Keeping Leaders Around

Here are some simple but powerful ways to keep people around and loving what they do.

• After recruiting volunteers, find or develop opportunities for them to get involved right away.
• Have clear goals and expectations of what volunteer will do – write a job description (Read the “One Minute Manager” by by Kenneth Blanchard, Spencer Johnson for more infomation on thi spowerful technique).
• BE FLEXIBLE - have volunteer projects on weekends & weekdays, morning and evenings. When you meet with new leaders the first time, don’t just talk about weekend services, always mention midweek projects and roles… create a culture of serving throughout the week).
• Make sure volunteers understand the importance of the task they are doing, and how it fits into the overall ministry.
• Never allow people to feel that you wasted their time or that they weren’t really needed.
• Provide food & refreshments after projects (The power of pizza cannot be underestimated).
• Keep up on and celebrate birthdays of committed volunteers.
• Provide a structure so that those who want to can take on roles of greater responsibility.
• Give honest and sincere praise, say “Thank you”, make people glad they came and participated.
• Recognize volunteers in meetings… make a goal to mention the outstanding work that one volunteer has done each meeting.
• Have parties, retreats, picnics, and other “off-duty” events.
• Give volunteers titles- Coordinator, Assistant Coordinator, Lead Organizer, etc (Make them fun titles… Disney has imagineers!).