On-the-job training can be difficult. Trying to get volunteers all together in one place and time can feel like herding cats. Engaging volunteers with content on various website articles, Ted Talks and You Tube Videos once a month or quarter via an email is a great alternative. Volunteers can get exposed to good content and on-going encouragement and they can complete it at their own pace within a given time frame.
There are also some great resources for trainers and Volunteer Coordinators. I will continue to add to these resources so check back often and make sure you have signed up to receive my newsletter which will keep you informed of additions to this website.
I have listed some possible ideas for you to utilize in the following categories:
- Ted Talks
- Websites
Ted Talks for Volunteers
Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability
Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
Brené Brown: Listening to Shame
Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humor, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.
Verna Meyers: How to Overcome Our Biases? Walk Boldly Towards them
Our biases can be dangerous, even deadly — as we’ve seen in the cases of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, in Staten Island, New York. Diversity advocate Vernā Myers looks closely at some of the subconscious attitudes we hold toward out-groups. She makes a plea to all people: Acknowledge your biases. Then move toward, not away from, the groups that make you uncomfortable. In a funny, impassioned, important talk, she shows us how.
Tony Salvador: The Listening Bias
Listening to both customers and colleagues to gather insights and information is a key ability that successful people possess. Tony Salvador shares some strategies for being a better listener: to lose preconceptions, be vulnerable and open to new ideas, and to not be afraid to hear what we’d rather not hear.
Julian Treasure: 5 Ways to Listen Better
In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, “We are losing our listening.” In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around you..
Zachary R. Wood: Why it’s Worth Listening to People You Disagree With
We get stronger, not weaker, by engaging with ideas and people we disagree with, says Zachary R. Wood. In an important talk about finding common ground, Wood makes the case that we can build empathy and gain understanding by engaging tactfully and thoughtfully with controversial ideas and unfamiliar perspectives. “Tuning out opposing viewpoints doesn’t make them go away,” Wood says. “To achieve progress in the face of adversity, we need a genuine commitment to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity.”
Ernesto Sirolli: Want to Help Someone? Shut Up and Listen!
When most well-intentioned aid workers hear of a problem they think they can fix, they go to work. This, Ernesto Sirolli suggests, is naïve. In this funny and impassioned talk, he proposes that the first step is to listen to the people you’re trying to help, and tap into their own entrepreneurial spirit. His advice on what works will help any entrepreneur.
Ted Talks for Trainers
Nancy Duarte: The Secret Structure of Great Talks
From the “I have a dream” speech to Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch, many great talks have a common structure that helps their message resonate with listeners. In this talk, presentation expert Nancy Duarte shares practical lessons on how to make a powerful call-to-action.
Simon Sinek: How Great Leader’s Inspire Action
Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership — starting with a golden circle and the question: “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Wright brothers.
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our chances for success.
Ted Talks for Directors
Who says change needs to be hard? Organizational change expert Jim Hemerling thinks adapting your business in today’s constantly-evolving world can be invigorating instead of exhausting. He outlines five imperatives, centered around putting people first, for turning company reorganization into an empowering, energizing task for all.
As the COO at the helm of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg juggles the tasks of monetizing the world’s largest social networking site while keeping its users happy and engaged.
Visual Presentation & Power Point
Garr Reynolds – Presentation Zen
http://www.presentationzen.com/
Garr Reynolds’ blog on issues related to professional presentation design.
Author of: Presentation Zen, Presentation Zen DESIGN and The Naked Presenter: Delivering Powerful Presentations With or Without Slides.
Author of Slide:ology – The art and science of creating great presentations and Resonate: Present visual stories than transform audiences.
Cliff Atkinson
http://beyondbulletpoints.com/
Author of the book Beyond Bullet Points
How to make better presentations using Power Point.
Volunteer Management
Energize, Inc. www.energizeinc.com
Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. If these words are in your vocabulary–community service, membership development, auxiliary, community organizing, service-learning, lay ministry, pro bono work, supporter, friends group, political activist, service club– we can help!! Founded in 1977, Energize has assisted organizations of all types with their volunteer efforts–whether they are health and human service organizations, cultural arts groups, professional associations, or schools.