If you lead a kid’s ministry or student ministry team then I am confident that the topic of volunteers is frequently on your mind. More specifically, how do I retain a high capacity, engaged volunteer team? One critical way that you do that is by getting the right volunteer in the right spot!
This isn’t the first post I’ve written on the topic of retaining volunteers. If you have missed any in this series, please make sure to check out:
How Can I Develop Sticky Volunteers?
What is Your Volunteer Currency?
Early on in ministry I remember having a new volunteer tell me, ‘just put me wherever you need me.’ The smile on my face must have been pretty intense, because I remember feeling giddy inside.
Actually, I’m pretty certain I thought…YOU ARE MY FAVORITE volunteer EVER.
Not really.
Actually…that is really true. I definitely felt that way at the time.
What have I learned since then?
Get the Right Volunteer in the Right Spot!
This wasn’t a lesson I learned the easy way. It took some volunteers leaving my team for me to realize that most volunteers will only serve for a very short-term period, in the wrong spot.
Truthfully, since we know that each individual is uniquely designed by God, on purpose and for a purpose, isn’t is our responsibility to invest the time and attention required to find the RIGHT spot for them?
Here’s what that looks like. I might have a need for volunteers in the nursery. The newest volunteer is a young adult that has high energy, is well spoken and is passionate about communicating the love of Jesus. That new volunteer seems like they could be an AMAZING fit in the elementary or student environments.
That is where they should go.
On the flip side, I have had elementary teachers join my team and felt SO EXCITED about having them lead an elementary small group. And then…I found out, they are aching to love on babies or toddlers.
Volunteer fulfillment is one ingredient to helping develop a sticky volunteer team.
What is a sticky volunteer?
A sticky volunteer is someone who shows up physically, mentally and emotionally, on a consistent basis, over time. Basically, a dream volunteer.
Here are 10 things to remember as you work to get the right volunteers into the right spots:
- gifts, experience & passion are each important to consider
- don’t make assumptions about what a volunteer won’t do; make ASKS to determine what they might like to do
- never accept an offer to place a volunteer ‘wherever the greatest need is’
- be able to communicate how every role on the team supports the vision & mission
- be flexible – volunteers may need to test drive more than one serving role before you find the right spot
- sometimes WHO they serve alongside is as important, or more important, than what they will be doing
- be systematic about checking in with volunteers (be intentional to identify early on if a placement isn’t a great fit so you can make changes in a timely fashion)
- give volunteers an easy out; no one wants to feel like they have signed up for life doing something that isn’t a good fit. (HOWEVER, every week has a different feel in family ministry, so don’t hesitate to challenge them to try a placement for 3 weeks to get a good idea of what is involved and then re-evaluate!)
- I do, We do, You do; outstanding (or less than adequate) training can make the difference in whether or not a position feels like a good fit
- God cares more than we do about our ministry. He is FOR US leading a team to successfully accomplish the vision. Let’s honor the unique way He designed each and every volunteer and then trust Him to bring people to meet the needs of the team.
When we see a volunteer for WHO they are as opposed to WHAT they do, it leads us to get the right volunteers in the right spots. The result of this is a healthy, sticky volunteer culture.
An intentional leader will develop an intentional, healthy, sticky volunteer team!