Top 3 Leadership Mistakes (Kurt)

We’ve all been told that it is a wise person who can learn from his/her mistakes. I’ll take that one step further: The wisest of people are those who can learn from the mistakes of others. Because we want you to be the wisest of youth workers, over the next two days Josh and I will each share 3 of the biggest leadership mistakes we’ve made. I’ll kick things off:

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Being A Ministry Hoarder
For much of my ministry career (and even now on occasion), I have thought everything hinged on me. I had to teach in order to ensure good teaching. I had to run camp in order to ensure a good camp. I had to train the volunteers in order to ensure good volunteers. In short, I hoarded ministry thinking it was helping, when it was actually doing long-term damage.

Being Unclear With My Expectations
When I finally started empowering others and giving ministry away, I gave it away…but without proper direction, support, and input. I figured, “Hey, if I know how to do ministry stuff then he/she should, too.” I got so excited by my newfound ability to share ministry that I would often give ministry away, and promptly move onto something else, never giving another thought to what I just dropped on somebody else’s plate.

Allowing The Youth Ministry To Be A Silo
What for years I thought was the right way to do youth ministry—in a segregated, away-from-the-rest-of-the-church manner—was actually the biggest mistake I’ve made in my career. Certainly there is a need for age-specific ministry, and I believe 100% in the concept of a church-based youth ministry. But when we allow our ministry, and the students within it, to become a silo standing completely separate from the rest of the church, we do harm to the long-term spiritual health of our students, the churches we care so much about, and ultimately, the kingdom.

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Looking for a
Coach or Mentor?
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The truth is this: I’ve made at least 3 leadership blunders today. Part of growing as a leader is making mistakes. I hope you’ll learn from mine (and from Josh’s tomorrow…his are WAY worse), so you can leave room to make your own!