As a former business owner I have learned first-hand that there is a primary principal that goes a long way in determining success or failure. If you own a brick & mortar store there is one thing that is pivotal to your success: Location – Location – Location. Where you decide to locate you business is critical. A great deal of time, effort and wisdom must go into this critical decision.
With ministry I have learned over the years that there is a different primary principal that has an even greater impact in determining success or failure. COMMUNICATION! It’s been said that you cannot over communicate when you are leading volunteers. Again…It’s True! As much as we recognize the need for communication we should also look at how that communication is evolving. Here are a couple of things that we should consider:
Methods Available
Verbal – Yes, we should directly communicate with our volunteers in meetings, hallway conversations, and more. When we do this we should be aware of posture, body language, tone, and atmosphere.
Email – Just the facts. Be aware that email can deliver a message but it can be easily misinterpreted! Use email to communicate details for an event, not for personal communication.
Facebook – Great for building a community and allowing for interaction. Not a replacement for live contact with your team.
Snail Mail – Yes, it is old school but it can pay huge dividends because it is so rare. A personal hand written note will convey value to your team members. A snail mail promotional piece can be placed on the frig (the central communication hub in my house) to serve as a reminder of upcoming events.
Telephone – Yes, these are intended to be used for more than texting and posting to Facebook. A telephone call communicates a level of intimacy and allows for personal contact.
Text – Great for quick reminders and last minute changes.
So which of these should we use? ALL OF THEM! However, we should be aware of how to utilize each one for maximum influence and be aware that some things are best communicated in a particular format? What about you? What have you found to be most effective in communicating with your team? Leave a Comment and share your wisdom!
