Mark starts helping with our 5th graders last month. Really nice guy wants help.
First Sunday hand him this packet. Like fifteen pages. Volunteer handbook safety policies behavior management curriculum overview emergency procedures. Everything.
Next week shows up looking like I hit him with truck. Admits didn't read most of it. Too much. Too confusing. Didn't know what actually mattered.
Feel terrible for him mad at myself. Spent hours making that packet thinking was being helpful. Just stressed him out before even started.
Made me realize been doing volunteer training completely wrong. Trying shove everything their heads upfront instead figuring what actually need when need it.
Been trying different stuff see what works. What makes people feel ready instead freaked out. What gets them going right instead overwhelmed.
Turns out good volunteer training nothing like thought should be.
Start Tiny Not Everything Once
Used think good training meant covering everything first day. Every rule procedure potential situation.
Totally backwards.
Now focus bare minimum need survive first few weeks. Rest figure out later.
Mark just covered basics. Where bathrooms. What do kid gets hurt. How get my attention need help. Done.
Everything else worked out as came up. Way less scary. Actually remembered what told him wasn't drowning information.
Most volunteers quit first month not because don't know safety stuff. Because feel lost don't know what supposed do.
Better help them handle Sunday morning than try teach everything might need someday.
Let Them Follow Someone Who Knows
Best training isn't sitting talking about ministry. Watching someone good at it.
Had Mark work with Lisa first three weeks. She's done 5th grade forever. Kids love her parents trust her handles everything smooth.
Just followed around. Watched how talked kids. Managed disruptions. Made everyone feel included.
Week four handling stuff naturally because seen done right. Way better than me lecturing classroom management.
Always pair new people with experienced ones now. Learn by watching instead trying explain everything.
Relationships Not Rules
Old training all policies procedures. What can't do have to do handle problems.
Made ministry sound like DMV job. Rules everywhere forms fill procedures follow.
Now spend way more time talking connecting kids. Learning names. Showing they matter. Making Sunday something look forward to.
Rules important but relationships why we're here. When volunteers get that everything else makes sense.
Mark asked recently what makes good volunteer. Told him not knowing every policy. Genuinely caring kids letting them see it.
Train Real Time Not Classroom
Used have volunteer training meetings Saturday mornings. Go through scenarios role play practice curriculum.
Nobody came. Too busy another meeting attend. Rather just show up Sunday figure out.
Now do training during actual ministry. Real kids real situations real learning.
When Mark didn't know handle kid disrupting everyone didn't schedule meeting. Pulled aside right then showed what do.
Way more effective could see immediate results. Used what learned right away instead trying remember training weeks before.
Ask What They're Scared Of
Instead telling what think need know started asking what actually worried about.
Mark worried not knowing kids names. What do someone has meltdown. Whether parents would trust him.
Things could actually work on together. Way more useful than assuming concerns.
Some worry teaching lessons. Others managing behavior. Others connecting shy kids.
Training addresses actual worries way more helpful than generic overview.
Stories Not Policies
Nobody remembers policies. Everyone remembers stories.
Instead explaining inclusion policy told Mark about Tommy has autism. How learned accommodate needs. How other kids started helping feel welcome.
Instead safety procedures told about time kid fell playground. What did. Why worked. How parents responded.
Stories stick. Policies forgotten first week.
When Mark ran into similar situation later remembered Tommy story. Knew how approach because had real example not abstract rule.
About Them Not You
Old training all about what needed from volunteers. How help me. What make my job easier.
Backwards.
Now focus what they want get out volunteering. How want grow. What hope accomplish.
Mark mentioned wanting get better connecting kids. So worked on that. Watched how Lisa builds relationships. Practiced remembering personal stuff about each kid.
Way more invested because training addresses his goals not just my needs.
Simple Practical Stuff
Volunteers don't need theory child development. Need know what do kid won't participate.
Don't need curriculum philosophy. Need know help struggling reader.
Don't need master classroom management. Need know redirect kid disrupting others.
Simple practical immediately useful way more valuable than comprehensive overview they'll forget.
Don't Abandon After First Week
Used think training ended after few weeks. Send off hope figure out.
Now check regularly. How going? What questions? What help improve?
Mark mentioned feeling unsure leading small group. Spent time showing ask good questions. Get quiet kids involved. Handle wrong answers nice.
Ongoing support way more important than perfect start training.
Let Them Be Themselves
Lisa connects through games activities. Tom through quiet talks. Sarah through creative stuff.
Used try make everyone same way. My way. What worked me.
Now help volunteers figure own approach. What comes natural. What fits personality.
Mark discovered really good helping kids work through problems. Not my style totally works for him.
Training should help become better versions themselves not copies you.
Fix Mistakes Quick Nice
When Mark handled something wrong didn't wait next training session. Pulled aside right after. Explained what might work better. Let try again.
Quick gentle correction way more effective than letting problems continue or big deal later.
Most volunteers want get better. Just need know how.
What Sucks
Long training sessions nobody has time.
Information overload overwhelms instead helps.
Generic training doesn't address specific worries.
One-and-done abandons people after first week.
Focus rules instead relationships.
Classroom training doesn't connect real ministry.
Trying make everyone exactly same.
What Do Now
Start basics. Build there.
Pair new with experienced.
Train during actual ministry when possible.
Ask what worried about. Address those.
Use stories examples instead abstract policies.
Check regularly. Ongoing support.
Help find own style.
Fix mistakes quick nice.
What Happened
Mark's been six months now. Kids love him parents trust feels confident ready.
Other new volunteers say training feels manageable instead overwhelming.
People stick longer because feel equipped instead thrown deep end.
Better training better volunteers. Better volunteers better ministry kids.
Worth spending time figure what actually works instead just doing what always done.
Still Figuring Out
Don't have completely figured. Still trying new stuff. Still learning what works best different people.
But way better than overwhelming information don't need or throwing situations not ready for.
Good training makes volunteers feel confident equipped excited instead stressed confused overwhelmed.
That's what going for.
