You could call this Surviving A Quarterly Review Part 2. In part one I shared a critical tip and 3 important reasons you should embrace the quarterly review. In this post I want to help you prepare, all year long, for what some youth pastors consider a critical meeting, or meetings, that could effect their employment.
1. Pay Attention to Your Pastor’s/Boss’s Communication Patterns
Observe their priorities
- What topics do they emphasize in meetings or emails?
- What kind of questions do they often ask?
- What do they preach about?
Noticing these little things helped me pivot my programming so there was more alignment and less friction.
2. Seek Feedback and Clarification
Ask direct questions
Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification on their expectations. You could say something like, “I want to make sure I’m on the right track.”
Ask: Can you tell me what you consider a successful outcome for this project or How would you describe a successful youth ministry?
Request regular feedback
Schedule regular check-ins (outside of the review process) with your pastor to discuss your progress and get their input. This can help you identify any discrepancies between your understanding and their expectations.
Use “what if” scenarios
Present hypothetical situations to your pastor and ask how they would handle them. This can reveal their priorities and decision-making process.
3. Observe and Learn from Others
Watch other pastors on your staff
How do they interact with your pastor? What kind of work do they produce? This can give you insights into what your pastor values.
Seek advice from mentors or trusted staff members
They may have valuable insights into your pastor’s unspoken expectations based on their own experiences.
4. Consider the Context
Think about the church culture
What are the prevailing values and norms?
What values and norms are shifting?
This can influence your pastors expectations.
Consider Other Churches
Talk with other youth pastors and share notes on pastor relationships. Different churches may have different expectations for work ethic, communication, and professionalism. You may be able to pick up some tips.
Reflect on past experiences
Have you received any feedback or performance reviews that might shed light on your pastors expectations? What has any other boss or pastor told you about your work ethic or habits? There may be a recurring theme(s) where you can double down on the positives and correct the negatives.
5. Be Proactive and Take Initiative
Anticipate your pastors needs
Try to think ahead and identify potential challenges or opportunities. This can show your pastor that you’re proactive and invested in the ministry.
Go the extra mile
When appropriate, go beyond the basic requirements of your job. This can demonstrate your commitment and willingness to exceed expectations, but stay in your lane. Don’t try to do too much. No one likes a suck up.
Keep them informed
I’m not saying you need to be text buddies, but I would, at least once a month, share a victory, share a good attendance number or a photo of a recent outing. On the flip side, if something has happened, say a conversation with a parent did not go particularly well, you might want to give them a heads up before the parent get to them first.
Part of a youth pastors job is keeping stuff off their pastors desk.
6. Beware competing expectations
Always check in and make sure that what has been expected of you is still being expected of you and that the standards are still the same.
Confirm,
What your pastor wants
What the board wants
What your parents (congregation) want
Expectations can conflict and if they do, your best bet is to find the median average and shoot for that when it comes to programming, etc.
Don’t lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality. – Ralph Marston
If you align expectations with reality, you will never be disappointed – Terrell Owens