There comes a point for every club where some of its best members begin getting de-motivated and plan to leave the club. Retaining members is in fact just as difficult as attracting new members. There are many reasons members choose to leave and in most situations they can be encouraged to stay.
Just as businesses try to motivate their employees to work harder and progress, clubs need to motivate their members in order to be able to maintain retention rates. In fact, motivation is no longer an option, it has become a necessity.
1) Set a good example
The idea is simple - attitude is contagious. It is a fact that we tend to feed off the sentiments and reactions of those around us. Within your club, if you and your board members foster an ambitious, positive and supporting atmosphere, the rest of the club members will no doubt begin feeling encouraged to participate and bring forth their ideas to make a difference and in turn remain a committed member for a long time to come.
Conversely, if members are subject to seeing others in the club get away with tardiness, negativity and reluctance towards letting the club grow, their perception of not only the club changes but chances are high that their perception of the entire organization, such as Rotary, can change. By doing nothing about this sort of behaviour or attitude, you might lose an opportunity to cement what was once dedication to the club and ultimately lose a valuable member.
2) Focus on happiness
Happy members are also those motivated to do good for the club. There are many ways to keep members happy. In fact, you do not need an elaborate plan to achieve this. Sometimes just being asked means a lot, so in your next meeting, have every member anonymously write changes that they would like to see in the club which would make them happy. By doing something like this, you show your members that you care about the reason they joined the club and their satisfaction. Try to implement some of those suggestions and see the change in the attitudes of your members.
3) Make sure members share in the club's success
If you were asked about how involved and invested all of your members are in your club's success, what would your answer be? How good is your club's attendance rate? Is there potential to grow and improve?
A successful club is one where all members can adopt and share a ‘we’re in this together’ attitude, which is something that requires passion. The good thing about this is that all of your members have this passion otherwise they wouldn’t be part of the club today. Foster this passion by recognizing those that bring forth ideas, support and encourage those who go beyond their call of duty but don’t stop there. Celebrate these achievements with the entire club and get everyone involved.
4) Take on fun assignments
Part of keeping a level of interest alive includes doing more than routine meetings and regular activities. Have members brainstorm activities and events they would like to organize and projects they would like to fundraise for and contribute to. Collaborate and work with clubs in your area to host events that are meaningful and enjoyable. By adding variety to club’s your regular routine, you can ensure that you keep club members excited and involved.
5) Keep fresh ideas going
Schedule regular brainstorming sessions where club members get a say in various aspects of the club. Make this an annual exercise at the very least where members feel that they can bring forth fresh ideas and suggestions for change. Everything and anything should be up for evaluation; just because it's always been done that way, doesn't mean it should continue to be the case. When members see that the club is open to evolvement, they are more likely to bring forth their suggestions than just pick up and leave.
How do you keep your members motivated to give it their all for your club? Share your ideas with others on our facebook page.
Adapted from Inc.com Article: Tips for Motivating Employees
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