“That Guy is My Hero.”
A few weeks ago, one of our longest-tenured Guest Services volunteers retired. Hung up his parking vest. Turned in his walkie-talkie. And stepped away from a ministry he’s loved and thrived in for well over...
Category: Volunteer Culture
High-Capacity Volunteer Cohort: A How-To Guide
We just kicked off our eighth iteration of the High-Capacity Volunteer (HCV) Cohort: a collaboration of great leaders from around the Summit who have committed to spend the next eight months in a deep dive...
5 Ways to Lead Your Volunteer Team
Not long ago I helped lead a large event that required several dozen volunteers. Many of us met for the first time on the day of the event, so our communication took place via email...
Helping Your Volunteers Navigate What’s Next
Change is inevitable. Eventually, your systems and strategies and specific areas of focus are going to get adjusted…maybe overhauled…perhaps stripped down to the foundation and rebuilt from the ground up. And when that happens, our...
Should You Give Your Volunteers a Job Description?
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do next.” “Is there anything else you need from me?” “What are you asking of me, exactly?” “Just tell me what to do.” I’ve had a long-running battle over the issue of job descriptions for volunteers. Early in my time here at the Summit, I was the job description ninja. Every team and sub...
“I Didn’t Sign Up For This.”
What happens when your team changes horses mid-stream? What do you do when your original job description gets dismantled? How do you maneuver the challenges of an ever-changing organization? There are times that volunteer...
Make the Maintenance Guy a Guest Services Pro
Recently my family and I stayed at Home2 Suites in Opelika, Alabama. One morning of our stay, I spent some time in the hotel lobby (hello, continental breakfast!) as the rest of my crew caught...
What To Do When A Volunteer Lets You Down
If you work with people, it’s only a matter of time before you’re going to find yourself disappointed, frustrated, and angry. People fail. They mess up. And when that person is a volunteer, it can be...
Why You Don’t Need To Say “Need”
If I were to ask you the question, Does your church need volunteers?, I’m confident the answer would be a resounding YES. In fact, I’m somewhat confident that your “yes” would follow a series of chortles, guffaws, and...
Defend Your Volunteers
If you’re a ministry leader, you’re eventually going to create a practice, policy, or procedure that’s not all that popular. And chances are, your volunteers are going to be the ones to enforce that policy...
