A Leader Readiness Checklist

Groups don’t multiply; leaders multiply. When do you know the new leader is ready? Here’s one possible checklist for your consideration:

  1. The apprentice has been doing everything that a group leader does for at least a month, and that is going well. The old leader has successfully modeled for the apprentice the healthy practices of a small group and has handed over those things to the apprentice.
  2. The apprentice is in a good place spiritually. His/her relationship with God is strong. There are no serious personal dysfunctions.
  3. The people in the group look to the apprentice for spiritual guidance, and the apprentice has influence with them.
  4. The apprentice “buys into” the church’s vision.
  5. The apprentice has invited at least one person to the group who has stayed in the group. (Group leaders must be able to successfully invite new people or their groups probably will not grow.)
  6. The group has had some recent visitors. In other words, the group currently has some growth momentum.
  7. The group has at least eight regular attendees.
  8. Each new group, after birthing, will have a host home.

What ideas do you have for a readiness checklist?