Are You Holding Your Volunteers Back?

I could see her frustration. Here I was, complaining about doing everything to keep the ministry flowing, when she interrupted me and said, “You never give us permission.” Those words were a splash of cold water, and I responded, “I’m not sure what you mean.”

My volunteer let loose and explained that I was sabotaging my efforts to receive any help. If a task was not done promptly, I took back the reigns. Rarely did I ask for help, and some reason, I expected people to serve at a superhuman level.

One of the reasons our capacity to do more is limited is because we create a stopgap. Instead of allowing our teams to take charge, we hold them back. Most times, it’s not intentional; we forget that a considerable part of building a team of volunteers is to:

SHARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS

At the end of the day, what needs to get done? Do your volunteers understand the vision, mission, and goals of what you are doing? When it comes to leading others, we need to make sure our crew understands what is expected, and that only happens when it’s communicated. As you recruit and train your team, let them know what it looks like when your ministry is healthy and growing.

The same strategy is involved in planning an event or project. In addition to laying out the roles, make sure people are clear on what success will look like. When people rally around clear expectations, they’ll step up in ways you would never believe.

SHOW THEM YOUR BEST PRACTICES

Ministry is not always intuitive because of it’s changing and relational nature. To set our teams up for success, we need to act as mentors. While you might not have everything figured out, you do know how to get certain things done. Showing your team where supplies belong, how to lead a discussion, and invest in others is key to building confidence.

But, as you show them, it’s also essential to ask them what they’ve observed and if they have any questions. Invite them to provide feedback and input so that you can create better systems. Not only will you improve your ministry, but you’ll create buy-in. Your team will know that you are open to suggestions and willing to explain why things work the way they do.

SAY YOU GOT THIS

Are your leaders allowed to make decisions, delegate tasks, and create on their own? Your leaders need your permission to take their commitment up a level. If you want high performing leaders, then they need to hear from you:

• You’ve got this!
• You have the green light!
• Feel free to make the final decision.
• Go build up your team.

When you give them the okay, you give them a valuable gift, TRUST. When your leaders know that you trust them to succeed and fail, they’ll grow in their boldness. As you permit your volunteers to lead, make sure you repeat it often.

STEP OUT OF THE WAY

In the end, it’s all about changing your expectations and embracing the messiness of a growing ministry. To step out of the way means leading a team you trust and building a ministry that’s not focused on your habits, behaviors, and systems alone. If you struggle to back off then:

• Focus on your prayer life and ask God to humble your heart.
• Seek out a mentor or coach for accountability.

It’s not always easy to step out of the way, and as a veteran youth minister, I still make that mistake. If you don’t learn how to step back, then you’ll find yourself losing volunteers and momentum for your ministry. We have to remind ourselves to let things go, trust God continually, and consistently communicate clarity. Stop holding your team back and unleash their potential to help you reach others for Christ.

Which of the following actions is most difficult for you to do?