How To Reconnect With Your Team After The Break

I don’t like to open up my inbox the day I come back from a break. Sorting through what’s junk and what needs my attention is painful, but what has helped me is knowing what’s important. While I know I need to respond to parents and parishioners, it’s my volunteers who need to hear from me first. If I don’t rally the team, then getting back into the grind is going to be harder.

Whether you are heading back from winter break or summer vacation, it’s hard to get the momentum going again (See How To Get The Momentum Going After The Holidays). And it’s not just you who might struggle; your team might have enjoyed the break, so going back into a routine can be tough for them too. Unless your ministry is miserable, they’ll most likely come back, and if you want to increase those odds, make sure you:

LEAD WITH ENTHUSIASM

If your team sees that you are reluctant to get another season going, they will feed off of those emotions. No one likes to work for a pessimist or whiner. Even if the road ahead looks a little rough, change your attitude, and start preaching positivity. Tell them about how excited you are to:

• See the teenagers again
• Tackle the next topic or theme
• Introduce to them a new resource 

Like you, they are a little tired. And, like you, they might need a gentle reminder of why what they do is incredible. Communicate enthusiasm in your emails, phone calls, and face to face interactions because joy is contagious.

SHARE GOALS AND MILE MARKERS

When there is time off, it’s easy to lose sight of what we’re trying to achieve. It’s crucial that when you come back that you not only remind the team of important dates and times but what you hope happens over the next few months. Do you want to:

• Recruit more volunteers
• Build up attendance and engagement
• Take on a new project or initiative

Rally your team around a joint mission. It’ll not only build excitement but help them focus on what matters most. It’ll renew their commitment if they know they are coming back to do something special.

CHECK-IN WITH THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

During a break, especially over the holidays, it’s easy to let down our guard and open ourselves up to spiritual attacks. Even though you have a program to run, you need to set aside time to get personal with your team. The most authentic and impactful way is to call them up or meet with them individually. Take that time to see how they are feeling and whether or not they need a little extra encouragement.

If possible, plot out a day soon to do a mini-retreat. You could hold it instead of a program, and instead of investing in the teens, take the time to invest in your team. If time and resources are limited, invite them to take on a spiritual challenge with you, like a novena or reading a specific book of the Bible. No matter what you do, remember they are in a spiritual battle and need you to remind them that they are not alone.

Breaks are good because we can find rest and refresh our perspective; however, they can also make us a little rusty. Whether it’s been a week or more since you’ve seen your team, don’t assume that they are 100% ready to go. Ease them in and set them up for success; your ministry needs a team that is prepared to grow disciples.

How do you reconnect with your team after a break?

As we move forward into a new year I’d like to get to know you more. If you don’t mind taking a few minutes to fill out a brief questionnaire, it would mean the world to me. To fill it out click below:

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