“Accept the fact that we have to treat almost anybody as a volunteer.”

Peter Drucker

This is such a simple and yet such a powerful statement. We as leaders must understand that our role isn’t just to manage the outputs of others but it is instead to lead and influence in a way that those we serve give voluntarily of their time and energy. We must focus on engaging with our team so that they are willing to volunteer their discretionary effort. I define this as the effort of work that goes above and beyond what is required by the job.

Think about the things that you do as a volunteer whether it is in your church, your community, etc. You do so willingly, giving from the margin of your life in order to make a difference for and with someone else.

We as leaders should look at everyone that we engage with as a volunteer and seek to enlist the energy that comes when a person gives freely of themselves in order to impact the lives of others. To do this we must serve. We must move from simply directing effort and outputs and instead harness the exponential energy that is released when people passionately and purposefully engage in their work. That is the secret sauce…