5 Steps To Empty Your Plate
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and that means lots of food. I’m not sure about you but every year I have the tendency to overload my plate. The result is...
A full plate at Thanksgiving is great, but one in youth ministry can be exhausting and overwhelming. A full plate can lead to miscommunication, and a lot of broken promises. If not addressed it can also lead to burnout.
To empty your already full plate you need to look at what holds your attention at this time. Does it matter to reaching your goals? Is it urgent, important or both? To know what to tackle first in order to empty your plate start:
UNDERSTANDING YOUR BIG ROCKS
As the youth minister you are commissioned to meet certain goals. What are the tasks that you (and only you) should perform to make that happen? The answer is with your big rocks.
Check out this video from The Art of Manliness (don’t be fooled by the name of the site) that discusses the importance of prioritizing. When you know what comes first it’ll be clearer on what you need to say no and yes to.
BIG ROCKS IN FIRST: Watch HERE
SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH DOERS
For you to accomplish everything that comes with youth ministry on your own is insane. You not only need a team of leaders but doers. These are people who believe:
- In the vision
- That there is no task beneath them
- The success of the team is important
Don’t feel guilty about assigning roles to others. There are people who love doing some of the tasks that drive you crazy.
RECRUITING PROJECT AND PEOPLE MANAGERS
On top of finding doers find people who are good at managing projects and people. Give them permission to own a certain area of your ministry (i.e. food or set up) or a group of people (i.e. small group leaders).
Invest in them like you would yourself. Take them to conferences, and buy them resources that encourage their leadership. When you build a leadership core you give your own leadership a stronger foundation. They’ll be there to help you out when you stumble or fall.
SCHEDULING OUT YOUR WEEK
One of the reasons our schedule gets so full is because we’re not keeping track of our time. When you do what you do is important to know. If you cannot keep track then start doing that today. You can download my free resource: TIME SAVERS to help you get started.
PUTTING GOD AT THE FOREFRONT
If you aren’t starting your day with prayer then you aren’t allowing God to lead you. As a leader it’s essential to make this a part of your routine. If you don’t you’ll constantly find yourself lost.
To help me put God at the forefront I:
- Set my alarm at a certain time each day
- Designate a spot in my house for prayer.
- Read scripture, journal out my thoughts and sit quietly to calm my mind.
Some days are a struggle, but it’s been a habit that’s helped me make some of the biggest decisions out there.
If you struggle to keep yourself organized find someone who can hold you accountable. It can be someone in your church, a friend or a fellow youth worker. If you are interested in having me help you empty your plate check out MYM 1 on 1 Coaching:
Button Text [reminder] What best practices or resources do you recommend to help people empty their plates? [/reminder]