Leadership development is a gradual process. Once volunteers are identified, the next step is to help them make use of their skills in suitable leadership positions. On a practical scale, volunteer leaders are asked to accept specific responsibilities with a particular group on an individual basis. This means knowing volunteer leaders well enough to help them match their talents and strengths with a particular opportunity. Matching is important for both the volunteer and the organization.
Training is another step in the process of developing leaders.
The Extension educator can help leaders by offering suggestions about procedures, identifying strengths and weaknesses of past meetings and activities, reviewing group members' roles and their interaction with the leader, and evaluating how well various tasks were performed. This can be done informally, as suggestions and observation - it is then a part of the learning process and not a judgmental evaluation of the leader or group. It is important to provide leaders with opportunities for growth through new challenges. Not only will such challenges help keep leaders active, they will serve as a way to enhance their leadership skills. They should be involved as fully as possible in all aspects of the projects they undertake.