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Adopt a Volunteer-First Mindset
The heart of ministry leadership is “equipping people to do the work of the ministry.” And while it’s great to dive into best practices, strategies, and tactics, operating from a volunteer mindset is one of the fundamental guiding principles you must adopt in your leadership.
This is not about adding more to-do items to the small group of leaders who already run your organization. Volunteer coordinating and mentoring are fantastic ways to get new people into leadership roles.
This is a flexible volunteer role, which means it could be open to a wide variety of people. It’s also a chance to tap into someone’s relational skills in a fresh way. When you start to think about a Reading Mentor initiative, think of the volunteer leaders you will raise to lead that initiative.
Ask People Personally
Who is the best person to lead this program? You’re probably not going to find them by making an announcement from the stage or writing a blurb in the following email newsletter. Instead, you’ll want to ask someone personally.
Jot down the qualities you’re looking for, and keep your heart and eyes open. When you’ve found someone qualified, sit down with them and cast a vision of the opportunity. Let them know you’ll support them, provide resources for them, and champion the cause. You don’t need a lot of people; you need the right people.
Vision First, Training Second
When hiring a new person, the temptation is to overload them with resources and training. This isn’t a bad thing since, after all, you want them to be successful.
However, too much information too early in the process could short-circuit their experience. Indeed, I share the most important facts with them, but I spend the most time discussing the vision for transforming the lives and futures of under-resourced children.
Clarify Expectations
One of your most important roles as a leader is that of Chief Clarity Officer.
It’s up to you to remind people what is most important. You must continually remind them where they add the most value. It’s your job to make sure they know how what they do helps your church or organization fulfill its mission.
As crucial as casting vision is, it might even be more important to cast clarity. As you build a volunteer team of reading mentors, ensure you know what you ask them to do. Give people a simple, written job description that clearly articulates how they should respond, where they go for help, and who to talk to if they get stuck. Be honest about the time commitment and put it all in writing. Potential volunteers won’t be scared by this - they will be grateful. And when they know the expectations, they can meet them.
Share Relevant Resources
Once you’ve given them the basics, make sure they know what other resources are available to them and where to find them. Now and then, shoot them a note with a link to some bite-sized training.
Share resources provided by:
- Your partnership literacy organization.
- Your school’s volunteer program and philosophy.
- Materials from resources like www.childrensliteracyproject.org.
