Empowering Your Volunteer Team

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Kidmin Conference

Empowering your Volunteers

1. See the potential that people have.

Ill. of Gideon2. Be empowered so you can empower.

Cant take people where you havent been Growing leaders always in school

"Years ago I stopped worrying about how to grow our church

and instead focused on growing me. As I grew me, our church

grew."-Rick Warren

If had 6 hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first 4

sharpening my axe.

-Abraham Lincoln

Who you are is more important that what you do. If you will be

who you are supposed to be, you will do what you are supposedto do.

Spend time with Jesus.

And He appointed twelve that they might be with Him, and

that He might send them to preach

Mark 3:14

When you pray, go into your room - to the secret place, close the

door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father,

who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6


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Someone is looking for you Simon and his companions went to

look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed:

"Everyone is looking for you!" Mark 1:36-37 (NIV)

Will always be looking for you

Take care of backstage & front stage will take care of itself

Guard your heart.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of

your life.

Proverbs 4:23

#1 job guard your heart, bitterness, anger, jealousy, etc.

Run from sin.

What is backstage eventually will come out on front stage.

Its easier to do it yourself but its not as effective long term

3. Empower through leadership

Drivers vs. Leader Driver says go Leader says lets go together Moses vs. Pharoah

4. Empower them through communication.

5. Empower them by raising up leaders of leaders.

Coaches care for another group of 6-8 volunteers You cant care effectively for that many people


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The Law of the Few

Ill. of Jesus & Disciples6. Personally invest in key leaders.

Love everyone and but be selective in the people youpour into

Approach and acknowledge what God is doing in their lifeand ask if can invest in them personally

What to look for:o Do they talk more than they listen? You want people

who are confident and not afraid to express their

opinion. But if they talk a lot more than they listen inconversations, ask yourself why. Are they self-

centered? Are they teachable? Are they a know-it-all?

o Are they an energy-giver or taker? Some people arejust plain negative. They drain the life out of you. You

want someone who is compassionate, generous, and

encouraging. Someone who energizes you. Someone

who challenges you. Someone who stretches you.

o Does this person act or react? Watch out for peoplewho get defensive or critical when faced with a

problem or issue. Surround yourself with people who

jump into action and problem-solving mode when faced

with a problem or issue.

Does this person feel real or do they just wantsomething from you? Watch out for people who

flatter you with constant praise or try really hard to

impress you. They usually have a hidden

agenda. Look for people who are just themselves. If


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they are really good, they won't need to prove it. You

will see it in the flow of their every day life.

What are their family and close friends like? Theirfamily and close friends are a reflection of who theyreally are.

How does this person treat someone they don'tknow? Is this person kind and courteous to the

waitress at the restaurant...the cashier at the store....the

person on the elevator? It's in these situations that a

person's true attitude is revealed.

What has this person been reading? You can tell alot about a person by the last 5 books they read.

Would you want to go on a long car ride with thisperson? Is this someone you want to spend time

with? Is there chemistry?

Is this person growing? Do they know what theirstrengths and weaknesses are? Are they taking actionto grow and improve as a leader? Are they life-long

learners?

What do they talk about a lot? What people spendthe most time talking about reveals what is important to

them.

7. Empower volunteers by giving them more responsibility

As you see people grow, challenge them to step up and domore

Advance leaders who have proven themselves to befaithful, trustworthy, and effective.


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"You were faithful in a few things, I will put you incharge of many things. Matthew 25:21

Tell people what you see in them Work yourself out of a job you will always have a job

8. Get out of the way and let them lead.

Should be able to step back into the shadows and theministry be fine.

Not a badge of honor to be running around and doingeverything yourself

Should not be a ROCK STAR or a MARTYR (5-99)9. Put other people in the spotlight!

Be quick to give credit and be quick to take responsibility. Ill. of Disney video at bottom of page They say it loud and clear. Just the words "Every Role a

Starring Role" brings value to their team members. A culture

doesn't happen by chance...it is created. Do we emphasize

how important each volunteer is?

They emphasize a common cause that is important toeveryone. She mentioned that recycling is very important to

their team. Have we united our volunteers behind a common

cause? People want to be a part of something bigger thanthemselves.

They are encouraged to express their creativity. Waterpainting...wow! Makes me want to pick up a broom and dust

pan. Do we release people to express their creativity or do

we box them in? When volunteers are released to doministry in creative ways, they feel like a star.


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They are taught that people are important. A big part oftheir job is customer service. Do we teach each volunteer

that their primary role is to love and care for people? When

volunteers are empowered to impact people directly, it makes

them feel like a star.

They have the DNA of the organization. Did you pick upon "Walt said...?" Do we take time to empower our

volunteers with the vision, values, and core values of ourministry?

It's a team effort. They know all team members aresupporting them by picking up any trash they see. Do our

volunteers feel isolated or like part of a team? Stars are madepossible by teams.

They have ownership. Did you notice she said "When I'min MY area of the park..." When a person feels ownership,

they are going to perform like a star because it's personal.

They have a simple, clear job description. Keep it cleanand keep it friendly. Do we set our volunteers up to be starsby clearing defining their role and what the wins

10. Provide growth opportunities (110-115)

Conferences Visit other churches Podcasts Websites Books Cmmag

11. Empower your volunteers by speaking into their lives.


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Good leader makes sure comfortable. Great leader helps people

evaluate, grow, and get to the next level,

FEEDBACK

1. Why is it important to give your volunteers feedback?

Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical

lovers.

John Gardener, Leadership Scholar and Presidential Advisor

Feedback is an essential element of helping volunteers andteams develop.

Feedback helps volunteers grow as disciples. (Hebrews10:24, Philippians 4:9)

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and

good works.Hebrews 10:24

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or

seen in me put it into practice. Paul in Philippians 4:9

Feedback helps volunteers become self-motived learners.It can help them develop the self-motivation to be a grower,

learner, etc.

Helps them live out the mission of your church. Feedback helps volunteers feel valued and affirmed.


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When done correctly it shows them you care about them, that

you are willing to take the time to invest in them, that they

have potential, etc.

How to Give Feedback Effective feedback is given privately.

Not in front of other people, good feedback is not embarrassing

for the person

Not email or by phone should be face-to-face

Effective feedback is ongoing.You loop back with them. Its not one and done. Its part of a

journey.

Effective feedback takes the person toward a goal.Have goals and new levels you want to help them achieve.

Effective feedback is based on relationship.Must earn the right.

Nurture people not manage them big difference

When someone knows you care about them they will be opento feedback.

Effective feedback asks for permission.Could I offer you a thought?


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Is this a good time to share a thought with you?

Effective feedbackuses the word and instead of but.When you say the word but it causes people to be defensive.

Example:

You did a good job leading the small group today but you didnt

let the kids ask enough questions.

You did you good job leading the small group today and I thinkyou can make it even better the next time if you let the kids ask

more questions.

Effective feedback helps people focus on improving bysaying the next time.

Effective feedback uses the word IExample You need to do this. vs. I have found that Sounds

more like advice than criticism.

Means having difficult conversations at timeso How many not good at confrontation?

State the FACT Share how it makes you or the person FEEL Explain what youd like to change or adjust inthe FUTURE

12. Empower them to give you feedback

Be proactive in gathering feedback


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Keep in mid people are busy Build in a rhythm for gathering feedback

Gather feedback after events keep data Questions.

o What went well?o What was missing?o What needs to be changed?o What needs to be added?o What needs to be dropped?o Whats one thing that will make it better?

Focus groups Quarterly (www.surveymonkey.com)

o Connected?o Cared for?o Challenged?o Celebrated?

What do with feedbacko Dont take it personallyo Listen to it.o Thank them for ito Work through it

Let know up front may implement some andsome not
http://www.surveymonkey.com/http://www.surveymonkey.com/


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o Implement ito Use it to cast vision and re-directo Report back

13. Empower people with your words seeking affirmation

Documents

Empowering Your Volunteer Team