Leading Volunteers

Church-related work is mainly done through people who want to invest their time and talents to meet a need through your local church. There’s a good book to recommend called Simply Strategic Volunteers. Co-authors Tony Morgan and Tim Stevens wrote, “The true test of leadership is leading volunteers.”

There are several elements that can influence success among your crew. This podcast and blog focuses on the hardest element, but the most influential way to lead. Consider how you work with your volunteers. Here are three ideas:

1. Develop collaboration. Work very hard to empower your volunteers by giving them ownership in the effort that’s underway. Do this through relationships that are genuine. It’s okay to be vulnerable with your team as it helps build credibility. Now, by saying that you empower them I don’t mean that you dump stuff on them to do as a way to delegate what you don’t want to do. Get in there and set the example of the collaboration you want to see develop, especially over time.

2. Lead a team. Cast vision for the outcome. Start with the end in mind. Keep the anticipated results before everyone so that they know that it’s worth the effort. Vision has a way of drawing people to the task. As the leader, do what you can to earn their respect. One way to do that is to find things that you like about each team member and let them know. Verbal encouragement when working with you may be the only positive thing they hear all week! You just might see the team members liking to work with each other.

3. Seek a God-sized task. Set your expectations high. Talent has a way of attracting even more talent. Don’t expect conformity, but if the idea is big enough, you might create an environment for creativity and innovation to emerge. As you seek this godly task, try to work yourself out of the leadership job. This frees you up for the next opportunity and helps someone else develop themselves in ministry.

Morgan and Stevens would encourage you to prepare well before each meeting. The event will be worth the extra work on the front-end.

Yes, the true test of leadership is leading volunteers, but trust God to be at work and align with His will and His ways.

--Mark Snowden serves as director for the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association

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