Facing Leadership Challenges

By Doug Franklin July 15, 2013

Recently I was speaking to a group of youth workers. I asked them to list their leadership challenges. Over the next 20 minutes they laid out many challenges that we are all facing. Recruiting and training adult volunteers, program, sr. pastors, budgets, parents, and the list goes on. After they had finished it dawned on me that they never mentioned students. The leadership challenges were outside of their relationship with students. Youth workers know how to reach students, care for them and teach them about Christ. It’s all the other stuff that are the real challenges. Honestly, it’s all the other stuff that makes or breaks our ministry. If you don’t have good relationships with parents or adult volunteers that know what they are doing you’re in trouble. Are we facing our real leadership challenges or are we just spending our time with students and hoping all the other stuff goes away? If we are, I’ll bet our ministries are in bad shape.

It’s time we face our leadership challenges. Make a list of the challenges you face. If it’s parents, work to open communication between you and them. Put on seminars that help parents raise children. Take actions that will gain parents’ trust and respect. If your budget keeps getting away from you, ask an accountability partner to work with you on spending. The church leadership will see this as a move of maturity. Whatever your challenge face it and start to work on it. If you don’t the other stuff could take you down. If you do face these issues you will grow in leadership and influence.