In the previous post, we talked about how a team of volunteer Coaches has taken on a new level of value during this crazy pandemic. In fact, many of you shared how you are leaning on this layer of leadership within your volunteer team and the value you’ve experienced.
For some of you, a Coaching structure wasn’t on the radar… but it could be now. In fact, now is a great time to lean in and build your team… even if you have to do it virtually.
One thing we’re seeing from this pandemic… people are scared. Some are facing friends and family that are ill. For our family, we have two friends currently battling the virus. One is weathering it well… the other is struggling. In the midst of uncertainty, our volunteers and families need someone who can lean in and just show up.
Showing up may mean something as simple as a phone call and a question,
“How can I pray?”.
If you’re trying to figure out how to provide that level of connection for your volunteer team, you’ll want to recruit some help to make it happen. Here are some ideas that can move you in that direction.
Recruit Coaches
Consider the following types of people within your volunteer team:
- Influencers: Who do other volunteers appear to follow? Who seems to have a voice that is louder than others? It’s possible this person has influence you can leverage to care for your team. **Warning. Some influencers have an impact you want to limit, not multiply. To learn how to recognize and manage this aspect of leadership, check out my book Don’t Quit.
- Care takers: Who have you seen with a natural bent toward caring for people? Who on your team seems to come alive when they discover someone in need? It’s possible this person can show up for people in meaningful ways.
- Connectors: There’s likely someone on your team is always “the guy who knows a guy”. They’re natural connectors. When they discover a need, they are quick to create a connection that addresses the need.
Make a list of people that meet one (or more) of the descriptions above. That list is a potential team of coaches you can enlist to help you to connect with your volunteers in meaningful ways in this season. Feel free to place parameters on their commitment to this role. This doesn’t have to be a permanent team. It can simply be the team you lean on during this unusual season of ministry.
Group Your Team
Take your team of volunteers and group them in groups of 6-8 volunteers. For each group, you want to assign one coach. This step helps you see how many coaches you need in order to provide care and connection for your team.
Can a group be larger than 8 volunteers? The answer is yes. But it depends on the coach you recruit and their level of availability. Typically with our busy lives, 6-8 people is all we can reasonably and meaningfully know.
As you recruit a Coach, assign them to a team and provide contact information.
Define Expectations
The kindest thing you can do is clearly define what you need your Coaches to do and how you need them to do it. So don’t shy away from being clear. Write out a brief role description that defines what, how, when and where. Make sure they know how frequently you want updates and discoveries.
I recommend inviting Coaches to use tools like GroupMe or Facebook private groups to create a space where they can connect with their assigned people, share prayer requests and resources.
Stay Close
Once you’ve recruited your team of coaches, this becomes the team of people you pour into the most in this season. So, demonstrate for them what you want them to do for your team.
Show up.
Pray.
Be curious.
Call them individually to see how their doing. Pull them together as a group (online, of course!) to talk about what everyone is experiencing. Brainstorm via group chats about how to meet needs that arise. Fight in prayer together as you lean into the messes of life.
Disconnection happens quicker than we realize. Meaningful connection requires consistent pursuit and a team of Coaches to help us make that happen.
Looking for a resource that can help you build a Coaching Structure in your ministry?
Building an Effective Coaching Structure by Gina McClain is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at www.ginamcclain.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.ginamcclain.com.
