Keep Things Simple
As a software developer and architect, I spend a lot of time trying to identify the best possible solution to a business problem. The solution usually has to offer a benefit, then offer that benefit with as little negative impact to the business as possible (e.g. the amount of work/total cost of ownership).
When it comes to managing volunteers, you may pay careful attention to how your team solves problems. Just because there is a great solution doesn’t make it the best one, as it may be hard to train others or cost too much over the life of the team.
with regard to some technology decisions he made for his church:
“Looking at some things we’ve done, I might have decided differently on these few. Just to clarify, I think these are all good products. I’m just questioning if they are the right products, or best products, for our needs, so please don’t hear this as a bad report on any.”
Sometimes the most popular, cheapest, or most powerful doesn’t allow volunteers to do their best. Sometimes a simple solution will be the best one. When you make a decision about how your team is going to work, you need to respect the time and needs of the volunteers that will be doing the work – not just yourself. Consider the limited time and possibly limited skill of your volunteers. Then ask: is what I am doing today simple to train and reduce the burden of my volunteers and my church? If not, you may need to reconsider how your team is doing its job.
This is part 5 in a 7 part series on Honoring Your Volunteers
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