Everyone Wants to Have a Voice

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Very few things frustrate me more than feeling like my opinion does not matter. In fact, if I feel like someone is listening to what I have to say, I am generally okay with the outcome of a decision, even if it is not my decision.

I have seen this happen in rooms when planning summer camp. There will be a discussion, ideas being tossed about, and then I offer my opinion. Several times, I have offered a foolish or small-minded opinion or suggestion, and the conversation moved on. And I’m okay with that.

But the reality is that when I feel valued, I want what’s best for the situation.

The next question then becomes: if I feel that way when I’m not in charge, how am I treating people when I am in charge? Am I listening to those around me, or am I bulldozing ahead with what I want to do?

The challenge of leadership is knowing the people you lead and learning what speaks to them. Leadership, therefore, is not something we do in a vacuum. On the contrary, leadership is very much a process focused on people.

How are you connecting with the people you’re leading? You don’t have to bow to their every idea, but find what motivates them and watch your leadership influence increase.

Write It Down

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Leaders take notes. I know that I remember things better when I take notes. I know that when I take notes, I essentially have a record of my learnings that I can examine later and help cement what was happening.

But, I stink on the discipline side of taking notes.

Or, when I have a good idea, I’ll think to myself “this is a great idea! I’ll never forget this life changing idea!” When, in reality, the next day the idea has already been forgotten.

I know this is not a revolutionary concept by any means, but it is still a concept worth covering. Write things down.

I jump around on what I use to keep written track of my thoughts and ideas. I have used composition notebooks, Moleskine notebooks, a yellow legal pad (which is my current weapon of choice), and even small notebooks I had made for the ministry at my church.

Or sometimes I will use my phone to help keep track. My current app of choice is Wunderlist, although Evernote, the basic To Do App, and the Notes app on my iPhone have all gotten plenty of usage over the years.

The bottom line is this: find what works for you, and use it. You’re not me (thankfully), but the principle is true. If you want to grow in leadership, in productivity, in influence, in life, good things happen when you start to write things down.

Interesting Quote Origin

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Have you ever had a quote that keeps popping up around you? Something that after hearing the third or fourth time you decide, “okay, I can’t ignore this anymore”?

For me, in 2017, I’ve heard the following C.S. Lewis quote probably half a dozen times:

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

Except, upon a simple google search, I came to a shocking realization: this is not a C.S. Lewis quote at all! Don’t believe me? How about clicking over to www.cslewis.org and reading for yourself. Read specifically number 2 on the list of quotes misattributed to Lewis.

So, what do we learn from this, aside from (maybe) interesting small talk? Well, obviously, a quote does not have to be from someone famous or influential for it to carry meaning.

So, who gets credit for this quote? You’ll just have to click to see.

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Get More Out of Camp, Pt 2

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On Tuesday, I introduced a concept I’ve stumbled into the past few years at camp: find the gaps in the schedule. Click here for the full article.

Today, I’m going to spend some time explaining how I’ve used our schedule to help grow leaders.

As I mentioned in part 1, our schedule at camp is pretty laid back, and offers quite a few blocks of free time. So, last year, I split our leadership team into two groups and would meet with each group once a day.

While meeting with the group, we had a few repeating questions we knew we would talk about each day, one of which being “how did you pour into someone younger or older than you?”

I am actually pretty big on building relationships across grade levels. We have a smaller group, so it is important for our older kids to understand their influence on younger kids.

But at the same time, last year I had some younger kids on leadership team and I wanted them to learn their responsibility in developing relationship with older kids. Sound strange? It is, but I tried it.

So, imagine my delight when I saw a soon to be senior walking back from water activities with a soon to be 8th grader.

Those “gap” meetings were simple, short, and something I plan to repeat this year. They were a way for me to help teach a new mindset to a group of students.

So, if you’re a Youth Pastor, let me challenge you this summer to make the most of your schedule at camp. Do not try to force anything, but if the opportunity arises, make the most of the schedule gaps you have at camp.

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Get More Out of Camp, Pt 1

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Today I’m going to let you in on a little secret that I’ve learned about developing student leaders. But first, a little context.

As I mentioned last week, this week I am taking a group of teenagers to camp. I love camp. I love the opportunities we have to grow relationships, to learn, to grow closer to Christ, and to get away from distractions.

One thing I’ve learned over the past few years while at camp is there are opportunities to make the most of the schedule.

Let me clarify.

Our schedule is actually pretty laid back. I’m grateful that the people who set the schedule do not have the mentality of “wear them out”, but instead seek to provide a change of pace.

So, for the past few years, I have looked at the schedule and found little gaps that provided an opportunity for me to meet with my student leaders and help them grow. In doing this, I get to take advantage of the camp atmosphere, while at the same time teaching some core principles and ideas to student leaders.

On Thursday, I will explain in a little more detail exactly what I’ve done in those times.

But for today, especially if you’re a youth minister getting ready to go to camp, let me challenge you to make the most of the schedule. Find the gaps and look for ways to further relationships and connections in those times.

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