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The main article, "How to Be a Boss," below, addresses helpful basics for anyone in a leadership position, major or minor. It's also available in PDF version on Resources page for use as a handout:
New Resources: "Job Descriptions" and "Training Volunteers:" PowerPoint presentation packages are available on these topics for $15 each or $25 for both. Each 'package' contains 2 PowerPoint presentations, covering the 'why' and the 'how' of the topic, plus participant handouts and a leader's guide. They are designed as a self-education resource, and a tool for giving others in your congregation (staff, boards, volunteer teams, and large congregational groups) a comprehensive summary of these important topics. The participant handouts and leader's guides contain discussion questions, activities and resources for further study. More information: Job Descriptions; Training Volunteers. Purchase.
Interesting Reading: ""How to Convince Paid Staff of the Value of Mobilizing Volunteers" by Craig Williford on Rick Warren's website.
Collective Wisdom: Check out the collective wisdom area of the Energize, Inc. website for good ideas submitted by volunteer managers in a variety of non-profit settings. Includes recognition ideas, supervising tips, and a wealth of "reflections" on volunteering. The humorous ones are especially fun.
Schedule: This newsletter is "scheduled" to go out near the first of every month. Obviously, life and other responsibilities sometimes get in my way. Future issues will hopefully more closely follow the schedule, but there will always be at least two weeks between issues, and the average will remain one issue a month.
by Karen Kogler
Last Sunday I asked a group of people to consider whether they prefer to be leaders or followers. I had them demonstrate the degree of their preference for one or the other by choosing a place to stand along an imaginary line on the floor. 'Followers' definitely outnumbered 'leaders.'
Our definitions of leader vary along with our preferences, but whether we think of ourselves as leaders or not, many of us serve as the head, coordinator or manager of others. The senior pastor, Director of Christian Education and choir director are all leaders, but so are those who coordinate the altar care volunteers or the ushers. The Sunday school superintendent and members of the church council are leaders, but so are those who lead home Bible study groups and those who coordinate human care teams. The church has a lot of people in leadership positions.
When we head a group, our actions affect the others in our group. Some people instinctively use their leadership position and influence to benefit group members. The rest of us need to think about it and practice it. Here are some basic ways any leader, major or minor, can benefit the people in their group.
At the article version, scroll down and you can comment on this article.
A version of this article as a handout is available on the Resources page.
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Published by Karen Kogler
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