New Director...Old Club...Now What?
Congratulations! It is a great privilege to be called to be part of the Children's Ministry.
The first thing you should do is have a long visit with the previous director. You have, by no means, any directive to do things the same way. However, knowing how things were done, will give you a place to start and the advantage of being prepared for the "That's not the way we use to do things!"
If you are making major changes, meet with the staff members and communicate to them the reasons for the changes. Do not feel defensive and let them ask questions. If they understand your reasoning, they are more likely to be supportive. As a rule people don't like changes so be firm but gentle. Have a plan, a mission, and the support of the Pastor and the Board.
The most important thing you can do to assure a smooth transition is COMMUNICATE.
Make your own plans with your staff. You need to feel excited and comfortable with the activities and plans if you are to be successful.
There are no fast rules about keeping the same staff members. How comfortable are you with the existing staff? Remember as you make your decision, to choose staff members you can get along with, but more importantly, members who have a heart for service and are great with children. Let them know this is a one year term so you feel free to make changes year by year.