Trusted leaders focus on relationships, not roles.
Clearly defined roles are essential.
It’s also important to realize roles are static.
They rarely change.
But people do.
Trusted leaders build relationships because they understand that roles only matter when the people who fill them feel valued.
Trusted leaders take time to understand other people. They want to understand what makes people tick, the life events that have shaped their stories, and the motivation drives them. Thinking about their team, these leaders regularly ask questions like:
• What are they passionate about?
• How would they describe their gifts?
• What are their sweet spots?
• What drives them?
• How can I bring out the best in them?
If you’re looking to shift your focus from roles to relationships, here are a few ideas to consider:
• Ask volunteers their opinion about how the ministry might be improved. You’ll build trust just by asking.
• Get key volunteers to help write role descriptions for the next ministry year.
• Ask volunteers if there is anything else they’d rather do. Yes. They might quit. Having an empty role will pale in comparison to the relationships you’ll build.
