What You Need To Do To Get The Year Started Right

Kickoff to the year is close.  As we get ready for another year of ministry at Church of the Nativity I can’t help but wonder, “Are we really ready?”

Courtesy of oscarandtara/Creative Commons License

It’s a hard question to answer and you won’t really know the answer until you’ve started.  But, in the meantime it takes more than just planning curriculum.  To get the year started right you need to make sure you are:

COMMUNICATING OVER AND OVER AGAIN

If you want teens to show up and volunteers to be ready you need to make sure you are talking to them constantly.  Text, call, email and touch base with them in every way possible.

Make sure they know what you want them to know.  They might get sick of it but see that as a sign that you got the message across.  Never assume that you only have to say something once.

GETTING YOUR SCHEDULE ORGANIZED

The year always begins like a sprint.  If you do not have a clear idea of where you need to be and what needs to be done you will only find trouble.

Sit down and look at your schedule for the first month.  Make sure you aren’t double booked and that you have margin.  With a clean schedule you’ll have clear focus.

CHEERING ON YOUR TEAM

To get the year started off right takes hard work.  People are grinding it out, working longer and harder.  As a leader you can build them up or cause more discouragement.

Take time to thank those who are working hard.  Give them praise and cheer them on.  Let them know what they are doing matters and that you are grateful.

MAINTAINING YOUR ENERGY

Yes you will be working harder; however, it doesn’t mean you should burn yourself out.  Keeping your energy is important so that means making sure you are:

• Sleeping
• Eating Right
• Praying

To help you stay focused find people to check-in with you (For more on accountability click HERE).  Schedule in things you might take for granted like lunch.  Maintain that energy so you can hit the beginning of they season strong.  (If you need coaching check out MYM 1on1 HERE)

To get the year started out right takes more than just planning materials.  It’s about having the right frame of mind.  Before the craziness begins make sure everything is working right.