Recruiting | What-if-concepts

If you follow NCAA football you are aware there are a few scandals taking place right now. It is alleged that boosters have paid for numerous athletes to receive goods and services deemed illegal by the NCAA. One sports commentator puts the blame right back on the coaches. He claims that if you just recruit the best athletes you are risking athletic performance at the sake of other qualities that may be important in an academic setting. If you recruit the best individuals who will make a difference in their respective communities then the scholarship is more than just a trade of athletic talents for education.

How many causes have you seen who recruited the most visible member of the community but suffered due to the individual’s expectation that their name was sufficient service to the organization? Others recruit the best decision-makers who are committed to serving the enterprise. They may happen to be philanthropically minded, networkers, or even well-known but the cause loves their board members for their core talent first.

Looking for new board members or volunteers or even staff? Perhaps you can consider using a model frequently employed by Realtors. Often heard is the refrain, ‘we need new members for the board.’ It is equivalent of stating that you are looking for a house in Nashville, TN. Where to start? I would be asking some leading questions before I started giving recommendations.

If you can provide some detail to your search. Perhaps I am looking for three bedrooms, two bath, near a park and easy to get to the airport. I now have details to work with and my map gets more specific.

When you put out a call for new members or volunteers, try to paint a picture and see if your results are more successful. Are you looking for a representative of Generation X, who is female, has social media skills, and experience with finance and small business? I might know that person by name. Without directions I might just nominate my best friend who is very much like me and brings an existing perspective and skill set to the organization. It is the same as telling your friends only about the homes for sale in you neighborhood.