Reality of a Youth Leader

What does your life look like right now? Are you going in and out of your house 3–4 times a day? Do you have to stay at school for more than 12 hours a day? I get that most teens and people are busy. We sign up for clubs or sports and take on responsibilities like leading and taking charge of those things.

So think about all of those responsibilities. When you really look at it, that's a lot of work. But how can we make those fun experiences that we love easier on ourselves while still fully committing?

You find someone to help you lead.

Mentor, leader, these words can mean the same thing. Having someone you can rely on to help and relieve some of the stress you’re under with all your clubs and teams can really help. So how do you find someone like this?

Finding Someone to Help

There are a few steps you should follow to make sure you’ve found the right person who is going to help you in the way you need. First, you need to realize you need help. Then, you can start your search.

Your person should follow some of these guidelines:

• Willing to help

• Does not fully take over

• Believes in you

• Knows when to push you

• Will be there when you need them

• Helps with new ideas

  
  

These are some of the things that my person does for me, but everyone is different and needs different things. However, one of the biggest things that I think everyone’s, person, should have is their ability to believe in you. Having someone else believe in you is what can push you over the hill and into success sometimes.

Belief in Others

Have you ever believed in someone so much that you know whatever they have to do, they will get it done, and it will be great? The type of belief where nothing can make you stop looking at them like they are the greatest person in the world. You always know they will pull through.

Why do I say all this? Because you need a person that will look at YOU that way. You need someone who will trust that you can do anything.

How to Be a Leader With Help

Some people think that if you are the leader, you have to take care of everything on your own, but that is not the case. Being a leader is a hard job, no matter the setting, so getting help is often required. You should not feel bad for thinking you need help. It is very common for a leader to receive support in some way.

Getting help from someone is not a weakness, but actually a strength. Realizing that you need help and finding someone willing to help can be a hard thing to admit to yourself, but in the end, you will be glad that you did it sooner rather than later.

Reflection

So what we have discussed is that being a leader is difficult, but getting help when things get hard can relieve some of the difficulty and stress. You have to make sure it is someone you can trust and count on.

Before you jump into a full-on relationship with your person, test the waters to make sure that they are dependable and willing to help. It is good to find someone to help, but you should not force them into anything. You need to make sure they are comfortable and willing.