This is the final post in a series about Kidmin recruitment. You can read the other posts here and here and here.
So you’ve prayed, you’ve stalked, and now it is time for your peeps to sign on the dotted line.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for a final answer. People are busy and tend to wait til the last minute for signing up for anything. (So do I!) They truly don’t have the same sense of urgency that you do. Nicely (you don’t want to seem pushy) remind them that you need to finalize your team and you do need a commitment.
- Follow up. Assuming is dangerous in recruitment. You want to be 100% sure before Sunday morning that your volunteers are truly committed and coming. I’ve heard people say too many times how frustrated they were that new volunteers just didn’t show up. On the flip side I’ve heard too many times potential volunteers say how frustrated they were because someone called to recruit them but never called back to let them know when they were supposed to serve. Usually mistakes like this are on us. Follow up and make sure your recruits are truly good to go.
- Make sure you are all on the same page. Be sure your volunteer understands what you want them to do, when you want them to do it, and what the level of commitment is.
- Give them a next step. Whatever your process is: background checks, orientation, training… make sure you are very clear with your volunteers what they need to do next.
- Take the answer “no” graciously. Sometimes people have a change of heart. Sometimes you are sure they are going to serve where you want them and God instead leads them to student ministry or guest services ministry. Sometimes people just are nervous to tell us no. How you respond to someone’s “no” will greatly determine if they ever serve for you in the future. Don’t respond with frustration or annoyance. Show grace. God has the right people for your team, this person just isn’t one of them yet.
What do you do to finalize volunteers’ commitments?
