{"id":79019,"date":"2023-10-19T14:19:18","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:19:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/?p=79019"},"modified":"2023-10-19T14:19:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T20:19:18","slug":"4-traits-of-leaders-who-thrive-in-developing-volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/4-traits-of-leaders-who-thrive-in-developing-volunteers\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Traits of Leaders Who Thrive in Developing Volunteers"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>4 Traits of Leaders Who Thrive in Developing Volunteers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/mesoamericaregion.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=03e55b045b4b2d81fc3a5a85b&amp;id=731646e87b&amp;e=1e0613ef18\">Dan Reiland<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>Why do some leaders seem to be more natural at developing volunteers while others struggle? The good news is that this is not a mystery, and the principles and skills can be learned.<\/p>\n<p>Leading volunteers isn\u2019t as simple as \u201cDo you want to be a leader?\u201d It\u2019s part of a spiritual process, a transforming process that moves a person from a predominantly natural worldview to a Kingdom mindset. If we treat volunteers like a mere transaction, (we need you to fill this role,) rather than part of transforming a community, the end results will always be less than desired.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not suggesting that any leader would treat volunteers poorly, isn\u2019t appreciative or has the wrong motives. But issues of pace and pressure, (demands of ministry,) can cause us to move more quickly than we are able to communicate our heart while building teams.<\/p>\n<p><em>The following are three fundamental principles that help establish a strong foundation for leading volunteers.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Our passion for building great people must be greater than our passion for building a great church.<\/li>\n<li>People are not the means to an end in church ministry, they are the focus of our attention, and the purpose for which we serve.<\/li>\n<li>Leaders and volunteers alike are human, the process is messy not perfect. Therefore, a measure of grace in both directions is essential.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>4 Traits of Leaders Who Thrive in Developing Volunteers<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1) They demonstrate an awareness and\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mesoamericaregion.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=03e55b045b4b2d81fc3a5a85b&amp;id=d2bcce5e11&amp;e=1e0613ef18\"><strong>understanding of human nature<\/strong><\/a><strong>\u00a0in contrast to redeemed nature.<\/strong><br \/>\nEven the apostle Paul said about himself, \u201cWhat I don\u2019t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. (The message) See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mesoamericaregion.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=03e55b045b4b2d81fc3a5a85b&amp;id=d8e862a686&amp;e=1e0613ef18\">Romans 7:14-23 NIV<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is true of all of us. And we\u2019re aware of simple realities like the difference between those who sign up and those who show up. I\u2019m obviously not suggesting that\u2019s a sin, but it is human nature.<br \/>\nHowever, in order to avoid frustration and intentionally extend grace there are basic realities we need to understand.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Human nature does not naturally and consistently seek to serve others. Human nature tends to drift back to self and put self first.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I catch myself \u201cdrifting back\u201d often, like in traffic or in line at a grocery store behind someone who is looking for their coupons. I can be far too impatient with others, and then I remember how patient God is with me.<\/p>\n<p>There is good news.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeemed nature in Christ will overcome our old nature as we choose to follow Jesus\u2019 example, listen to the prompts of the Holy Spirit, and therefore seek to put others first.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Putting God and others first is still a battle, but now the battle can be won. \u201cIf anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.\u201d <em>II Corinthians 5:17<\/em><\/p>\n<p>As leaders, we can champion the process of spiritual maturity in our volunteers by encouraging and inspiring each person, challenging them with something meaningful, and making the connection to God\u2019s purpose and plan clear.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2) They possess big picture thinking about people development.<\/strong><br \/>\nIt\u2019s easy to fall prey to small thinking under the pressure to increase the size of your volunteer teams. We can even get stuck there. That kind of limited thinking sees and responds only to the immediate demands of the week or the current season.<\/p>\n<p>Big picture thinking allows you to see with a longer view in mind. Volunteer development is an invitation for someone to participate in something much larger than they could achieve on their own. It\u2019s an invitation to join God\u2019s purpose and plan. It\u2019s eternal in nature.<\/p>\n<p>This invitation to serve others is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Redemptive \u2013 It values people on a spiritual level<\/li>\n<li>Strategic \u2013 It advances the Kingdom of God<\/li>\n<li>Empowering \u2013 It gives people the opportunity to discover their specific part in God\u2019s purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now let\u2019s be honest, those three bulleted thoughts are not the first things that come to mind when it\u2019s Saturday night and we are short on volunteers in the nursery for Sunday. At that point, we just need to make sure its covered. We all understand that.<\/p>\n<p>But the more we think this way and lead our volunteer culture to function with these three underpinnings, candidly, the less we\u2019ll have Saturday night scrambles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3) They feed people more than need people.<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you need people more than you feed people, you will soon be leading from empty. And when you lead from empty, in time, your leadership lacks meaning and joy. This may sound counterintuitive because \u201cfeeding\u201d (shepherding and caring for) people can empty you.<\/p>\n<p>But here\u2019s the difference. Feeding (shepherding) people fills you because it\u2019s fulfilling.\u00a0<em>A full heart will always energize a tired body and helps sustain a weary soul.<\/em>\u00a0This gives you spiritual leadership stamina.<\/p>\n<p><em>Here are several warning signs that your need for people is greater than how you feed people, as you lead volunteers.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your joy level is low.<\/li>\n<li>Your frustration level is high.<\/li>\n<li>Your focus is on quick fixes rather than values-driven long-term thinking.<\/li>\n<li>People have become a bother to deal with rather than an honor to serve.<\/li>\n<li>The pressure begins to cloud the purpose.<\/li>\n<li>The demand for numbers overtakes the reward of stories of life-change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A good leader:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Loves their volunteers<\/li>\n<li>Serves their volunteers with their best interests in mind<\/li>\n<li>Protects their volunteers spiritually by:\n<ul>\n<li>Teaching and affirming Biblical truth<\/li>\n<li>Praying for God\u2019s favor and blessing<\/li>\n<li>Challenging and guiding toward spiritual maturity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>4) They are positive in nature and full of faith in outlook.<\/strong><br \/>\nIf you throw a party will people show up?<\/p>\n<p>There are parties that are so packed with people you can hardly get in. There are others where there\u2019s chips and guacamole leftover for a week.<\/p>\n<p>Leadership isn\u2019t about personality, but having a positive disposition and strong faith in God is a game changer. The good news is that both are a choice. Whether or not a leader draws people in depends in large part on their consistent attitude, overall disposition and general perspective in life. \u00a0\u2026 Is your glass half empty or half full?<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m drawn toward people who have a smile, see the bright side and are forward thinking. Aren\u2019t you? So are your volunteers. If you make life and ministry fun, they\u2019ll have fun too, it\u2019s contagious.<\/p>\n<p>In that kind of environment, it\u2019s so much easier to encourage and guide people in their spiritual growth and understanding of the real reason they serve.<\/p>\n<p>Serving is a blast but it\u2019s about eternity.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2023 Dan Reiland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>4 Traits of Leaders Who Thrive in Developing Volunteers By Dan Reiland Why do some leaders seem to be more natural at developing volunteers while others struggle? The good news is that this is not a mystery, and the principles and skills can be learned. Leading volunteers isn\u2019t as simple as \u201cDo you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/4-traits-of-leaders-who-thrive-in-developing-volunteers\/\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":79016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3380,4661,276,266],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-leadership-articles","category-resources-ndi","category-sunday-school-and-discipleship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesonaz.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}