Improving Your VBS Leadership

Several years ago I conducted an informal survey of VBS directors by asking the question: “How many of you consider yourselves to be leaders?” Of the 1000-plus people who responded, less than five percent did so favorably. As VBS directors they were all leaders – either volunteer or serving on a church staff – yet very few embraced the role. In reality, there are many leaders in VBS – including YOU!
I recently spent three days with a group of kidmin leaders and picked up some important reminders that apply to all levels of VBS leadership.
Share the vision and share it often. Translation – keep the objectives, goals, and your passion in front of the team.
Multiple your efforts by mentoring others. Translation – be the team’s teacher, coach, and encourager.
Out serve your servers. Translation – don’t ask the people you lead to do anything you are unwilling to do yourself.
It’s all about relationships. Translation – people won’t follow you until they know you care about them as individuals.
Give authority with responsibility. Translation – when you assign someone a task, give that person the authority to make the decisions required to complete the task.
Recognize the skills and abilities of others. Translation – identify and utilize the unique abilities, skills, talents, strengths, and interests of each member of the team.
Capitalize on the strengths of each team member. Translation – assign tasks based on strengths, but provide opportunities of weaknesses to become strengths.
Build a team – even if the team is only two people. Translation – don’t try to do everything yourself. Make your ministry a team effort.
Be a student, not a critic. Translation – instead of criticizing the actions and opinions of team members make an effort to learn why they do and think what they do.