RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Here's 10 sure ways to lose your volunteers and have frequent turnover.

Don't know their name.  Just see them as someone to fill a position and don't get to know them personally.

Don't place them in their sweet spot.  Instead of finding out their interests, talents and passion just place them wherever you have a need.

Don't give them proper training.  Just place them in the room...they'll figure it out.

Don't help them get relationally connected.  They don't need to build relationships with the people they serve with.  They can just come in, do their duty and leave.

Don't ask for their input or ideas.  Shove down directions and don't worry about getting their insight or feedback.

Don't communicate with them.  Leave them in the dark about upcoming dates, details, lesson plans and other important information.  When they call...don't return their calls.  When they email with a questions...don't respond. 

Don't follow ratios.  Put them in a room with one other person and 35 preschoolers.  Place 20 kids in their small group.  Ask them to take care of 4 babies by themselves. 

Don't ever thank them.  They should be serving for Jesus, not for the applause of men. 

Don't promote them.  Leave them in the same role forever.  Don't develop them and help them move into new volunteer roles with more responsibility.

Don't give them credit.  Take all the credit for victories and make sure you're in the spotlight instead of them.  You wouldn't want them to have to struggle with pride.

If you want to keep your volunteers long-term, then obviously do the opposite of everything listed above.  Without your volunteers...you don't have a children's ministry.  Love them, honor them, value them, listen to them and take great care of them.

Your turn.  What are some other things that cause us to lose volunteers?  Share with us in the comment section below.

You've heard the statement...leadership is influence.

It's true and that means if you want to become a better leader for your volunteers, you've got to increase your influence with them.

Here's 7 keys to raising your level of influence with your volunteers.

1. Talk less and listen more.  That might sound counterproductive...after all...don't influencers have all the answers?

Actually no.  Great influencers are great listeners.  They ask great questions and find great answers.  If you really want to influence volunteers, then listen...really listen to them.  When volunteers know you value their ideas and input, you will gain influence with them.

2. Praise often and criticize rarely.  You won't gain influence with your volunteers if you are constantly criticizing them.  People don't follow criticism.  They follow encouragement and positive feedback.

3. Be a giver instead of a taker.  The motive behind godly influence is not selfish gain.  It's to help others.  Generosity leads to influence. 

4. Be positive instead of negative.  Negative people can be influencers...but they influence volunteers in the wrong direction.  If you want to influence volunteers in the right direction, then be a positive person.

5. Be quick to take blame and slow to take credit.  This is another one that might sound counterproductive...but it's not.  When you admit your mistakes instead of hiding them or shifting the blame, you will gain the respect of your volunteers...and respect leads to influence.  And when you empower your volunteers and give them the credit for wins, you also gain influence.  Empowerment leads to influence.

6. Keep your word.  Integrity leads to influence.  Follow through when you tell your volunteers you are going to do something.  They notice. 

7.  Care...really care about your volunteers.  When your volunteers know you really care about them, it opens their hearts to your influence. 

There are two little words that carry a lot of weight.  Your volunteers and staff are very aware of how you use them.

Here they are - "I" and "We."

Use "I" when there has been a blunder or blame needs to be shouldered.  This shows your team that you take responsibility instead of pointing fingers when things fall short or go wrong.

Use "we" when something has been accomplished.  This shows that you give the credit to the team when there is a win.

Those two little words have a huge impact on how you communicate as a leader.  Use them wisely.

Good leaders are powerful.  Great leaders are empowering.

Want to find out how you're doing as a leader?  This one question will give you the answer.

Ask your team...Which is more true...our leader is powerful or our team is powerful?

Here's some signs you are more powerful than you are empowering.

• You do most of the talking at meetings while everyone else is quiet.

• Your team is afraid to disagree with you.

• You always make decisions by yourself.

• Your idea always has to win.

• You don't ask for feedback.

• People can't make any decisions without "running it by you" first.

• You like being in the spotlight more than you do putting your team in the spotlight.

• You never hire anyone smarter or more skilled than you.

• "I" is used a lot more than "we."

• You constantly worry about "losing control."

• You feel threatened when someone else on your team shines. 

• You are quick to take the credit and slow to take the blame.

• You become jealous when someone else is honored on your team.

Powerful leaders are stars.  Empowering leaders create stars.

Michael Jordan said it well..."Great players win games.  Great teams win championships."

So which is it?  Powerful you or powerful team?