No-Fail Ladies Ministry Volunteer Management Secrets
Cindy Parolini

	If your volunteer ladies staff seems like a group of misfits, take another look at their personalities.

	Six months ago, Holly asked Carol how she could help with the ladies ministry. Holly's genuine enthusiasm about the tasks at hand lifted Carol's spirits. The most urgent need was to keep the kitchen supply cabnet stocked and plan for upcoming church social events. Willing to help in any way she could, Holly eagerly accepted the assignment.

	But now her enthusiasm has waned. She still enjoyed helping but she wants to quit helping with the ladies ministry. What went wrong? Carol actually helped cause Holly's failure because she didn't match Holly's personality to the appropriate job task. Holly was a battery-powered microphone doing a pegboard's job. If you're experiencing high volunteer turnover or frustration in your ministry, you may also have ministry "misfits." Here's what you can do about it.

Know Your Volunteers

	Observe your volunteers to figure out the two most important personality traits: extroversion vs. introversion and people-focus vs. task-focus. To determine if someone is an extrovert or an introvert, consider: Does the person gravitate toward doing things with many people, or alone or with one or two others? For example, is the person more likely to volunteer to lead a ladies evangelism team (extrovert) or to help prepare for an upcoming fund raising activity (introvert)?

	To determine if someone is more people-focused or more task-focused, consider: Is the person more naturally concerned about people or about details of a task? For example, would the person be more effective at motivating others to get excited about the upcoming Ladies Training Day plan (people-focused) or helping to create the plan (task-focused)? If you can't figure people out, just ask.

Custom-Fit Volunteers to Tasks

	Once you've figured out your volunteers' personality types, you can fit them into one of the following categories: toy soldier, pegboard, battery-powered microphone, or server. Then use this chart to match your volunteers to tasks. If you do, your volunteers will have the duties they'll enjoy most and be the best at.

Toy Soldier Extrovert, Task-Focused

	Role: Toy soldiers focus well on the big picture of what's going on. They'll help make things happen and solve problems. 

	Most fulfilling tasks: Toy soldiers are comfortable with leadership and enjoy a sense of control. Invite them to organize activities and parties, organize and run fund-raisers, oversee a special project or team, serve on a task force to determine ministry goals, or drive the church van.

	Needs from others: Toy soldiers need pegboards to watch out for the details. They need servers to provide coffee and donuts to help the ladies feel welcome and appreciated.

	Meaningful affirmations: Show support by offering to help execute their plans. Invite a toy soldier to lunch to discuss the overview of the ladies ministry at your church.

	Effective "corrections": "You can help us better meet our goal if you would change the way you..." "We need you to use your leadership skills to help turn this around..."

	How to recruit/motivate: "You can help us with our ministry goals."

Pegboard Introvert, Task-Focused

	Role: Pegboards are masters of detail. They'll help establish standards and systems, such as sign-up sheets for refreshments.

	Most fulfilling tasks: Pegboards enjoy a controlled environment, and they appreciate knowing precisely what's expected of them. Invite them to keep supplies stocked, set up meetings, run errands, do computer or administrative tasks, or arrange for refreshments.

	Needs from others: Pegboards need toy soldiers to help them know when to stop being so detail-minded and forge ahead with a project or decision. They also needs servers to provide coffee and donuts to help the ladies feel welcome and appreciated.

	Meaningful affirmations: Tell pegboards when you pray for them. Thank them for taking care of the ministry details.

	Effective "corrections": "You are so good at taking care of the details, would you help change the way we..." "I know you've put a lot of careful planning into this; you're the best person to help us find a new way to..."

	How to recruit/motivate: "You can help us get organized to be more effective."

Battery-Powered Microphone Extrovert, People-Focused

	Role: Battery-powered microphones love being with lots of other people. They'll make ladies feel welcome.

	Most fulfilling tasks: Battery-powered microphones enjoy being "up front" and are good at motivating other people. Invite them to lead music, lead social teams, lead a ladies visitation ministry, help with ladies activities, teach a class to ladies, or run special programs such as the church nursery.

	Needs from others: Battery-powered microphones need the toy soldiers and pegboards to help make the task or event happen as planned. They need the servers to individually follow through with ladies.

	Meaningful affirmations: Tell your battery-powered microphones what a great job they do. Secretly have ladies buy a card for them and add a thank-you note.

	Effective "corrections": "The ladies would love it if you would change the way you..." "The other ladies ministry leaders would be so grateful if you..."

	How to recruit/motivate: "You can help ladies get excited about what's happening here!"

Teddy Bear Introvert, People-Focused

	Role: Servers excel in one-to-one relationships with people. They'll help the ladies know they're loved because they care and listen so well.

	Most fulfilling tasks: Servers enjoy predictable patterns to what they do, and they're good at specializing in tasks they do repeatedly. Invite servers to teach a ladies class, lead a weekday club, work on table decorations, telephone and visit ladies, or serve as cooks and kitchen help.

	Needs from others: Servers need the toy soldiers and pegboards to help with last-minute changes in plans or events. They need the battery-powered microphones to generate enthusiasm.

	Meaningful affirmations: Give your servers tokens of appreciation such as a flower or a note. Smile at them, add a pat on the back or a hug, and tell them how the ladies know they care about them.

	Effective "corrections": "We really appreciate the work you've been doing with the ladies, and we think it could be even better if you..." "The ladies are happy with how well you relate to them, and they've mentioned that they wish you would..."

	How to recruit/motivate: "You can help the ladies become better involved and closer to God."

This article “No-Fail Ladies Ministry Volunteer Management Secrets” by Cindy Parolini was excerpted from:  www.volunteerministry.com web site.  January 2011. It may be used for study & research purposes only.

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”