The Volunteer Question: Ready or Not?
by Ashley Cornelius
posted 9/11/2006
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In a recent advertising campaign Microsoft asked, "Are you people-ready?" Through images of eager employees waking up across the globe and heading to work, Microsoft reminded employers worldwide that the people in their company are vital for success. Microsoft's message was clear—set up your people to win. Even though Microsoft's message focused on computers and software, the heart of the message was universal.
People are an organization's greatest asset.
So here's the question to you: "Are you people-ready?"
Do you believe that no matter how exciting your classrooms, strong your curriculum, or creative your programs, your ministry will still fall short of its potential unless you also have the right volunteers leading, shepherding, and caring for the children?
Is your children's ministry fully—not partially—equipped and prepared to welcome and deploy willing volunteers to do the work of God?
Becoming a people-ready children's ministry begins with a simple decision to be pro-active and determined for people-excellence. This can be achieved by understanding the 3 C's of a people-ready ministry.
CULTURE
This is the underlying nature of an organization, be it a company, retail store, restaurant, church, or children's ministry. It is known by what is seen and sensed in your ministry, and automatically communicated to every parent, volunteer, and church attender who walks through your halls. Most of us are blissfully unaware of the culture our ministry emits. Not good. Determine the culture of your ministry by having a few unbiased people use their eyes, ears, and hearts to answer these questions:
1) Eyes: What do you see when you walk through our halls and enter our classrooms? What do our visuals say about our ministry's values and priorities?
2) Ears: What do you hear about our children's ministry from the church at large? How do current volunteers describe our ministry to others?
You can determine the reputation of your ministry from what people say about it. And you can be equally sure the typical church visitor will place a higher value on the "word on the street" reputation than on the printed materials and website information you produce.
3) Hearts: What does the behavior of our current volunteers say about our ministry's culture? Do they arrive early, to be best prepared to greet families? Do their faces reflect that they love what they do, or is their non-verbal communication showing their service is a chore?
Watch your team at work. It will give you great insight into the nature of your culture.
Now that you have lucidity on current culture, fear not. A culture can always be changed if needed. Over time, strong leadership and clear values can help volunteers, families, and the entire church see your ministry in its best light. With the right culture people will return week after week, like walking into their favorite neighborhood restaurant. With a little determination, dedication, and time, you can communicate the culture you want.
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