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| Credit: Creative Commons (spDuchamp) |
The first couple of months of a leader's time on your team can make the difference between a volunteer who completes a year of service and cycles off the team, and one who will become a long-time teammate that you can count on year after year. Admittedly, this is the step that's been a weak step for me, and I've had to be very intentional in helping volunteers get started on the right foot. Here are a few things I've found helpful:
Have a short "trial" period where leaders simply spend time getting their feet wet and observing the youth ministry. When new leaders come on board, I usually ask them to simply join us at our Sunday morning large group gathering to observe what's going on. I stress that their job is meet a few students, get an idea of what we do in our ministry, and make sure that they want to commit to being a leader. Not only does it take some pressure off of them right at the start, it also gives them the space and freedom to build relationships with students and other leaders, as well as to perhaps decide that being a youth leader isn't for them.
Introduce new leaders. We don't usually do this in a formal manner, simply an introduction "up front" on a Sunday morning. In the past when we've had a print newsletter (which we don't currently do), I've also included a section where new leaders share a few things about themselves. Make sure your students and other leaders know that you've got great new additions to your leadership team!
Follow up and check in. In some ministry contexts, you may have a chance to see all your leaders on a weekly basis and check in with them individually. On our team, I might see a small group leader only once a month, and so I make sure to call new leaders to see how their group is going, what I can do to support them, and if they have any questions. In recent years I've been blessed with a team of small group leaders who pretty much like to hit the ground running and don't need a lot of direction, but it's still nice for leaders to know you are glad they've joined their team and that you're praying for them.
Never stop growing. Your team will never be set. Even if you feel like you've got a great team and enough people to do the things God's calling you to do as a ministry, you still need to promote a culture of leadership growth. Make sure you encourage your leaders to grow in their relationship with Jesus, and as leaders. Look for new ways to get them involved and to enhance their skills as leaders. And continue to be on the lookout for new leaders that might be a great addition to your team, even if you don't feel like you need a ton of new leaders. (By the way, if you've ever felt like you have "enough" leaders, you may not have much of a vision for the ministry you lead.) Keep growing as a team, both as individuals and in terms of how many teammates you have.
QUESTION: How do you help new leaders get started on the right foot in your ministry?
