Volunteer on the M7 Stage 123

As I look towards launching a new campus, opening a new building and starting a service on Thursday night, I’m being challenged to train new leaders. Here are the remaining principles I want them to know before we ever talk equipment or technology.

3. Plan. Plan. Plan. Execute. Did I mention plan? And also, plan. You should never, ever come to Sunday morning wondering what’s happening. That’s the quickest way to get promoted to attendee.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have a question, that’s why we do timelines and walkthroughs and rehearsals. It does mean that, as a leader, you better know what you’re leading.

What I really mean to say is, that for the campus production director (the head honcho in each venue), most of the work should be done before you ever get to Sunday. You need to think through all of the details as the service is planned and be ready to deliver that plan to your volunteers.

If you don’t know what they should be doing, they won’t know what they should be doing. Preparation is key. No one wants to serve on a stressed out team with a stressed out leader. (SIDE NOTE: Never make a volunteer do something they haven’t been trained to do, unless they’re excited about trying it. Many volunteers will get uncomfortable under that pressure and won’t return because they aren’t set up for success. I’m kinda bad about this sometimes.)

4. Count on people. This is exactly as it sounds. And so much harder than it sounds.

You’re a leader. You’re competent. You know what you’re doing when it comes to this business and you’re passionate about the outcome. Now throw other people in the mix.

It gets messy.
Cues get missed.
Mistakes are made. Probably mistakes that you wouldn’t have made if you had just done it yourself.

Don’t do it.
You need other people.
Badly.

Here’s why:

a. It gets too complicated. Eventually (if not already) things are complicated enough that you cannot physically operate everything at once. You cannot be upstairs directing video and downstairs running a camera. You might be at a place where you can do it all, but that time is coming to a close. You better have people ready to help when you really need it.

b. This isn’t about you. Your job as a leader is to lead, not to do. You used to do. Now you lead. Leading means bringing everyone up to your level. Again, you’re very competent (probably). You need to share what you do with others. Let them have a share of the action (and the blessing).

5. Share time not doing. This is perhaps the easiest to say you’re going to do and the hardest to actually do. It may also be the most important part of leading your team.

You need to spend time in community on the day of the service. One of the downsides to a technical arts team is the lack of face-to-face interaction during the service. You’re either going to have intercom and be able to talk minimally or you’re not going to have intercom and you’re not going to be able to talk at all.

People won’t connect to each other in that environment. And you won’t have any opportunity to cast vision for what they’re doing.

Here’s what you need to do before the service EVERY WEEK (no exceptions):

a. Pray. Pray for the service. Pray for the pastor. Pray for the equipment. Pray for each other. Pray for the people coming to the service. You are not allowed to do a service without praying first.

b. Talk through the timeline. You have a game plan because you prepared. They’ve already done it a few times by now (hopefully) or have at least looked at it. This is your last opportunity to clarify the game plan before going into action. Make sure each person knows what he or she should be doing at any given point in the service. Call out areas you think might be prone to error.

c. Tell them what’s going on. Especially in a larger church, people don’t hear what’s going on as well. They don’t know everyone. It’s your job to tell them what’s happening. Celebrate with them. Share stories from other ministries. You’re probably the closest connection they have to the church (as an organization). Don’t waste that opportunity.

d. Listen. This is so important. No one can tell you better how you are leading than the people you are leading. They’ll tell you exactly what you need to know as long as you ask the right questions. People should be excited about serving God. If they aren’t, you need to know how to ask ‘Why?’

Just so you know, these are principles that come from doing it wrong over and over, stopping, listening, and trying something new. I encourage you to do the same.

What have your learned that you think should be on the list?