A staff worker's response to student complaints.

Okay, Tammy, here are some examples of issues students have brought up to you this week.  Let's work on how you should respond.  

'Tammy, InterVarsity is not feeding me spiritually.'
'Tammy, you're going to lose these people if you don't personally invite them to participate or involve them in what's going on.'
'Tammy, I don't think the leaders are doing a very good job.'

How to respond to criticisms from students:

Step #1:  Repeat after me:  do not take it personally.  Repeat that over and over and over in your head.  Just because they've said your name or they're talking specifically to you, doesn't necessarily mean you're to blame or that it's an issue you have to take on alone head on.

Step #2:  Listen carefully.  Ask clarifying questions.  Dig deeper to find the core value beneath the complaint. The fact that they're talking to you and bringing it up in the first place indicates that there's some kind of significance or truth. 

Step #3:  Find out what the student has done so far to try and address this complaint personally.  Remind them that they are InterVarsity, not you, the staff worker.  The community is only as good as those who are willing to do something about it. 

Step #4:  Pray.  Ask the Lord to fill you with compassion.  Thank Him for the students' honesty and willingness to come to you with their thoughts and feelings in the first place.  Ask the Lord to help you be mindful of these needs but not let them become burdens that prevent you from working towards bringing God's kingdom to campus.