Top 10 Mistakes Youth Leaders Make
...and how to Avoid Them!
1. Lone-Ranger Leadership (a lack of letting go)
This is the #1 leadership shortfall for many youth workers. You’re not superman (or woman), so stop trying to fly by yourself.
Avoid Lone-Ranger Leadership by networking, connecting, and getting other leaders involved! Equip them, empower them, and then let them do their thing.
Avoid Lone-Ranger Leadership by networking, connecting, and getting other leaders involved! Equip them, empower them, and then let them do their thing.
2. Vision-less Leadership (no direction)
Why does your youth ministry exist? Why do you do the things you do? Every youth ministry team has limited resources and limited time, so being clear about your mission and vision will help you make the most of those resources and that time.
Avoid Vision-less Leadership by constantly asking the "why" question. Then, have the courage and discipline to do only those thing that support the mission and vision God has given you and your team.
Avoid Vision-less Leadership by constantly asking the "why" question. Then, have the courage and discipline to do only those thing that support the mission and vision God has given you and your team.
3. Trying to Do Too Much
Many youth groups' calendars are simply too full. They provide a smorgasbord of events and activities, which allows students to pick and choose from mediocre, and sometimes even crappy, choices. Instead, do few things and do them well. If you provide high-quality events and activities, attendance will go up. What's more, doing fewer things will give you more time to get onto students' turf and build authentic relationships with them.
Avoid Doing Too Much by running hard after your teams' best ideas and implement them well.
Avoid Doing Too Much by running hard after your teams' best ideas and implement them well.
4. Communication Chaos
The larger your group grows, the more attention must be given to communication. Communication should be a passionate obsession if you want to be an effective leaders.
Avoid Communication Chaos by communicating with everyone about everything. Communicate with the lead pastor, the elder board, volunteers, parents, students, the facility care team, other ministries within the church...you get my point. Even more, create systems and structures that allow you to communicate naturally and regularly (newsletters, weekly handouts, website updates). Finally, remember, the more you communicate in print, the better!
5. No Room for Up-and-Comers
Many youth leaders ignore, or are even afraid of, up-and-comers . . . DON’T BE!
Avoid No Room for Up-and-Comers by inviting them to join your team and by using them in their area of giftedness (even if their giftedness is similar to yours). Ministry is NOT about competition, so remember, when you find "big horses," invite them to join you in plowing.
6. Passionless Duty
Effective youth leaders must LEAD, not just manage or maintain. Yet holding onto a "position" that feels more like duty than an opportunity will cause you to focus on management and maintenance.
Avoid Passionless Duty by finding ministry opportunities that ignite you! Look for opportunities that allow God to use you according to your giftedness and passion.
7. Winging It
Winging is acceptable from time to time if you have built relationships and trust with your leaders and students, but habitual winging just won’t fly.
Avoid Winging It by following the same advice under #3...make sure you and your team are doing few things that are mission-specific, and make sure you are doing them well.
8. Misinterpreting the Corporate Culture
Don't kid yourself, every church has a “corporate” culture. It might be "un-corporate," but there is still some sort of culture as to how decisions are made, who is the "power base," and how things get done.
Avoid Misinterpreting the Corporate Culture by being a savvy and shrewd leader. Even more, learn to respect and work within your church's corporate culture before trying to change it. That way, you can bring real change from the inside out because the other leaders will trust you and truly believe you want what is best for the church.
9. Worrying About Who’s NOT Involved (instead of focusing on who IS involved)
Design programs and events that serve those already involved, then invite others to join you. This is not to say you don't attempt to reach out to others; it simply means that you start with the people who are already committed.
Avoid Worrying About Who's NOT Involved by building a solid foundation in ministry (check out my newest book based on building an ACTS foundation—a foundation of adoration, community, truth and grace, and serving and sharing ). Once that foundation is built and solid, you will naturally be positioned to go after those who are not involved (and most students and volunteers will be ready to help you as well).
10. Success without Successors
This is the #1 "hidden" leadership shortfall for most youth leaders. They put forth so much effort and energy to lead well while they are present, yet when they move on, everything comes to a grinding stop. It's not that all the effort and energy was wasted, but it does cause it to be short-lived.
Avoid Success without Successors by thinking team from day one. In fact, in order to pass the baton smoothly and successfully, start planning for your departure the day you begin.
© 2008 Kent Julian, Inside Out Youth Worker - All Right Reserved
Kent Julian, founder and president of Inside Out Youth Worker, publishes the "Inside Out Youth Worker E-Connection" on a bi-monthly basis. Each ezine is filled with free tips and strategies for living and leading from the inside out in youth ministry. If you are ready to take your leadership to a deeper, more proactive and intentional level, join the growing and dynamic E-Connection community now at www.ioyw.com .
Kent Julian, founder and president of Inside Out Youth Worker, publishes the "Inside Out Youth Worker E-Connection" on a bi-monthly basis. Each ezine is filled with free tips and strategies for living and leading from the inside out in youth ministry. If you are ready to take your leadership to a deeper, more proactive and intentional level, join the growing and dynamic E-Connection community now at www.ioyw.com .
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