If you’re getting the chance to chat with a youth leader, you might wonder what questions will really make the conversation meaningful. Youth leaders have great insights and experiences that can inspire, guide, and encourage us.
So if you’re getting a chance to connect with one, why not make it count? Asking thoughtful questions is a simple way to get to know them, hear their stories, and maybe even be inspired by their journey.
To help you start a good conversation with them, I’ve collected questions that cover all the good stuff—how they lead, the values they believe in, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. So, jump in, and enjoy getting to know a true leader!
Table of Contents
Background and Qualifications
- What got you interested in working with young people?
- How has your education helped you become a youth leader?
- Have you done any special training or earned certifications for youth leadership?
- How long have you been in youth leadership, and in what types of roles?
- Are there life experiences that make you feel especially ready to mentor young people?
- How do you keep up with new ideas and research in youth development?
- Can you tell us about a project or group you led and what you learned from it?
- What unique skills do you bring to your role as a youth leader?
- Have you dealt with any crisis situations involving young people? How did you handle them?
- Who has been a mentor to you, and what have you learned from them about leadership?
- How do you stay approachable while still being a leader?
- In your opinion, what makes a great youth leader?
- What challenges have you faced as a youth leader, and how did you overcome them?
- How do you measure the positive impact you have on the youth you work with?
- What do you do to build trust and connect with new members in your group?
- How do you handle both positive and negative feedback from the youth you lead?
- Can you share a tough decision you had to make as a leader and what happened as a result?
- What do you think makes you different from other youth leaders?
- How have you used social media or technology to connect with young people?
- What advice would you give someone who wants to become a youth leader?
Goals and Aspirations for the Youth Group
- What are your main goals for the youth group this year?
- Can you share a long-term vision you have for the group?
- How do you plan to measure the group’s growth and success?
- What new initiatives or programs are you hoping to introduce?
- How do you prioritize the needs and interests of the youth in your planning?
- In what ways do you expect the group to evolve under your leadership?
- What strategies do you have to ensure that every member feels included and valued?
- How do you plan to address current challenges facing the group?
- What opportunities do you see for the group to make a positive impact in the community?
- How do you plan to foster responsibility and leadership among members?
- Can you tell us about a project you’re especially excited about for the group?
- How will you keep programs and activities relevant and engaging?
- How do you plan to incorporate feedback from the youth into your plans?
- What are your hopes for the personal growth of individual members?
- How do you plan to keep the youth motivated and enthusiastic?
- What role does the group play in addressing social issues?
- How can parents and the community support your goals for the group?
- What steps will you take to ensure the sustainability of your initiatives?
- How do you plan to handle disagreements within the group to stay on track?
- In what ways do you hope to inspire the youth to lead projects themselves?
Leadership and Mentorship Style
- How would you describe your style as a youth leader?
- How do you adjust your approach to meet each person’s needs?
- Can you share a successful mentorship experience you’ve had? What made it work?
- How do you encourage youth to develop their own leadership skills?
- What’s your approach to handling conflicts in the group?
- How do you make sure your leadership is fair and inclusive?
- Can you describe a tough leadership moment you faced and how you managed it?
- What strategies do you use to keep group members engaged?
- How do you balance guiding youth with giving them independence?
- How do you include peer leadership or mentoring in the group?
- How do you set goals with the youth and support them in reaching them?
- How important is emotional intelligence in your role as a leader?
- How do you create a safe space for youth to share ideas and concerns?
- How do you help youth build resilience and handle setbacks?
- What’s the most important lesson you want to pass on to the youth?
- How do you stay motivated and energized as a leader?
- How do you get feedback to improve your leadership and mentoring?
- How do you manage burnout for yourself and for the group?
- How do you approach mentoring youth from different backgrounds?
- How do you celebrate each person’s achievements and growth in the group?
Challenges and Achievements
- What’s been your biggest challenge as a youth leader, and how did you handle it?
- Can you share a big achievement of the youth group since you’ve been leading it?
- How do you set goals that are both realistic and challenging for the group?
- How has the youth group made a positive impact in the community?
- What do you do to keep the group motivated during tough times?
- How do you deal with setbacks or failures within the group?
- Can you share a time when the group really exceeded your expectations?
- How do you make sure lessons learned from challenges are shared in the group?
- What’s the best feedback you’ve received from a youth, and how did it change your approach?
- How has the group grown or changed since you started leading?
- How do you celebrate the group’s achievements and milestones?
- What’s been your most rewarding experience as a youth leader?
- How do you manage expectations from both the youth and their parents?
- Can you tell us a story about a youth who really benefited from the group’s activities?
- How do you encourage resilience and perseverance in the group?
- What creative solutions have you used to overcome obstacles?
- How do you stay focused on long-term goals when things get challenging?
- Can you talk about a project that didn’t go as planned and what you learned from it?
- How do you help the youth set and reach their own goals?
- How do you measure the impact of the group’s achievements on individual growth?
Values and Beliefs
- How do you bring core values and ethics into your leadership and programs?
- How do you handle sensitive topics or different beliefs in the group?
- How do you encourage youth to reflect on and share their values?
- How do you make sure activities are inclusive and respectful of diversity?
- How do you deal with conflicts that come from different values or beliefs?
- Can you share an example of the group supporting a cause they care about?
- How do you set an example and encourage ethical decision-making?
- What do you do to inspire social responsibility and community service?
- How do you support youth in exploring their own spiritual or philosophical beliefs?
- How do you encourage youth to think about their values and how they act on them?
- How do you introduce new ideas without pushing your own beliefs?
- What steps do you take to create a safe space for different viewpoints?
- How do you talk about global issues and their ethical impacts with the group?
- How have you seen positive values make a difference in the group?
- How do you help youth handle peer pressure while staying true to their beliefs?
- How do you promote understanding and tolerance among youth with different views?
- Can you share a success story where the group positively impacted based on their values?
Building Rapport with Their Team
- How do you create a welcoming and positive atmosphere for your team?
- What steps do you take to build trust with each team member?
- How do you get to know your team on a personal level?
- How do you encourage open and honest communication?
- What activities do you use to strengthen team bonds?
- How do you show appreciation for your team’s hard work?
- How do you make sure everyone feels valued and included?
- How do you handle conflicts to keep relationships strong?
- What’s your approach to giving and receiving feedback?
- How do you support team members in reaching their personal goals?
- How do you encourage team members to support each other?
- What’s your strategy for creating a team culture of respect and trust?
- How do you stay approachable and accessible to your team?
- How do you handle disagreements while keeping rapport strong?
- How do you help new members feel like part of the team quickly?
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these questions have given you ideas to explore meaningful conversations, learn something new, and maybe even get inspired along the way.
Remember, the best conversations come from a place of curiosity and respect. Feel free to adapt these questions or add your own—whatever feels right for the moment. Just enjoy connecting, listening, and sharing thoughts with someone who dedicates their time to shaping young lives.
