It may be surprising that finding responsible youth leaders is actually a really difficult thing. One of the greatest sources of frustration for youth ministry pastors and staff is having youth workers that don't follow through or shirk their responsibilities. Being an effective youth worker includes a strong commitment. After all, students won't learn responsibility if their role models don't show any. So how can senior leadership and church staff foster responsible youth leaders?
Be Responsible Yourself
Being a senior youth leader or church staff member means setting the example. If it's time to clean up after an event, settle down and pray, or if you know the buses for your youth group outing are leaving at a certain time, and you're not there or helping, you're telling your youth leaders that responsibility doesn't matter. However, if you're doing what you can to help with a servant's heart, people follow your lead. So if you want responsible youth leaders, it starts with responsibility in you.
Tell Youth Workers How Valued They Are
No one likes to feel small and unnoticed and your youth workers are no different. They like to feel needed and valued. At a minimum they need to be told individually how much they matter to the ministry and the students. Notes are a great way to express your thanks after an event. Or, call a youth leader up each week to have them pray in front of the youth group. When he or she comes up make sure you say something about how much you appreciate the work he or she does. Responsible youth leaders often feel loved and respected by the staff and students in the youth group.
Set Clear Expectations
Nothing causes more trouble in youth leadership than unclear expectations. It's important that your youth leaders know exactly what needs to be done at any event, service, etc. Assign clear roles and responsibilities. The clearer you are, the easier it is for people to fulfill their expectations. It's often a good idea for youth workers to arrive early for services and events to go over specific roles and responsibilities. The more a person knows about what he or she is supposed to do, the more responsible the youth leader will be.
Be Flexible
Not every youth leader is perfect, so also be flexible in your expectations. Too often one or two youth workers end up doing all the work. Make sure you offer them some fun with the students. If you have a youth leader that ends up cleaning up at each event while other leaders are socializing, make sure you allow that person some time to connect with the students. Also, allow for a once in a while slacking from each youth worker. There are sometimes mitigating circumstances or lapses in judgement that even the most responsible youth leader experiences. Just make sure you have conversations about the issue so that youth leader doesn't make it a habit.
Listen and Open Minded
While small actions on your part make a youth leader feel valued, there is nothing like listening and keeping an open mind about the ministry. If your youth leadership has ideas, consider trying them out. Youth leaders often feel more responsible for what is going on in the ministry when they feel they have contributed to the activity. You can even hand over the reigns to the youth leader if it is his or her idea. There is nothing that creates a more responsible youth leader than being the one in control. Suddenly their respect for youth group staff and senior leadership will grow when they realize just how much weight you carry on your shoulders.
