Be flexible in how you use transient leadership

This lesson is quite similar to the last - to successfully recruit new leaders into your program you need to be flexible in how you use help.

Not every person you interest in your program or ministry is going to be able to devote as much time to the work as you do. This is one of the laws of leadership "Influence decreases down line"

Some prospects may only give you a month. Some a term or semester. Some many years of devoted service.

My advise is to "Be flexible". Accept what is offered with a gracious and grateful heart and give the new leader all the support and materials needed to succeed.

Remember the earlier lesson Success breeds success.
Who knows - you may end up with more than you thought!

So, how can you use "transient" leadership.

This is a tricky area to explore. On the one hand transient leadership can be a real pain. Kids just begin to open up and build a relationship with a new leader - who subsequently leaves. You invest a lot of time and resources into training a new leader - who up and leaves.

The secret to harnessing this resource is to understand their expectations and share your expectations UP FRONT.

Find out what their intent is.
Bargain up front. That is get a commitment for some period of service. For example - they may be on break for the summer from University or college and have ten weeks available. You approach them about service in your program - they agree - and you clearly "contract" with each other that your new leader will be available for ten weeks. You'll need to devise a crash [fast tracked] training program for them, and get them operating fast. Share with the kids and the rest of your team that the new leader is here for only ten weeks. etc.

One of the most obvious forms of flexibility in using offered help - is in taking dads or mums with you on camping trips. In our group we always invite parents on camps. They turn out to be a great help, love the work we do and go on to become great supporters of our work.

Short term workers can be a great asset to your program. If you can be flexible in your approach and tear down the artificial rules and walls that have grown up around your program [like you've got to do such and such training before you can go camping] you'll value enormously from the extra help!