Successful small group leaders are worth their weight in gold. One goal of nearly every small group ministry is group multiplication. The more groups you have, the more likely your members can find a group they belong in. That often means splitting existing groups.

But Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas, authors of Activate: An Entirely New Approach to Small Groups, propose another approach: “You can multiply groups naturally by multiplying leaders.”

Finding great leaders comes down to identifying certain qualities that make them stand out. Here are four indispensable qualities to look for when you’re scouting leadership:

Facilitating Skills

Members of successful small groups are engaged from beginning to end. That means their leader must be able to facilitate discussion. But being a facilitator also means connecting people with each other. Successful small group leaders are able to create space for relationships to begin and broaden.

That doesn’t mean every leader has to be an expert. They don’t need to know the answer to every question that arises during discussion. But they do need to know how to steer conversations, fill in lulls, and avoid arguments or dead ends.

A smile and simple conversation go a long way toward making people feel at home in a new environment.

Initiative

Good small groups are organized. Their members are well informed. When changes happen, the group leader will contact everyone quickly. These seem like no-brainers, but often the success or failure of a small group is determined by communication. Successful small group leaders keep everyone informed.

This doesn’t mean that every small group leader must be a minister. Of course, every believer is called to ministry in a sense. But there does not need to be a specific call present for small group leaders to be successful. They just need passion and initiative.

Friendliness

Good small groups leaders need to be able to make friends in nearly any situation or scenario. It’s not a guarantee that a leader’s group will be comprised of his or her closest friends. With an open group format, there’s no telling what mix of personalities will show up. But a friendly leader will make sure everyone feels welcome.

This doesn’t mean that a leader must be extravagantly outgoing. There are plenty of great leaders who are introverted or shy. A smile and simple conversation go a long way toward making people feel at home in a new environment. The leader is not required to be the life of the party.

Compassion

Part of the profile for small groups is nurturing. Successful groups take care of their members. That begins with the leaders. They will see needs and respond appropriately. They also look outside the group to find needs in the community that can be met.

That doesn’t mean leaders must always shoulder the burden themselves. When something bad happens, it’s the group that springs into action. Providing meals during a funeral or picking up kids in case of an emergency are just two ways various group members take care of one another.