Leading Volunteers - No Easy Button

[jimwalton]

Jump over to CTM and read the post, then join this discussion.

What is your secret for leading volunteers?
What is your biggest frustration in leading volunteers?

[Crob]

Relationships are very important and remembering that they are volunteers and thus submitting their time to serve God and His church is a huge understanding that I embrace. For our team, involvement is hard. I relate to the time crunch, not being able to build strong relationship, at least initially with my team. As so many people know, Directors where so many hats, some that don't fit too well. Over time, relationships will form, lunches and special projects that volunteers can be invited to share in, have been critical for myself and forming relationship with my volunteers. Also a big key for me is, disbursement of information and consistent connection, either by phone or email. I feel the more our volunteers know what is going on, the more "apart" they can become.

[Stuart]

What is your biggest frustration in leading volunteers?

This one's easy (for me) at least.

My biggest frustration is not being given the power to make decisions for the volunteers / team and in having everything be "second checked" by others that haven't learnt the art of deleghation yet.

I read the other day that leaders need to learn to "delegate or die" .. interesting read and one I concurred with.