Solve Small Problems First

Have you heard of the Broken Windows Theory? From Wikipedia:

“The theory states that it is easier to solve a small problem before it becomes a big problem. For example, if one person tags (graffiti) the side of a building, a small area, you want to clean that area up before more people add their tags to the building, making it a big issue.”

Consider this theory with regard to your team. Do you have any broken windows within your team? Perhaps you need to do a better job of producing training materials. Perhaps you have some outdated tools. Or, it could be something old within your church building. No matter what it may be, it could be the cause of subpar performance from your team.

Now, consider if these problems were solved quickly and when they first happened. If you built better training into your team today, it may help you recruit more volunteers into your team a few months later. If you repaint the front of your church building, you may find that church members are more willing to pick up litter in the parking lot.

All of these small things can add up. Solving small problems quickly may prevent bigger problems from coming up later. Honor your volunteers by addressing these issues early for their benefit.

This is part 4 in a 7 part series on Honoring Your Volunteers