Even if your workers are working for a paycheck, it’s wise to learn from those who are leading volunteers.

I’ve learned a whole lot from volunteer-driven organizations, and am currently involved with several myself. In that environment, if people aren’t getting their needs met, they can simply walk away. This is one of the natural things about leading these kinds of groups.

When you’re giving someone their pay every week or two, it’s easy to fall into the trap that their loyalty will continue as long as the pay and benefits are good.

Not true.

Your people can still walk away at any time, it’s just that the balance has shifted a little. But not as much as you might think.

Have you ever had a job where every day is an absolute drain, and you don’t have confidence it will ever get any better? Most of us have. That’s when you start looking around at the alternatives, and may even quit your job before you have something new lined up.

It may depend on what’s happening with your spouse or kids, even parents you might need to care for. The location may play into it if there are personal frustrations on top of whatever’s happening at work.

As a leader, what do you learn from volunteer organizations? Primarily that you keep people involved when they:

  • Have a compelling reason to do the work
  • Enjoy the people they’re working with
  • Feel appreciated, valued and supported
  • Have a degree of change which is perhaps challenging but in an inspiring way
  • Don’t experience conflicts with having a good lifestyle

Every one of these applies to a “job” as well, and in fact these factors usually count for more than the paycheck. As long as the pay and benefits are reasonable and fair.