Volunteer guidelines
These guidelines apply to all ConnectOne match interactions, whether it’s only one or many multiple meetings. Please use them to help establish the foundation for a successful partnership with your learner.
Share, educate, brainstorm, & discuss, rather than "tell"
Avoid starting sentences with :
- “You need to . . . “
- “You should . . . “
- “I think you should . . . “
- “The best way to do this is . . . “
Instead, try something like :
- “Have you thought about . . . “
- “Another option is . . . “
- “A benefit of (—) is . . . “
- “One way to do this is . . . “
We recognize everyone’s path & priorities differ. Your experience is meant to supplement your learner’s knowledge & perspectives so s/he can make more informed choices.
Be genuinely interested in your learner as an individual
We’d like volunteers to see each learner as a friend in our community, not just a beneficiary.
Set expectations together at the beginning
This includes time, place, and frequency of meetings. Discuss preferences re: text, email, phone, realistic response times, etc. Understand your learner’s goals and be transparent about where you can & can’t provide insight.
Listen
Understanding your learner’s personality, priorities, short & long-term goals, strengths, challenges, values, and/or motivators can help tailor comments, advice, and guidance so they are the most meaningful.
Feel free to say "I don't know"
Volunteers don’t need to know everything. If you’re unfamiliar with a topic, be honest and focus on what you are comfortable discussing. You can brainstorm potential steps to find out more, such as research on either of your parts, but there is no obligation to extend beyond your inherent knowledge.
Recognize progress
If your learner’s end-goal(s) will take some time, identifying periodic milestones, highlighting strengths, and honest positive encourgement can go a long way.
Follow through
If you offer to do something outside your conversations, follow through as promised, or give an update if there is a delay.
Commit to your appointments and be on time
Avoid cancelling. If you must, notify your learner as soon as you can. You should expect this from your learner as well. It’s important for both of you to respect the time the other has blocked off.
We recommend to always re-confirm meetings as they approach.
Treat your learner's information confidentially
Don’t discuss your learner’s situation with others unless s/he says it’s okay. You can also have this same expectation. It is understandable to not want your conversations shared.
Periodically evaluate
Have an open discussion on what’s working well & not-so-well for each of you. The direct dialogue helps ensure your partnership remains productive & positive. It can identify improvement areas that may otherwise not be mentioned.