Manipulation has no place in the work of the Gospel. But leadership requires knowing how to help people get the “stuff” they need to make sound decisions. Here are some thoughts I have run across that can help the process of getting an apparently non-responsive group to show progress:

1. Narrow options

**Churches often offer too many things for people to choose from. I recently made a list of volunteer positions I needed filled in my area of oversight. I asked for ten spots to be filled. I had little response. I decided I should have asked for three or four for a better response. More options create mental stalemates.

2. Give a deadline

** Without a deadline people usually won’t respond at all to leadership direction. Often by adding a deadline to a mission’s trip or other functions you will increase the overall participation. It compresses the decision-making process for people.

3. Open doors/closed doors

**Opportunities need to be for a season. If I think the opportunity will stay open and come again my motivation will lag. God works on the open door basis. There is such a thing as gifts from God coming to an end.

4. Law of inertia

**People will kick tires before they will drive the truck. Allow there to be small steps as well as full commitment to the life of your ministry and more people will participate. And small steps lead to large steps.