were often very obvious and culturally driven. But there were many occasions where customer experiences, behavior and expectations transcended the cultural differences between East and West. More

The Seven Principles for Inspiring Employees
from Business Know-How
With a suffering economy there is the temptation to operate in fear. As scary as the situation may be, leaders have a great opportunity and responsibility to be inspiring. Here are seven principles for inspiring your employees that you can take action on today. Implement one of these principles and make a difference. Implement all seven and change the culture you live and work in. More

2009 AHVRP Annual Conference Distinguishing Our Profession, Discovering Our Spirit Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa Phoenix, AZ August 27-30, 2009 Website: www.todaysvolunteer.org

Motivating Your Sales Force
from Retail Merchandiser
Typically, trainers and immediate supervisors might hope to motivate store associates to learn and apply sales and customer service skills with promises of financial reward, prizes or job advancement. But such basic enticements might not always be available – especially to volunteers. To move beyond the limitations of such typical motivators, trainers and supervisors must recognize and tap into the innate desire that motivates every new associate, namely, to have their worth understood and affirmed in a comfortable and non-confrontational way. More

Surveillance, Training Can Help Prevent Shrink
from Stores Magazine
The recession has dealt retailers a double whammy: Sales are down for many chains, as consumers are reluctant to part with their cash, but merchandise is still going out of too many store doors without passing through the point of sale. More