When You Debrief a Meeting | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts When You Debrief a Meeting

I’m thinking about these 4 categories for questions when debriefing a weekend service. I’m writing an article for Simply Youth Ministry and would love your input. Thoughts?

Involvement – how did we use volunteers this week?
Environment – did we center on community/crowd students?
Engagement – was the night fun, and the message understandable?
Improvement – what ways could we specifically improve next week?

Add Comment January 23, 2008

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Alden Ellis
January 23, 2008 at 1:44 pm · Reply

Involvement:
*How did we utilize the students in the weekend experience, not just as attenders? Maybe On Stage? Greeting other Students? etc.
*Did the volunteers feel as a part of the process or did they just communicated to and/or around? Did they feel like their service was appreciated?
Environment:
* Could a “first time” student navigate the night?…Do we have it setup for the first time to student to feel comfortable and walk through a night without confusion, anxiety, and/or anger (location of small groups, check-in, etc.)
Engagement:
* Was the message not just understandable, but was it relevant to their lives? Did we have take away that is applicable to their lives?
Improvement:
* What do we need to take a risk on and try?
John Carroll
January 23, 2008 at 1:45 pm · Reply

What about Preparation?

We have really found that the product is becoming a more natural thing to produce, but preparation is the neglected area that will one day destroy the product or run off all your volunteers.

I have my team looking at preparation and process hard in 2008. We are looking for better ways to improve these areas. We spend the bulk of our hours by far preparing compared to the actual event itself. We want to make these hours as excellent as the event.

What you think?
- john carroll
DC
January 23, 2008 at 1:53 pm · Reply

Josh, one of the things that I do that’s been helpful is I formed a group of STUDENTS to answers the feedback questions.

As I enter into year two of my ministry run i figured out that adult leaders and students can often times have two different perspective of “what worked”.

The goal of allowing students to be my feedback loop is that I can stay close to THEIR heartbeat as I keep one ear to the Holy Spirit.

(Of course, I have a adult leader feedback loop as well but I figured I would share my little variation that has been helpful.)

DC
Marty
January 24, 2008 at 7:50 am · Reply

I like your ideas. They are short, to the point, and cover as wide of a base as you really can without being too general on a weekly basis.
Danny
January 24, 2008 at 11:12 am · Reply

The only thought I had was “are we debriefing the ‘god’ piece of things too…or is it only the PROGRAM piece of things that is getting our attention…I mean, I think its kind of a given…but it might be worth asking…”Did we make room for the Spirit? Where was God moving? Did we do things on our own? or Did we join in on God’s work? Do we feel like we are moving in God’s direction?”
Allison
January 24, 2008 at 11:22 am · Reply

oh i’m so glad you used my engagement word.
haha.
Josh
February 12, 2008 at 8:30 am · Reply

These are great – finishing the article now for SYM!

JG