KidMin 2015Deeper Learning Track: S.E.R.V.E.Dale Hudson

Session 4 – Empower Ready to have more volunteers who are “leaders of other volunteers” instead of just “doers?” Learn how to empower your volunteers and see them assume roles of increasing responsibility. You’’ll gain key strategies to advance volunteers who have shown themselves to be faithful, trustworthy and effective.

“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it

ourselves.”Lao Tzu

EMPOWER

Raise up leaders of volunteers.

Empower them to care for a group of 6-8 other volunteers.

You can only empower so many people by yourself.

Raise up coaches that lead and empower a group of 6-8 volunteers.

Jesus and the disciples example

The Law of the FewLook for potential in volunteers and challenge them to step up. As they grow, give them more responsibility and leadership.

Love equally. Invest selectively.

As you see people begin to grow, challenge them to step into more leadership and responsibility.

Provide growth opportunities for volunteers.

Conferences

Podcasts

online conferences, websites

Provide ministry books and leadership books, Children’s Ministry magazine,

Take to visit other ministries

You are a “coach” to them.

Get out of the way and let them lead.

“You should be able to step back in the shadows and the ministry would run just fine without you.”

Its not a badge of honor to be running around doing everything yourself.

Push other people into the spotlight!

Provide Feedback

Why Feedback is Important

“Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical lovers.”

John Gardener, Leadership Scholar and Presidential Advisor

Feedback is an essential element of helping volunteers and teams develop.

Feedback helps volunteers grow as disciples.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice.” Paul in Philippians 4:9

Feedback provides a leadership growth pathway.

How to Give Feedback

Effective feedback is given privately.

Effective feedback is ongoing.

You loop back with them. It’s not one and done. It’s part of a journey.

Effective feedback takes the person toward a goal.

Have goals and new levels you want to help them achieve.

Effective feedback is based on relationship.

When someone knows you care about them, they will be open to feedback.

“Focus on the person not the task.”

Effective feedback asks for permission.

“Could I offer you a thought?”

“Is this a good time to share a thought with you?”

Effective feedback uses the word “and” instead of “but.”

When you say the word “but” it causes people to be defensive.

Example:

You did a good job leading the small group today but you didn’t let the kids ask enough questions.

You did you good job leading the small group today and I think you can make it even better the next time if you let the kids ask more questions.

Effective feedback helps people focus on improving by saying “the next time.”

Example:

You did you good job leading the small group today and I think you can make it even better the next time if you let the kids ask more questions.

Effective feedback uses the word “I” instead of me

Example – You need to do this. vs. I have found that… Sounds more like advice than criticism.

Empower them to give feedback

One key for you as a leader and for your team is how to gather feedback.

Build in a rhythm to gather feedback from new volunteers.

30 days, 90 days, whatever works for your ministry

List of questions to ask new volunteers for feedback

Gather feedback after Events

(gather feedback after events and keep data to help make it better next time)

Questions to ask…o What went well?o What was missing?o What needs to be changed?o What needs to be added?o What needs to be dropped?o What will make it better?

Focus Groups

www.surveymonkey.como Quarterly

Connected Cared for Challenged Celebrated

What to do with it Listen to it.

Really listen to it. Feedback should primarily be them talking and you asking follow up and clarity questions.

Thank them for it.

Send a personal note and thank them.

Work through it. Take time to discuss it, evaluate it as a team, etc.

Complainers are a gift to your ministry

Let people know up front how thankful you are for all their input and feedback. Let them know up front you will sort through it and implement what is doable and is a fit. Let them know may not be able to do everything they suggest but let them know everything will be considered and discussed.

Some feedback will be unrealistic but remember there is usually a kernel of truth or help in even the most outrageous feedback.

Implement it.

Take the good ideas and implement them.

Report back.

Report back to those who gave the feedback. Let them know what you are going to be implementing, changing, improving, etc. Loop back with them.

empower through prayer