The other day I was watching a young toddler try to place boxes of various sizes inside one another. It reminded me of trying to place a person in a position of leadership that requires a good fit. With the toddler, some boxes were the right fit and slipped into place easily. But with some, there was a struggle because the box was not the right size. The boxes tumbled, and he had to start over.
One of the challenges of leadership is, not only having the needed number of volunteers, but having the right fit – especially for leadership roles. Good leadership involves identifying those who fit just right so that her ministry is effective. When it’s not, the ministry will flounder.
The great thing about volunteerism is there is room for everyone. But even volunteers lose interest if not operating out of the gifts God has given them. Fitting into the right ‘box’ is key to effectiveness and longevity. A good leader is able to place a volunteer in an area where they will thrive as well as meet ministry needs.
Find volunteers who want to do what they were made to do.
Dwight D. Eisenhower stated that ‘leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.’ And I am going to add, getting someone to do something that is needed because she wants to do it.
Most volunteers serve because they want to do it. Discovering what a volunteer wants to do is a key to a good fit.
You may need to tap into the new resources available through new volunteers. There may be new to this ministry, but they have already served in leadership elsewhere and are just waiting for an opportunity to serve. Find out who they are. Talk to them. Discover what they want to do. Don’t let new resources pass you by. Find the right fit for a new member to serve. Ask what volunteer role from the past they enjoyed most. Discover what spiritual gifts they operate out of. What are their communications skills? And very important, does their lifestyle reflect godly living?
As the body of Christ, we are all to work together for the common cause of growing the body for being built up in love. Will the new leader in ministry reflect the love of Christ in the role they have been chosen to serve?
“…from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16, NASB
