It seems with all the social media and creative ways to connect with people, we still cannot seem to encourage enough or stay connected enough to our teams and with our team leaders. We, as leaders, think that this important step just happens. Whether it is when we are trying to train them or teach them a new step in their role or position or when we are talking to them, we are saying encouraging things to them and are sparking some sense of team bonding in their lives. I would challenge you to consider that we may be fooling ourselves, and our top-tier leaders in our ministries.
Encouragement is something you have to be intentional about. I am not talking about the thank you that you give to your team after serving for three services on Sunday morning. But I am talking about the strategic thank you that is building them up to [be the person to] whom Christ has called them. Encouragement is calling one out among the many to say thank you—this is not something you freely give. Your volunteers are already working toward the expectations you have set in their roles and on your team.
I would ask, if this is something that you are not naturally gifted in, then build this step into your volunteer connecting model. If your first contact with the volunteer is setting the vision, then set the vision of encouragement from the beginning. Let them strategically meet encouraging people throughout their journey to join your team.
After they have started encouraging others in your ministry, they have made it through the first milestone. I would advocate having a ministry model already in place before you start to randomly encourage your team. Encouragement is about taking time to acknowledge the “wins” you have established for them in their ministry or role, and when they have won them.
When they have strategically hit those goals and then have been acknowledged for them—you are on your way to a winning team.
What does your connecting model look like? Do you need to be intentional with your team leaders and come up with a model that integrates vision casting, encouragement checkpoints, and training opportunities? What can you do to create a step one?
Your ministry and connecting model creates a foundation for your leadership team. Once established, you can take your first leadership step toward making consistent and meaningful encouragement part of your ministry.
