Picture in your mind a happy little puppy, so excited and eager for a walk with its master.  Jumping, leaping and excited to explore their world, but after a few blocks the little guy gets tired and begins to whine.  He lies down or jumps up to be carried.  The owner has two options:  carry the puppy or drag him along.

Leaders often face the same situation!  The folks who began with great enthusiasm grow weary along the way and now leaders are faced with stragglers, whiners or sometimes drop outs.  How can a leader re-focus tired and weary workers?

First of all, resist the urge to criticize or complain about how weak they are.  In the example this was a young little puppy—it did not have the stamina produced by experience and age for a long haul.  The puppy responded in a very natural way.  It could be the same with your group.  It is part of a leader’s responsibility to pace their workers to their abilities.  Not every one has the same endurance.  They may be carrying other heavy loads than just what their duty as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, or office staff requires, so they may be tired from the “rest of their life”.  Marriage, children or financial stress can affect the team.  Taking time to know and understand your team members as individuals can help you pace the race you are asking from them.  They may not even be able to recognize why they are slowing down or wanting to drop out—they just know they are tired.  

The first step should be in the form of encouragement.  Perhaps the little puppy just needed a drink of water to be able to go a little farther.  The same could be for your team!  Give them a drink of appreciation and a word of support.  Thank them for what they have done, for what has been accomplished.

Feed them.  Feed them truth as well as natural food!  Re-state the vision once again.

Give them a time of rest.  Take time to pray for them and their needs.  Let them share their heart and concerns, provide a listening ear.  

Resist comparisons to “the entire load” you are carrying, which may be difficult to do, but it really does not accomplish anything.  If you stay focused on helping them recover their focus, you will all be blessed.

It could be possible they have gotten their eyes off serving Him and are bound to the fact they are serving you. In other words, they may have started the task with an understanding of God’s call and purpose, but in their weariness, have forgotten that aspect, so they are seeing it from a earthly perspective rather than an eternal one.  This can be a bit difficult to sort through, for most people are relational and do respond to requests for volunteers based on their relationships.  God may or may not be the main motivation. If God is not, it may be time to help them lift their eyes to Him.

Remind yourself that as you help these young ones to grow they will eventually do just that!  They will grow.  How you are training them now will help them develop into their full calling and purpose. Finally, remember once you were young and some one needed patience to help you. Thank God for the good leaders that helped you build your stamina. Help your team do the same!