Are Your Volunteer Teams Thriving?
Susan Ellis, volunteer management expert and founder of energizeinc.com, recommends taking your organization’s pulse by asking the following questions. They can be used at team meetings, perhaps one or two at a series of meetings, or as the focal point of a staff/team retreat.
- What’s the difference between why volunteers begin serving at the start, and why they stay? Why do some people lose interest or fade away?
- How welcoming are we to newcomers, really? What exactly do we do to show them they are welcome – beyond greeting them to their first meeting or event?
- What happens when someone has a new idea? Do we have a process for genuinely considering suggestions and options for the “minority opinion” to be heard or for individuals to pursue different options?
- Are we having fun?
This last question is a good one. Imagine asking that at your next team meeting! You might receive some crazy looks or even hear, “What does that have to do with anything?”! I think we can serve God…and people…and enjoy the process.
If you’re looking for a proven strategy to help you address these issues, check out the new Volunteer Leadership Series! It’s designed to help you build a firm foundation in your volunteer ministry, and then move beyond the basics to sustain your program and keep it growing.
