What are some ways to build team cohesion during a volunteer project?

1 Define a common goal

One of the first steps to build team cohesion is to establish a clear and shared vision of what you want to achieve as a volunteer group. This can help you align your actions, motivate your efforts, and measure your progress. To define a common goal, you can use a simple framework such as SMART, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, if you're volunteering for a food bank, your goal could be to collect and distribute 500 kg of food to 100 families in need by the end of the month. Having a SMART goal can help you communicate your purpose, set your priorities, and track your results.

2 Assign roles and responsibilities

Another way to build team cohesion is to assign roles and responsibilities to each volunteer, based on their skills, interests, and availability. This can help you avoid confusion, duplication, or gaps in your tasks, and ensure that everyone knows what they are expected to do and how they contribute to the team. To assign roles and responsibilities, you can use a tool such as RACI, which stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. For example, if you're volunteering for a fundraising event, you can assign who is responsible for planning, organizing, promoting, and executing the event, who is accountable for the overall success, who needs to be consulted for input or feedback, and who needs to be informed of the updates or outcomes.

3 Communicate effectively

A third way to build team cohesion is to communicate effectively with your fellow volunteers, as well as with the stakeholders of your project, such as the beneficiaries, the sponsors, or the organizers. Effective communication can help you share information, ideas, and feedback, resolve issues, and build trust and rapport. To communicate effectively, you can use some best practices such as listening actively, speaking clearly and respectfully, asking open-ended questions, giving constructive criticism, and acknowledging achievements. You can also use various channels and methods of communication, such as email, phone, chat, video call, or face-to-face meeting, depending on the purpose, urgency, and preference of your message.

4 Collaborate and cooperate

A fourth way to build team cohesion is to collaborate and cooperate with your team members, which means working together to achieve a common goal, rather than competing or working in isolation. Collaborating and cooperating can help you leverage the diverse strengths, perspectives, and experiences of your team, generate creative solutions, and overcome challenges. To collaborate and cooperate, you can use some strategies such as brainstorming, delegating, compromising, and supporting. You can also use some tools and platforms that can facilitate your collaboration and cooperation, such as Google Docs, Trello, Slack, or Zoom, which can help you create, organize, and share your work.

5 Celebrate and appreciate

A fifth way to build team cohesion is to celebrate and appreciate your team's efforts and achievements, as well as the individual contributions of each volunteer. Celebrating and appreciating can help you boost morale, motivation, and satisfaction, as well as recognize and reward the value of your work. To celebrate and appreciate, you can use some methods such as giving praise, feedback, or recognition, organizing social events or activities, or offering incentives or rewards. You can also use some occasions and opportunities to celebrate and appreciate, such as milestones, deadlines, challenges, or successes.

6 Learn and grow

A sixth way to build team cohesion is to learn and grow from your volunteer experience, both as a team and as individuals. Learning and growing can help you improve your skills, knowledge, and performance, as well as identify and address your areas of improvement. To learn and grow, you can use some techniques such as reflecting, evaluating, or reviewing your project, seeking feedback, or mentoring. You can also use some resources and opportunities to learn and grow, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, or books, that can help you develop your personal and professional competencies.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?