No. 2 - Don't overload them

One thing I loved about my recent trip to Lourdes was being able to focus almost entirely on one pilgrim for a whole day. It was a fantastic exercise in presence and incarnation - in other words, in ministering - and it showed me what I should be able to do on youth work projects I work. More importantly, it showed me what I should make sure my team members are able to do on projects I run.

It made me realise that on most projects I work I am furiously overloaded. It's rare that I'm not leading these days, but when I'm working under other co-ordinators I usually have a small group plus at least a few general responsibilities. It wasn't until this Lourdes experience that I realised just how badly overloaded I had been in the past and just how much I had been overloading others.

There is a huge advantage in being completely present to your small group or to a young person who wants to chat without having to think ahead to something else. All too often, small group leaders' minds are distracted by the approaching need to set up a projector or to prepare a room for Mass, or to photocopy some music, or to select some young people for some job or other. It's easy to think that this is the norm. To be fair, it's unavoidable to an extent, at least in some situations, but it simply must be reduced as far as possible. Young people respond to leaders who are present to them: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. It's a vital ingredient, and the more leaders are overloaded with jobs and responsibilities, the less present they are to the young people.

When you are giving out tasks, therefore, ask yourself some questions: Can we add a few extra leaders who don't have small groups? Can we prepare things before the young people arrive so that we don't have to abandon them during the programme? Does this job really need doing? Is any particular leader doing more than others?

Remember too that those extra little jobs - assuming they're necessary at all - shouldn't be given to your newer leaders. New people are often enthusiastic and keen to impress and so they often volunteer for lots of stuff. Their enthusiasm can lead to them overloading themselves and that's why it's important to keep an eye on their workload. Youth workers should always learn the basic skills first (small group work, being relaxed around young people and making them feel welcome) before they get involved in music or IT or liturgy etc etc.

If you suspect that a volunteer has taken on a lot, it's important to monitor that volunteer well. Don't just leave him or her to get on with it. Check up on how it's going and if it looks like they are trying to juggle too many balls, do something!