Top Ten Quotes: The Volunteer Effect
It’s not often that I know the authors who are behind the books that are behind the Top Ten Quotes series. Yes, it would be great to say I’m besties with John Stott, Susan Cain, or Dan Heath, but try as I might, they won’t return my calls.
That’s why I’m always excited to feature a book by someone I know…someone I’ve seen in the trenches…and someone who I can say lives what he writes. Jason Young is the former director of guest experience at Buckhead Church and North Point Ministries. He’s one of my favorite voices in leadership, and his previous book The Come Back Effect is a must-add to your guest services shelf.
Jason and his co-author Jonathan Malm released their second book together just last week. I’ve had it on pre-order since March, and I was thrilled to finally get my hands on it. It’s called The Volunteer Effect: How Your Church Can Find, Train, and Keep Volunteers Who Make a Difference, and you’re going to want to get a copy…or ten.
Here are my top ten favorite quotes:
- …invite volunteers to a mission, don’t just recruit them to a role. Offer them a calling, not just a post. A feeling, not just a function.
- The best people for any volunteer team are probably already busy.
- Let’s create low-risk entry points to our teams so people can see if volunteering is right for them. Give them a chance to try it out without the risk of shame, embarrassment, or guilt if they find out they need to click the cancel button.
- …the more intense the role at church is, the less people feel known. With everyone working hard to accomplish the goal, there’s little time to look around and get to know those you’re serving alongside.
- Never let a volunteer get away with thinking what they did right was no big deal. Celebrate it. Reward it. Publicize it. That reinforces the meaning of their work, and that reinforces how necessary they are to the team.
- Dissatisfaction with a church won’t always lead a church member to go somewhere else. Most people will stay where their friends or family go. But you can also be sure they won’t be quick to volunteer their time or invite their unchurched friends.
- A leader’s job is not task oriented. It’s people oriented. If you continue performing the same tasks from week to week, you haven’t been passing the fire on to the next leaders.
- …love is best expressed in the break from routine…The extra, unexpected gestures are where you’ll best show appreciation for your team members.
- How we start people matters. A smooth on-boarding process is a confidence booster. The tone will be set for the rest of their involvement with you, their leader, and the team.
- It’s…important to take time to talk through failures with your volunteer. They’re awkward conversations but can be so redemptive and lead to great cultural moments on your team.
Order The Volunteer Effect
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