Recruitment

Recruitment is about magnetism. Magnetism of the leader is a positive
but that is personality centered. Magnetism to a service (ministry)
is found in other ways, as well. Relationships is a magnet. People
like serving with those they enjoy being around. The laughter, the
joint accomplishment both add value to the moment. Vision is
another. Vision is fuel to move forward, to sacrifice and serve.
When the vision is hot (not just spoken of but lived out and seen) the
magnetism of the area increases. Having a vested interest is another
magnet. Parents of kids that have special need are highly motivated
by their awareness. So, how can we raise awareness and tap into that
part of other's heart? Experiencing a thank you goes along way to
holding volunteers. Being recognized is a positive affirmation that
we are making a difference and that puts fuel in our hearts. Everyone
faces obstacles in recruitment. Great leaders figure out a way to
increase the magnetic draw to their areas by taping into the
volunteers passion, heart, drives and desires. Great leaders are
grateful to the volunteers. Great leaders do more than "cast vision"
they create a hope that the vision is being experienced one step at a
time.

Rules of Engagment

How does a leader stay on mission when:
-they are resisted regularly?
-they are abused?
-they want to quit?

It is a challenge for leaders to live the rules of engagement
spiritually. Those rules?
-Stay on mission at all times
-Never allow conflict to become personal for that takes us off mission
-Keep your heart strong so that when the resistance is strong your
passion can carry you through

Leaders often give up when the resistance is long and strong. Long
and strong is wearing on the heart and steals the vision.

Leaders often unknowingly give up when their anger is captured by
another battle and they inadvertently leave the mission.

Stay on track. Live the rules of engagement so that you can complete
the mission. That means keeping your knees on the ground in prayer,
keeping your heart clean and filling up on the Spirit of God so that
you can live the verse, "Keep in step with the Spirit" of Galatians 5.

Listening Longer

Listening is hard work, especially when we feel like we already know
the facts, know the excuses, know what the other will say. It is hard
work, too, when we are emotionally charged. Listening longer is a
matter of leaving whatever is going on in us, defensiveness, fear,
anger, etc and entering the content of the conversation without
judgment on our part. That kind of listening is deliberately choosing
to calm our emotions down, deliberately refusing to give expression to
our thoughts and even questioning our own thoughts. That kind of
listening is often done by questions but, again, those questions need
to be open ended. Questions can be disguised accusations or methods
of stating our perspective. Open ended questions have no assumed
answer. Open ended questions keep our minds and hearts responsive to
the information now at hand (new or restated information). Open ended
questions are attempts not to lead nor to box in another but simply to
understand what they see, feel, think, etc. Open ended questions
might be, "Help me understand what this was/ what you were thinking/
what you meant/ how you understood what I said." Open ended questions
must begin with an open heart which opens the mind for even an open
ended question, when it is laced with intonation that accuses,
challenges or pushes back is not open.

Energy

Encourage one another the scripture says. That can take the shape of
words spoken one person to another that the one believes in the
other. But encouragement is available in other shapes and forms.
Another's passion can breathe life into yours. Another's hope can
remind you of yours.

I just had a meeting with some cool people who simply because of their
passion and energy energized me. Amazing how the Lord has so many
ways to bring that pizzaz back into our step, that hope that keeps our
feet moving, that sparkle in our eyes.