Are you looking for a 5 Star volunteer/leader, how to recruit, and retain them? Here are some characteristics you might want to consider.

A 5 Star volunteer/leader should be:

1. Committed to Christ.
2. Committed to the vision of the church.
3. Willing to surrender individual gain, popularity, and agendas to the churches vision.
4. Loyal beyond measure.
5. Willing to take on responsibility and difficult tasks.
6. Have a desire to “take things off the leaders plate”.
7. Honest, even when it hurts.
8. Be willing to give their talent, time, and treasure to the vision.

To recruit a 5Star volunteer/leader you should:

1. Communicate the vision of the organization with passion and clarity.
2. Give clear guidelines of the job, its time requirements, and your expectations.
3. Provide a trial time for both parties to discover if the job matches the volunteer.
4. Never give the title away until there is 100% agreement, passion, commitment, and competency.
5. Ask a ton of questions. Get to know them, their family, likes, and dislikes.

To retain a 5Star volunteer/leader you should:

1. Consistently communicate the vision, direction, and immediate goals of the organization.
2. Consistently say “Thank You”, encourage them, and highlight their accomplishments.
3. Brag on them to others. Word gets around!
4. Meet with them on a regular basis.
5. Provide an open environment for them to express concerns, ideas, and passion.
6. Don’t delegate, use, and abuse them. Empower them to take initiative and risks.
7. Be personal and have a genuine concern for their happiness and their family.
8. Let them in and trust them. Share your struggles and BE REAL!
9. Never look at the them as a number or person to complete tasks. They are partners for the vision.

Did you see a common theme in the three lists? The first, and most important, priority of a leader is to have a clear vision and direction for the organization. If you can’t provide the finish line then how can you expect someone to start the race? Before anyone of quality will buy into and commit to any organization they must first know where it’s heading.

These lists are just the beginning! I would love to hear any additions or corrections you would like to make. Just leave a comment below.