10. Ask for commitment.
The greater the commitment, the sweeter the victory. Every time I’ve asked volunteers for a greater commitment, those who rallied and said yes were the best volunteers I ever had. Rotating workers might be a quick fix, but it doesn’t produce long time volunteers.
11. Set goals for growth.
Don’t allow people or ministries to stay stagnant or stuck. Help volunteers come up with goals to improve and grow. If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Goals are a good thing, but you’ll never know where you are toward reaching them without constant evaluation. Evaluation is usually the missing link and should go hand in hand with goal setting.
12. Communicate on a regular basis.
No relationship can exist without communication. Communicate with more than meetings. Use every method possible. Let your workers know what they need to know to excel, and they will.
13. Give your volunteers the tools they need.
It’s easier to do quality work with the right tools. Make sure you give all who serve what they need to minister effectively. What do they need? Start with creative environments; mix in exciting curriculum and teaching supplies plus audiovisual gadgets and gizmos. If we want folks to reach the sight-and-sound generation, then give them sights and sounds to work with.
14. Check on volunteers systematically.
People only do what’s inspected, not just expected. I found out years ago I couldn’t spend all my time teaching the children. I was more valuable as a problem-solver and leader of leaders than just a teacher of kids. See for yourself what’s going on. Observe your workers in action.
15. Conduct regular equipping meetings.
If you give your workers knowledge and wisdom, then you should also give them the power to do the ministry with excellence. Teach them what to do and show them how you want them to do it. These kinds of meetings are more about developing skill-sets than information.
16. Care enough to confront.
As a parent, I confront my kids because I love them, so if I love my volunteers, I’ll confront them when their actions need to change or improve. Confront in kindness always.
17. Ask for ideas and opinions when appropriate.
You can give out solutions all by yourself or involve others in the solution process. It’s still your decision, but volunteers stay put when they are listened to.
18. Promote and entrust.
Turn over more to those with ability. People stay put when you recognize their abilities.
19. Say thanks and show them you value and esteem them.
Everyone likes to hear the magic words “please” and “thank you.” When it comes from your heart, “thank you” is always welcomed.
20. Give them someone else to develop and disciple.
Make them accountable to impart what they have learned to someone else. Ministries excel when you develop depth at all key positions. Teams with depth at all key positions win consistently.
This is a lifetime commitment. This process won’t happen overnight. It can only happen after you commit yourself to be a leader of leaders. To pull this off, you must have a goal. You have to have a plan. Each day, you must strive to be a better leader than you were the day before. Concentrate on what you can do for others rather than what others can do for you. Remember you gain those you serve.
Each of these steps is easy to do—the hard part is doing them all at the same time. Commit to make these a part of your leadership lifestyle.
