Whats Up With Grumpy Volunteers?

So, whats up with grumpy volunteers? Why do they volunteer if they are going to have a stinky attitude? Maybe you should bring in an "expert" to set them straight? Are you expecting too much of volunteers? Are we killing our volunteers?So, whats up with grumpy tech arts volunteers?

I recently sent this email to a friend who asked me to come in and do some training with their volunteers.



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Do you think the guys are "open" and "teachable"?  I've been in situations before where, it wouldn't have mattered how aptly I identified the problems, or what recommendations I made, there are often tech arts volunteers who have become bitter for one reason or another and have a nasty chip on their shoulder.  This is so common with tech arts volunteers in churches.  
God has blessed me with the gift of winning a lot of these kinds of people over, but never in one sitting.  In fact, a couple of those people that come to mind, even from from years back, are still good friends of mine to this day.  Some of them actually ended up on the list for "go to" A1 volunteers at the church where I was AVL Manager for several years.  Meaning, they got to the point where I fully trusted them to mix in such a way that people wouldn't notice if I wasn't there on a Sunday.
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So, whats up with grumpy volunteers man?  I mean, why do they volunteer if they are going to have stinky attitudes right?  Well, slow down a little...

"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant." (Matthew 23:11 MSG)

I THINK its because in our churches, volunteers are sometimes put into a position that is beyond their skill set, and people are expecting something from them they are not capable of.  Think about it, where I live, there are over 4,000 churches in a 60 mile radius.  How many of those 4,000 churches do you think really wish they had a "pro" level audio engineer who could volunteer to run their sound on Sundays.  So, lets just say for a conservative example that there are only 200 of those churches who have that expectation (I'm SURE its more than this).  Then, multiply that by 3, because you don't want to wear the same person out each week and take advantage of his/her willingness to serve.  600 "pro" level FOH Audio people.
Now, think about how many people there might actually be in that same area who actually possess that pro level audio engineer skill set in any given town.  Obviously, not that many.  To me, someone who actually possesses that "pro" level skill, means, someone who either uses, or has used this particular skill professionally.  Well, there probably aren't even 60 "pro" level audio engineers in this 60 mile radius.  So, to expect concert quality sound from your volunteers is a lofty, and unrealistic expectation.
With men in particular, it plays on a common "fear of being found out".  It tugs at an insecurity about people thinking he is a fraud and has no idea what he is doing  (its why the stereotype of men never asking for directions).  Often, over time, because of the inequity of the situation (expectation/results), the "little foxes" that spoil the vine show up in that relationship between a volunteer who is trying the best he can to support using the tools he has, and those on the stage who can clearly articulate what their expectation is of them, and have even spent lots of dollars sacrificially to improve things technically.  Some churches even buy into the idea that if they purchase a digital sound board, then they can just have the professionals set it up, then recall those settings each week.  This is an issue for a separate post, but, that is simply an unrealistic expectation.  All I will say about that in this post is that "mix is a verb".  Eventually, its possible for bitterness (or even just the inference of it) to creep in, and finally, someone on the church paid staff gets frustrated and asks the volunteer in a confrontational way after he/she is frustrated by consistently bad sound, "Hey, whats the deal?!  Why can't we just get this right?!"  That, to an overwhelmed volunteer, feels like a personal attack.
If this goes on for a while, that volunteers job can begin to feel pretty septic.  No more joy serving in that area.

Are We Killing Our Volunteers?

And then, on top of it, you bring in an "expert" to tell him what he's doing wrong....
So, I understand that, and I don't come in with a powerpoint, SMAART Live, and a big mic stand to whack them around with going, "dude!  NEVER do THAT!" or whatever....

"The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs" - (Ecclesiastes 10:12 MSG)
 
Do you have some "septic volunteers"?

Be careful when technical things are not up to your level of expectations.  Examine your expectations of hiring someone for "training".  Don't shove their noses in it.  If they have a nasty attitude, ask yourself this:  what was their attitude like when they began to serve in this area of ministry?  If it is different now than it was then, be vigilant to try to take an honest account of what has changed.  If you want to bring in an "expert" for training, be sure you are not using the opportunity to club them over the head with even higher expectations.
I'll be the first to tell you that there are also times to "fire" a volunteer.  Thats another post altogether, but I will say, if it has become too septic, and too much damage has already been done, then it may be best to recommend they either find another area to serve in, or that they take a break from serving for a season so that they can deal with the root of bitterness.  Never be quick to this decision, but never be afraid to make it either.
One other thing to consider.  Your money may be better spent on a season of training over a period of weeks rather than on new equipment right now.  If you choose this route, be sure you are hiring the "right guy for the job".  Make sure you are looking for someone who desires to train with a shepherd's heart, and not someone who lords knowledge of technical things over those who are volunteering to be servants in God's ministry of tech arts at your church.