Same-same but different: Managing a Volunteer Team PART ONE

PART ONE: Examining the differences and the similarities between Hired Teams and Volunteer Teams.

So! You've got a team assembled in front of you that looks primed, hyped and ready for action.

Lucky you! Or …?

There's something that's just a bit different about this group and although you're a seasoned manager and have led dozens of teams on many different kinds of projects, you can't quite put your finger on what you think is going to happen with this group.
Why? Well, these folks are volunteers!
A team is a team is a team, ..no? Generally speaking, yes; the similarities are many and often the same rules and techniques apply in management. In one major and fundamental way however, there are differences between paid-for teams and volunteer teams that you need to be aware of. That awareness might spell the factor between success or derailment.

Here are some basic points about the differences between Volunteer Teams (VT) and Hired Teams (HT). Identifying the differences helps to understand how best to lead volunteers and how to deal with some of their special issues.