We all know that teens who are not connected or engaged will stop showing up, but what about volunteers? I’ll be honest that I’ve had volunteers just disappear and if I don’t notice right away it’s really embarrassing. You might wonder, “Why did they stop coming and not tell you?”
Most times it’s not because of anything dramatic. When something dramatic happens (like a disruptive small group or a personal conflict at home) they will let me know. But, once in a while, you’ll have that one person who was highly engaged and then just decided to stop showing up. When I finally notice and ask them why most of them say, “I stopped seeing the overall purpose.”
Your volunteers are a lot like the teens in your ministry, they need to know the “Why” behind your ministry. But, the answer to that question doesn’t just pop up from serving, They need something more. Your volunteers will not only come back but step up the commitment each week if:
THEY KNOW THAT YOU CARE
Your team is willing to help out, they just don’t want to be taken for granted. The way you overcome that is by:
Showing them gratitude. How do you thank your volunteers? Do you go out of your way to give them a shoutout or show them how much they mean to you? Let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them.
Getting to know their story. Your volunteers are going to learn a lot about you, but how much are you learning about them? While you can’t become best friends with everyone, you should be able to get to know basic info like:
- Family and significant others
- Interests and hobbies
- Full-time employment
The return you get from volunteers who feel loved and valued will elevate your ministry to where it helps you with:
- Recruiting volunteers
- Impacting more teenagers and families
- Advocating for your ministry needs
- Invest in your team and they’ll invest in you.
YOU GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED
There are simple and small things that can create obstacles for your team. You might overlook some of them, but that might not be so easy for your volunteers. Make sure you are taking time to check in on them (weekly to monthly) asking them if there is anything they need like tangible resources or materials. Even something as simple as dry-erase markers can make a volunteer’s experience that much more enjoyable.
In addition to materials, your volunteers might need additional training or previous instructions recommunicated. Taking time to ask the question, “Does this make sense to you?” invites them into a conversation where you can be sure that both parties are on the same page.
YOU ARE A LEADER WORTH FOLLOWING
Being a great leader means being more than just organized or vocal. A great leader is someone who is invested in the vision and remembers that what they are doing is larger than themselves. To be that leader you need to make sure you are:
- Taking time to invest in your spiritual, emotional and physical health because a healthy leader can endure the path ahead of them.
- Looking at the bigger picture and not getting caught in the minute details that can side rail our efforts.
- Bringing others alongside you. Leadership is identifying other leaders, giving them a piece of the pie and getting out of the way.
A leader worth following is humble, has integrity and focused on Christ. The more you invest in that the more others will draw closer to you.
People in your parish are looking to be a part of something bigger, even if they can’t articulate it. As someone who knows that God’s plan of our lives is greater than anything the world offers we need to invite them to join us. Invest in your team, set them up for success and continue to grow. Not only will you see turnover in your ministry reduce, but the level of impact you have on your community increase.
What have you found helps in reducing the turnover of your team?