Life or Death
Youth workers often ask me what is the secret to a great student leadership team. It’s easy I tell them; great leadership teams have one thing in common: they are always fighting a life or death struggle. For example: a youth worker once told me his students couldn’t raise a dime for missions until a student wanted to raise money for a medical clinic in Zambia, Africa. When students learned about the needs of people who were dying from malaria and unclean water they quickly raised tens of thousands of dollars. What changed? Students saw how their leadership could save lives. When we ask students to lead the setting up of chairs they seldom care but when we ask them to lead an innovative mission that could save a life, everything changes.
If your students are struggling with leadership, ask yourself if they see their role as being as important as life or death. It could make all the difference.
About the Author
Doug Franklin
Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners who never leave their side. Doug grew up in… Read More
