I believe that now is the time to dream about the Fall. As leaders we are called to lead with hope and belief. We have to be leaders to see into the future and lead to what will be. We can’t get stuck in living in what is, but always dreaming and looking ahead. Now is the time to dream about the Fall and dreaming about the Fall starts by leaning into the Spring. If we wait until the Fall to ‘restart” we will be too late.
I would like to offer FIVE “S’s” for your Spring. Four of them will be external and one will be internal, but all five are key to being ready for the Fall.
Social Media! Most of us have become good at virtual this or that, but many of us have been using social media poorly. Consider how you go after new students in the Spring. Students are hungry for connection and they are smart enough to want real connection. Here are three ideas to implement right now for the Spring social media.
Find and follow all the freshmen you can. Don't wait for them to follow your YL page, you add them! Take the initiative, be proactive.
Slide into those DM’s. That’s right, any students who like your post, start a conversation. Conversations turn into real relationships.
PLEASE stop post infographics and leader bios. It’s about them not you so post pictures of people not ‘cumurcials’ about your next thing.
Shared Adventure is the second ‘S” plan for the spring. You and a student or two do something together that’s fun! The list is endless so be a dreamer and think about what is possible. Obviously follow local guidelines as it relates to Covid but also think about outside the box. Take some time in January and come with a plan or two and give it a try.
Small groups/Campaigners! Invest now in the kids who are believers and start talking about the Fall! Give them the idea of Mission Community. We are growing together but we also have a mission to accomplish. Let’s go after our school for Christ! Help them to see the future.
This one is a bit of a reach, but our fourth ‘S’ is squad. I believe that when we enter the Fall of 2021 we will have to look around and see who is still around as it relates to our leadership teams. So let’s start rebuilding our teams NOW! Plan a new leaders night at the end of the spring. Dream about a ‘big event’ where you can welcome new leaders into your area or on your team. Then work backwards and start a great leadership training class. Invite everyone and lead them to a place of giving their life away for Jesus. Your investment now will make the Fall of 2021 possible.
This last ‘S’ is the internal one and the one that will be key to your success in the future. The last S is ‘should.’ Should you still be doing this? Are you still called? Make no mistake the Fall of 2021 will be a complete restart of many areas and clubs. There will be little to build on it will be hard to restart. Are you up for it? Don’t get me wrong, I am for sure not saying now is the time to quit, but I do want us all to realize that while the future is filled with hope and exciting new opportunities, it will also be difficult. Make sure you are ready for the battle that lies ahead.