At the NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION, we stopped youth workers from all across the U.S. and asked them to share a 10-second youth ministry tip.
THE 10-SECOND TIP:
Take the next 9-seconds to listen to them.
MY ADDED THOUGHTS:
One of the best ways that we can care for students is to choose to listen well. For most of us, listening isn’t our default in conversations so it takes some work. Here are a few quick ideas to make sure you’re listening well in the next conversation you have with a student:
1) Ask at least 3 follow-up questions before sharing your own thoughts.
These additional questions will help prompt a student to think about and share more than just 1 side of the story.
2) “What I’m hearing you say is…”
When a student is sharing how they feel about something, rephrase it for them so that they know you’re acknowledging their feelings.
3) Put the pressure back on them.
If a student is asking your advice, make your first question something like, “What do you think?” This creates space in the conversation for the student to start thinking through a solution out loud, and hopefully, listen to their own advice.
Join us this year for the National Youth Workers Convention in Cincinnati, OH for way more tips and ministry ideas from the 50+ seminars and training opportunities. Register early for NYWC to save BIG: NYWC.COM.
JACOB ECKEBERGER is the Content Manager at Youth Specialties, an itinerant worship leader, the spouse of a church planter, and a long time volunteer youth worker. You can find him blogging about social media and digital strategy ideas at JACOBECKEBERGER.COM.