RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Does it feel like your volunteers are in a revolving door?  You can't seem to keep them long-term?

Here's 5 ways to stop the revolving door and keep your volunteers.

1.  Place them in their sweet spot.  Make sure you place volunteers in their "sweet spot."  In other words, place them in roles they are gifted in and passionate about.

When you ask most new volunteers where they want to serve, they will usually say, "Wherever you need me."  But don't place them "where you need them."  Place them where they are gifted and passionate.  And a month later, go back and ask them if they are in their sweet spot.  If they're not, let them try another area.

Don't place people where you need them.  Place people where they need to be."

People who are in their sweet spot will stay long term.  People who are not in their sweet spot will hit the revolving door.

2.  Relationships. 
Relationships are the glue that keep people serving in your ministry.  Create an atmosphere of family.  People who do life together will continue doing ministry together long term.

3.  Time off. 
Give your volunteers breaks.  Create windows of margin that will allow them to be gone.  If you don't allow them to take a vacation occasionally from serving, they will hit the revolving door.

4.  Increased responsibility.
Many times volunteers will get bored in their role after a number of years.  Challenge them to go to the next level in serving.  Give them a fresh challenge or more responsibility.  If you don't, they'll hit the revolving door and go looking for it somewhere else. 

5.  Appreciation.
Take time to regularly show your appreciation.  Honor them.  Thank them.  Tell them.  Your thank you's may be the difference between a person serving for 10 years instead of 1 year.

What are some other tips for keeping out of the revolving door?  
Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section below.

Have you looked lately at the demeanor of your volunteers?  Are they happy?  Smiling?  Laughing?  Energized?

Or are they just going through the motions?  Frowning?  Complaining?  Irritable?  Burnt out?

The mood of your team is a key indicator of team health.  And no matter how happy or unhappy your team currently is, things can improve. 

Here's 7 steps to creating a happier volunteer team.

Be happy yourself.  It's contagious.  Everything rises and falls on leadership.  You set the happiness tone for your team.  If you're team isn't happy, take a look in the mirror.  Start smiling more.  Don't take yourself so serious.  Have fun. 

Make time for jokes and pranks.  Purposefully build in time during your meetings and get togethers for jokes and pranks.

Place people in their sweet spot.  Nothing will make a volunteer more unhappy than placing them where you "need" them instead of where they are gifted.  When someone is in their sweet spot, they will go home smiling and energized.

Emphasize the "why" of serving more than the "what" of serving.  People are looking for purpose.  They want to be part of something bigger than themselves.  Constantly remind them why they are doing what they are doing. 

Encourage people to use their creativity.  When creative people are not allowed to use their creativity, they will be unhappy.  Provide avenues where they can express their creativity. 

Make time to celebrate.  Set aside time to throw parties.  No agenda but fun, food, games, and hanging out together.  Celebrate off-site at a park, someone's home, or other location.

Share the God stories.  Your volunteers want to know they are making a difference.  When you hear a story of God working in a child or family's life, share it with the team.  Don't just tell them they are making a difference, show them the evidence.

What are some other ways you help your team have a happy mood?  Share your ideas and thoughts with us in the comment section below.