Caring for Volunteers
Hi there,
Today’s post might seem a little left of centre, however I know that some of my faithful blog readers manage volunteers in their various workplaces, both secular and religious and that there are few overseas blog friends who occasionally drop by and are involved in church leadership for Children & Families ministry.
The post below comes from Church Volunteers Central which is a fantastic resource for anyone leading volunteers. A great one to look at if you are a volunteer too, and pass on to the person who looks after you in your volunteer role. For those in secular employment I’d be interested in how much these principles work in an paid employment setting. My personal feeling is that if more manager employed these tactics in their management of staff, workplaces would be much more positive and therefore productive!
Just my thoughts. Enjoy the article and if you like it check out the website and subscribe to the ‘Tuesdays Tip’ e-newsletter.
3 Tips for Managing Volunteer Leaders
These basic ideas can help you better manage your volunteers.
1. Make sure you give new volunteers a ministry description to read and sign. After they’ve been in the position for a month, ask them each to rewrite their own ministry description. You’ll find out if they understand what they’re supposed to be doing, and you’ll discover new responsibilities you didn’t account for in your original ministry description.
2. If you have volunteers who just aren’t working out, they’re either not able to do what you’ve asked them to do, or they’re not motivated to do it. How do you know the difference? Well, ask yourself, “If this person’s life depended on completing these responsibilities, would he or she be able to do it?” If the answer is yes, that person is having a problem with motivation. If the answer is no, that person shouldn’t be volunteering for those responsibilities.
3. Make it a regular part of your job to write affirming notes to your volunteers. One good way to do this: Think of how each volunteer has helped you be a better youth minister, then affirm that person for blessing you.
Mummble
Stitch Baby + Kids