I'm a New Phonathon Manager...What Do I Do Now?

Congratulations are in order!  You’ve convinced the right people at your institution that you were the best person for the assignment and thus have landed your first phonathon management job.  Now the fun starts!  But wait…it’s just dawned on you how intense this experience might be.  You don’t understand much about your responsibilities right now, but what you do know starts to intimidate you.  The fundraising goal is the highest it’s ever been, your budget has shrunk due to some cost cutting measures on campus, and it’s already the first week in July…meaning the first calls are only weeks away.  The pressure to succeed suddenly becomes more clearly understood.  You knew this was going to be challenging, but now you’re worried that things might not come together the way you anticipated when you accepted the position.  And don’t forget about the “other duties as assigned” that includes class giving, reunions, and other fundraising programs within the development office.

Sound familiar?  I’m guessing that many of you either experienced this in your first weeks on the job or are currently feeling that anxiety because your first full year of phonathon management is about ready to start.  If you’re like most of us, you feel some of that pressure to succeed.  I certainly did.  But don’t fret too much…there are resources out there to help you through the learning curve.  Once your feet are firmly on the ground and you can see a clear path, the road is much less bumpy.  I’ve helped many new phonathon managers navigate this path…and I’m going to share a few tips with you for getting the job done right from the beginning.