As we went out to dinner, my team was on cloud nine. The conference had ended, and all they could talk about was how excited they were to take what they learned and apply it to their ministry. The whole week had been filled with incredible moments, and as a team, we walked away stronger and more unified. It was one conference, but it produced a lot of fruit because my team felt the investment and was eager to pay it forward.
One of the keys to a healthy and sustainable ministry is learning how to invest in your volunteers. It’s a truth many of us know, but I do not think we always understand how important and simple it can be. While there are a million and one ways to invest in your team, here are three that always work:
Your volunteers don’t need to become your best friends, but you should feel comfortable hanging with them in a casual setting. If you don’t feel comfortable with them, why are you inviting them to hang out with other people?
Hanging out with your team means grabbing a bite to eat or a cup of something good to talk about your life and ask questions about theirs. If you feel odd about calling up a volunteer to hang out, then arrange to meet up with the team after a night of ministry. Hanging with them does not have to be complicated; keep it casual.
If you are passionate about your ministry, you should share everything you are learning with your team. If you read books, listen to podcasts, and attend webinars, make sure your team knows about them. The more they learn, the more their confidence will grow. They’ll be more than just volunteers, and you can rely on them to take the lead in certain areas.
If possible, set up regular times where you can break down the content. Form a book or podcast club where you go into the material on your own and meet regularly to explore it further. Get them engaged by fueling their knowledge.
We tend to shy away from giving our volunteers too much responsibility. They are overburdened and too busy to do anything more than what they already volunteered to do. But, the truth is many of them are seeking to do more. There are people on your team that not only want to do more but should do more because they have the ability to take your ministry to the next level. You need to let them drive.
Start with a small project or activity that involves low risk. No matter the outcome, make sure you sit down and debrief with them. Ask them what was easy and what was not about the project. If they were the right fit, you could give them something bigger. If they were totally out of their comfort zone, figure out another place where they can lead. You’ll not only find yourself discovering new leaders but learning how to lead and provide guidance better.
Investing in your leaders takes intentionality and growth on your own part. Managing others is not something many of us are natural at doing, and that’s where we need guidance. There is probably someone in your parish who is good at managing; ask them to mentor you. If you are looking for something a little more intensive, then check out our MYMU Cohorts starting next month. We’ll be working with leaders on their motivational drive and how to use that to lead others. To learn more, go to marathonyouthministry.com/mymu/.