GMO has established a hierarchy of leadership, with OMs reporting to Community Leaders, CLs reporting to CLShepherds, CLShepherds reporting to Community Guardians, and Community Guardians reporting to their Volunteer Coordinator. We hope to limit the number of people anyone has to report to so that they are immediately accountable to just one person. Sometimes leaders serve in more than one branch, and communication can get a little confusing if they are getting instructions from more than one supervisor. These situations are hard to avoid when leaders who do a great job are spreading their influence across more than one team. We must do our best to all be on the ‘same page’ regarding updates or instructions, so that information shared across all branches is consistent.

Develop and maintain a relationship with the CLShepherds serving in your branch. They should come to you for questions they need answered, and if you can’t answer their concerns, you can take the issue to your VC.  Encourage your leaders to communicate along the established line of ‘command.’

The only time a Guardian should communicate directly with a CL under one of their Shepherds is if that Shepherd is unavailable, or if the Shepherd has invited you to help resolving an issue. Respecting the line of ‘command’ goes both directions. Once in a while to facilitate quick communication, you may be asked by the VC to send information to all leaders, Shepherds as well as CLs. Please be sure to let your Shepherds know when this happens, so that they don’t send the same information again to their CLs.

When sending updates and information down the line:

Please be sure to use your ‘BCC’ option when sending messages to many people. This helps to keep their email address private.

Please do not send ‘Forwards’ you receive via the internet to your team members; as a representative of GMO we should confine our communications to encouragement and information which applies to this ministry.

Video Conferences:

You are invited and encouraged to attend a monthly VC/Guardian Video Conference to get more connected, ask questions, hear about new things coming up, and get to know each other better.

You are welcome to hold a Video Conference (with the VC) for your branch from time to time, for the same purposes of relationship building and information sharing. This conference should be arranged by the VC, who will attend and support you in your agenda. Ask for more details!

You are encouraged to connect with your Shepherds one to one via phone, Google Chat, Skype, Facetime (or other video option) to establish a closer relationship.