My colleague Doug Ranck is an expert in this arena, and would be the best person for you to consult if you have specific questions about networking… but I have learned a couple of important things through my involvement in our local youth workers’ fellowship group here in Santa Barbara. I have the rare privilege of having been in this group for over 25 years! (I joined when I was 11…. kidding…. shoot, I’m old…)
Anyway, my main Needs for Networking:
- Never divulge what is shared in the group. Many youth workers do not have a safe place to vent about the challenges of their jobs. Our network is a great place to let down our guard and find other people who really “get it” in terms of the unique qualities of our jobs.
- It is a Necessary part of my job. There are plenty of “shoulds” always yelling at me each day: phone calls to return, countless email in my inbox, events to plan, etc. Regardless, it is really important for me to put those aside once a month and cultivate my friendships with other youthworkers in the community. It’s the only way we can really be on the same team. Otherwise, I tend to succumb to competitiveness and criticism.
- It provides crucial conNection. Over the years, I have loved running into other youthworkers at games, plays or around town, especially when I am with my own students. Inevitably, my students have often visited the youth groups of these youthworkers. They are usually a bit stunned to realize that not only do I know these other youthworkers, but that I like them! More than once I have compared notes with those youthworkers too, and we’ve been able to tag-team in our relationships with students we both know.
- No planning! We have tried hard to avoid any pressure or increase in workload. Occasionally there is a temptation to rally the troops and put on a city-wide event. While that may be valuable on a unique occasion, we really want the fellowship to be a place to relax and not have to plan one more thing. Less is more.
Lots more to be said, but hoping that’s a good start!
[Image by: Drift Words]
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Kelly Soifer is a veteran youth pastor with more than 25 years experience in Young Life and in the church. She is a consultant with Youth Ministry Architects, a committed bicycle commuter and proud Italian scooter owner who lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
Kelly’s Consulting: Youth Ministry Architects
Kelly’s Blog: Listening To My Life
Kelly’s Twitter: Twitter.com/kellysoif
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
hey kelly – great thoughts
i really like the idea of viewing networking as a necessity
i'm sure every network has its own focuses and purposes for existence and i can see how the "no planning" approach to your network could help people feel at ease with the network and appreciate that it's not just more work
however i've found some significant value in planning, promoting and producing events and trainings with the network
1 – it helps me to grow as a leader as i see how other people approach planning and dealing with challenges..helps keep me out of a rut (i know i can do the same sort of thing with my volunteer staff but my experience has been that it's just not the same)
2 – it actually creates LESS work for me IF the event is strategic to something our youth ministry wanted to do anyways – now i'm hardly carrying the whole load but i'm only responsible for a part of it which….
3 – raises the quality of the event – when i can give 100% of my focus to one aspect of an event instead of spreading that focus thin there's a real difference (assuming everyone else is doing the same with their part)
4 – it has brought our network to another level of connectedness to minister side by side and work together and it helps us celebrate things together
so while i'm no fan of planning meetings and DEFINITELY no fan of creating more work i do appreciate the couple times a year when we work together as a network to create something that none of us could do alone
Great words, Kelly! Thanks for the comment, David . . . you make a good point. It certainly depends on the culture of the community. Both Kelly and I operate in a tourist town a successful, collaborative "big event" is rare sponsored by any age level of participating churches. Other communities are different. This is where knowing each other and translating the culture becomes so valuable.
I have found it best to identify another church or two who want to do something together. If others want to join us they are more than welcome but at least we have a "critical mass" for planning and implementation.
Kelly would also tell you our network team meeting effectiveness has been a "roller coaster" over the years. Some years we have great participation and others we just have the faithful few. As network coordinator for the area I do my best to build relationships with everybody but am often surprised by the lack of buy-in to giving up one hour a month for lunch to be with teammates.
What network frustrations do you deal with in your area? What works best for you in getting others to own networking as a necessity?
Hmmm, maybe I'll need to add another post this week to answer some of those questions!
Yep, no surprise, I'm lining up with Doug on this. I will not deny that community-wide events would be great. Once in a great while, they have worked out.
But i would recommend more that youthworkers create an event and then allow us to support that event by bringing our youth groups or at least advertising them. It allows for fewer cooks in the kitchen, and frees up our network meetings to remain relationally-driven.
no surprise, i'm lining up with myself
seriously, two clarifications may help:
1 – we really one do one large event a year – it's an outreach all nighter event called Syracuse Tour that i think is of a very high quality (chris can speak to this) i say this to clarify that we don't do tons of events that require lots of planning
2 – we don't spend much (or any) time at our monthly gatherings planning – that is done in separate meetings by teams of youth workers who volunteer to help plan an aspect of an event – that frees our monthly gathering for relational purposes mostly
i've actually found that groups inviting us to their events (at least around here) is not very successful…group involvement is very low and when the groups and leaders show up there is no sense of ownership and nowhere near the level of excitement and celebration afterwards
i'm not sure anything has benefited our local network more than working together on these events – the relational aspect is actually enhanced
however if i worked in your guys' area i'm pretty sure i'd line up with you two – judging from your previous posts you guys are top notch
I'm online, so I'll do a quick reply.
The beauty of this online forum is that we get to see a variety of things and how they work. It is always intriguing to me how something works in one place and doesn't work in another. I hear you clearly in terms of the fact that you're not pushing for putting on events, but recommend them as a way to build youthworker (and youth group, I bet) relationships.
Full disclosure: I don't really like big events regardless. It's one of those things I just have lost energy for as I've gotten older. So I like to let the youngin's pull together the big blowout events and then just invite my students to go. Doug Ranck is different – the dude is older than me (not by much though) and is still willing to go to Six Flags. THAT my friends, is commitment
my network frustrations are mostly with a certain member: chris szulwach
jk
btw i wrote a post for this topic earlier today (before any of this back and forth posting) – should be up friday and it will explain maybe more of where i'm coming from
no surprise there
We have a group of youth pastors who do two events each year in their community – a school year kick off event in September called "IGNITION" and they also do the baccalaurette (sp?) for the graduating seniors. This group of guys is so tight! The events are really just excuses to get together and have fun. Our meetings usually involve planning for one of these two things, but we have so much fun before, during, and after planning that it is still very relational. The school year kick off was the idea of the one youth pastor in particular, but it's something all of the guys just build into the youth ministry calendar and it's amazing to see what results from each person bringing their resources and connections to the table. I love it!