Summary: Recruiting is a process. It always amazes me how much effort it takes and how much time is required to make it come together. Start early!

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I want to give you one big piece of advice for recruiting. This one big piece of advice is super practical. Recruiting takes time. Start yesterday. Better yet, you should have started five weeks ago.

I know that this sounds ultra practical and should go without saying. Yet, this single reminder could greatly help you. When it comes to recruiting, wise leaders start five weeks ago. Recruiting is a process. It takes time for the back and forth and for people to ask spouses and more. You honestly can never start too early. No matter how many years I sat in the recruiting chair, it always amazes me how much effort it takes and how much time is required to make it come together.

Now, please understand that I have put it off recruiting for another day or possibly for next week. Rest assured, I have started recruiting far too late and I have paid the price. I have paid the “lazy tax” and I do not want you to make this same mistake. You might ask, “Why does recruiting take so long?”

Let me give you a silly and yet honest assessment of how it typically goes: Day 1 - You call. No answer. Day 2 - You call tomorrow. No answer. Day 4 - You then call again and they answer the phone. You share the vision. You call them to action. You now need to allow time for them to reflect, pray about this opportunity, talk with their spouse and more. You set a call back date that is reasonable. Day 11 - Call back one week later. No answer. Day 15 - You wanted to call back on day 12, but you got swamped. So you call back on day 15 and thankfully, they answer the phone. They need more time because they forgot to talk with their spouse. Day 18 - You call back. No answer. Day 20 - You call. This time you feel it is ok to leave a voicemail. Day 23 - You call back again. They answer. They tell you yes. You freak out and rejoice! You send them a follow up email and provide relevant details.

Notice that this process took over 3 weeks. It took 23 days, and this was a fast one! Recruiting takes time. There are no shortcuts. It requires human-to-human engagement. It is not cut and dried. It is a very protracted process. Therefore, if you start recruiting 1 week before you need everyone in their slot, you are doomed. You need to allow a significant lead time. The typical recruiting campaign takes around 4-6 weeks to run the full cycle.

Bottom line: Start Early; Start Yesterday! Be sure to check out LeadVolunteers.com as your one-stop-shop to help you recruit, train and retain volunteers.

Summary: I believe people can be led by God. I believe the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. I believe God leads His people. Therefore, the pressure is OFF me and rests more on God.

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Recruiting takes faith and not your human finesse. Paul admonishes us and warns us about leaning heavily into our persuasive words of wisdom and human ingenuity. Recruiting takes faith.

Now, keep in mind, recruiting takes our preparation, our persistence and our personal push. I get that. But It takes faith, doesn’t it? I think this could be hard to lean into, but I want you to remember, recruiting takes faith.

I believe people can be led by God. Do you believe this? Or do you believe that you alone need to lead them? I believe the sheep know the shepherd's voice. Do you rest in this promise? Or do you think that your exclusive voice of vision and persuasion matters most.

Previously, we talked about letting volunteers feel the freedom to say no. Let me share something with you. The testimonies of the people who have sat down and listened to God and come back with an honest and prayerful answer of “NO” are astounding. I have stories of people who felt compelled to say no. And just 3-4 months later, their life circumstances seemed to testify that God was looking out BOTH for them as well as our ministry.

I believe God leads His people. Therefore, the pressure is OFF of me and rests more on God. I find this to be deeply comforting. Here is the thing: My heart AND my head believe that God sees the beginning and the end. He knows every word before it ever leaves our mouth. He may have good reason for this person NOT to serve with me this year. I want to leave room for that. I want to leave room for God to override all of my vision and persuasion. I want to stay out of the way.

Do I need volunteers? Of course. God knows that too. I have prayed about it. He has provided before and I have confidence He’s going to do it again. It is a matter of getting the right people at the right time. Right Person, Wrong Time = Wrong Person. It’s a trust thing. Recruiting takes faith.

Be sure to check out LeadVolunteers.com as your one-stop-shop to help you recruit, train and retain volunteers.

Summary: After casting the vision and value of the volunteer role, and how you can envision the volunteer, with their unique gifts and abilities in this role, end with my #1 recruiting line — “Please feel the freedom to say no.”

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I have shared this concept with you before. And yet, some ministry principles demand a second hearing. I have an always and forever “GO TO” recruiting phrase. My #1 recruiting line is saved until the end of my recruiting call. By the time I share this recruiting phrase, I have boldly cast the vision and value of this role. I have shared how I can envision them, with their unique gifts and abilities in this role. Before I drop my #1 recruiting line, I will have shared everything about the time commitment, the start and end time, the requirements and more. I have left nothing on the table.

Before the call closes, I make sure to include my #1 and top recruiting line of all time . My #1 recruiting line is, “Please, feel the freedom to say NO.”

Listen, I am a persuasive person. I do not want to use those gifts incorrectly. I do not want to try to do what Obi-Wan-Kenobi did to those Storm Troopers and manipulate the situation. “These are not the droids you are looking for…” I don’t want to use guilt, manipulation or inappropriately leverage position or persuasion. Honestly, I want them to feel called and compelled to do this role. I want them to ask of God. Check in with their Heavenly Father to gain His direction.

You may have heard this from me before, but may I share it again? I honestly feel this ONE phrase, if it comes from your heart, will change everything. Now, you might ask if anyone has stopped the conversation and said, “Sweet! I’m out. My answer is NO.” Here is the reality: No one has ever jumped forward and said, “I’ll take you up on that no right now.” That has never happened. Honestly, the reverse has happened. People feel safe. They don’t feel I am trying to pin them into a corner. Who wants that, right? Truth be told, this one phrase, when used with a pure heart, breathes so much oxygen into the conversation. There is no high pressure sale. I am sorry, that just seems wrong.

Rather than saying an instant no, people’s response could be summed up in one word: Relief. The most common verbal response has been “Thank you, I appreciate you said that.” Bottom line: Give people the freedom to say no. Be sure to check out LeadVolunteers.com as your one-stop-shop to help you recruit, train and retain volunteers.