Volunteer Mindset: Buy in

I always here people talk about buy in. "How to get buy in” or “We need to get buy in." Let just state it. Buy in is convincing people that we are right or our vision is the best path. Buy in seems to be a buzz word in ministry, and I think it is overused. We spend so much time and energy trying to gain buy in that we forget the paths of collaboration and compromise. These are the best paths of realizing vision.

So let look at them.

Buy in

If you are seeking buy in you sell your vision to the constituents. You make a presentation; find clever and clear ways to communicate it. With snazzy presentations, good tag line, and a logo or two.

Collaboration

If you are seeking collaboration you come with an idea or better yet half an idea, you present it as a draft, or a concept that needs help. Most people are more than willing to help you with an idea if you come to them asking for their help for real. The challenge comes in really going to them with an open mind. Believing that the person’s perspective is valuable.

Compromise

Compromise seems like it is a dirty word in ministry. We are not discussing moral or ethical compromise, but concept and program compromise. Many times someone wants to add a feature or process to a project, but it seems unimportant, or even regressive, or at least it does to you. Compromise asks the questions: why? What do you want to accomplish? The answers to these questions many times allow you to find a method that is acceptable, even helpful to your agenda, and allows them to achieve their goals as well.

Your idea in all its glory is never quite as good as our idea. Or to say it another way A teams idea is always better than an individual’s idea even if is not as good.

midescribe it.