Recruitment and Retention of RSO Members

What is Leadership Toolbox?

Leadership Toolbox is a practical series designed to help student leaders build skills they can use right away. Explore topics including communication, organization, collaboration, goal setting, motivation, relationship building and more.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 00:02

Welcome to the Student Activities Online Leadership Toolbox. Today on Inspired Leadership, I'll be talking about recruitment and retention of student organization members. Start by recognizing the importance of recruitment. Recruitment and retention are the foundation of any successful organization. Without strong membership, organizations struggle to grow and sustain their impact.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 00:33

Shift your focus. Remember that people join people, build relationship first, create an environment where individuals feel welcomed, valued, and connected. Develop a plan, identify your target audience, decide who you want to recruit and why, Set clear and realistic goals for membership growth. Take action. Determine when and where to recruit.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 01:03

Use opportunities like Welcome Week, the RSO Involvement Fair, engage in spaces where your audience is present. Encourage all members to participate in recruitment effort. Now, explore how to recruit effectively. Reflect on why current members joined. Use those insights to guide your strategy.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 01:25

Focus on personal connections. Engage in one on one conversations. Build trust through interactions. Focus on quality. Do not just increase members.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 01:39

Attract members who align with your organization's values and goals. Present your organization clearly. Communicate your purpose, activities, expectations, and benefits. Create a strong first impression. Welcome new members.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 01:57

Introduce them to others. Escort them to meetings. Help them feel comfortable and included from the start. Shift to retention. Do not stop at recruitment.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 02:11

Continue to engage your members. Provide a strong orientation. Help new members understand their role and expectations quickly. Assign roles intentionally. Match tasks to individual strengths.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 02:27

Give members responsibilities early to increase involvement and ownership. Recognize efforts, provide meaningful feedbacks, celebrate achievements, create a positive and motivating environment. Build relationships. Get to know your members personally. Listen to their ideas.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 02:50

Encourage participation. Treat everyone with respect and fairness. Promote team building, organize fun social events, icebreakers, and activities that strengthen connections within the group. Build a sense of community. Evaluate your organization.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 03:12

Seek feedback regularly. When members leave, ask why. Use their insight to improve and strengthen your organization. As you move forward, stay intentional, recruit continuously, engage consistently, adapt your strategies to meet the needs of your members. And that is it.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 03:36

Let's review what was presented today. We discussed how to plan recruitment, build relationships, create strong first impressions, and apply strategies to retain and engage members. Remember to focus on people. When you connect with individuals, create meaningful experiences and build strong relationships. Your organization will grow and thrive.

Oluwaseun Adekeye: 04:04

This podcast was presented by student activities at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Thank you for participating.