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Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Funny Lesson on Leadership
This is hysterical--and very true!
Remember the dancing guy as you step up, step in and step out into your gifts!
Enjoy
Saturday, February 13, 2010
(Un) Coachability in Christianity
Seth Godin believes that, in today's environment, the ability to evolve and succeed is connected to how 'coachable' we are.
Seth gives a brief 'coachability' diagnostic assessment, and identifies 'symptoms of uncoachability.' These symptoms ring true both in the professional world, and in the church.
Some of the symptoms of uncoachability are connected with specific spiritual gifts. Sometimes those with certain gifts are targets of rejection as coaches by those who are uncoachable; and sometimes those who are gifted are susceptible to being uncoachable in certain instances themselves.
Let's discuss Seth's uncoachability 'symptoms' in the context of spiritual gifts.
•Challenging the credentials of the coach
How many times have I been met with a finger-wagging, neck-rolling, scowl-faced "who are YOU to tell me blah blah blah...?!" when I've been called to impart direction or information, hold people accountable, or to challenge others in their thinking? If I had a nickel...geez. Administrators with titles, gift leaders without titles, evangelists, teachers and those with the gift of discernment are particularly subject to the 'credential challenge'.
It's easy to ignore a message when we can challenge or ignore the messenger. A fallen minister, a woman, someone who is recently saved, or someone from another denomination...we discard messengers and the messages they carry all the time. A lot of time, it's for the better; but sometimes, it is not.
Whether it's sharing the gospel message with friends and family who 'knew us when,' or when it's a message to the Body that comes from an unexpected source, examples of people's uncoachability and unteachability abound. These keep us from moving upward and onward to our next levels in Christ.
If you're called, you are equipped; He has credentialed you. Don't worry about it--keep doing what you're called to do.
•Announcing that you're being unfairly singled out -
This is an 'uncoachability' problem not only for those who refuse to take responsibility actions, but also for those who are prone to be protective of them. Encouragers, shepherds, those gifted with servants hearts, and others who are gifted in faith, mercy, and burden-bearing are likely to be found experiencing moments of uncoachability here.
One of 'our own' falls into the latest scandal: problems with the IRS, infidelity, drug abuse, ministry drama, etc. We rush to defend him (but not as quickly to defend 'her), without allowing the moment to teach us what God wants us to know about where are own hearts are.
To be more coachable, don't minimize the chastening of the Lord for our heroes and for ourselves. Take a breath and listen to the still, small voice. He has something to say. And don't be defensive--cut it out.
•Pointing out, angrily, that the last few times, the coach was wrong
Those who have a prophetic gift get the brunt of the uncoachability sting here. If a prophesy doesn't have an exact date, day of the week, and time stamp in our particular time zone, some folks make quick calls about whether or not the rhema word has come true. We get cranky when our promised jobs, husbands, and new cars aren't delivered in our own time. When we're bitter about the last word we got, we're apt not to listen to the next one.
If you have a 'word' you're waiting to come to pass, ask God prayerfully if the word was from Him. If not, so be it; if so, continue to ask what you must do to see manifestation. It's not always the prophet's fault--or the coach's!
•Identifying others who have succeeded without ever being coached
Those with the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are among those who are least likely to fall for this fallacy. There are some 'do-it-yourself' personality types that experience this uncoachability symptom more often than others, but gifts and personality types are not the same.
We all need coaching. To grow and develop, we all have to take a learner's posture.
I'd love it if I could sound like Kim Burrell or Vicki Yohe whenever I wanted to open my mouth to preach or to sing. The truth is, if God meant me to be Kim or Vicki, I'd be them. I can't 'steal' their testimonies of success and appropriate those for myself.
Testimonies help us to stand in faith and to overcome fear and doubt. Every overnight success has a 5, 10 or 20 year story of hard work behind them. We can be inspired by what God has done with and for others in our similar circumstances, but we have to realize that He has a path just for us.
Stay open to being coached into action, so that you can walk out your own callings and giftings in God's designed plan.
•Resisting a path merely because it was one identified by a coach
This is not connected to a gift...it's the manifestation of flesh, hiding behind gifts. We are ALL on the hook for this one!
If you've ever decided that something was wrong just because so-and-so said it, you know what this is about. If you've ever ignored a valuable suggestion because someone didn't hold a particular ministry title, or fall into a certain demographic, or demonstrate a certain set of ministry gifts, then you've been uncoachable here.
Imagine yourself being on the other end of that out-of-hand rejection, and you'll know how wrong it is.
I'm sure that, if you're experiencing this, it's only temporary. Why? Because you're going to change your posture to one of coachability...right?
Just like we all lead at times and follow at other times, we all coach at times and are coached at other times. Every gifted believer gets a little bit of the uncoachability load to bear.
My challenge to you as a coach is to prayerfully identify how you're loading up others with the burden of uncoachability, and to turn those shortcomings around for the benefit of the Body and to the glory of God!
If you'd like to strategize around become more coachable, or with addressing coachability as you serve in your gifting, sign up for a free coaching strategy session at http://www.foundationalgifts.com/free_coaching.
Seth gives a brief 'coachability' diagnostic assessment, and identifies 'symptoms of uncoachability.' These symptoms ring true both in the professional world, and in the church.
Some of the symptoms of uncoachability are connected with specific spiritual gifts. Sometimes those with certain gifts are targets of rejection as coaches by those who are uncoachable; and sometimes those who are gifted are susceptible to being uncoachable in certain instances themselves.
Let's discuss Seth's uncoachability 'symptoms' in the context of spiritual gifts.
•Challenging the credentials of the coach
How many times have I been met with a finger-wagging, neck-rolling, scowl-faced "who are YOU to tell me blah blah blah...?!" when I've been called to impart direction or information, hold people accountable, or to challenge others in their thinking? If I had a nickel...geez. Administrators with titles, gift leaders without titles, evangelists, teachers and those with the gift of discernment are particularly subject to the 'credential challenge'.
It's easy to ignore a message when we can challenge or ignore the messenger. A fallen minister, a woman, someone who is recently saved, or someone from another denomination...we discard messengers and the messages they carry all the time. A lot of time, it's for the better; but sometimes, it is not.
Whether it's sharing the gospel message with friends and family who 'knew us when,' or when it's a message to the Body that comes from an unexpected source, examples of people's uncoachability and unteachability abound. These keep us from moving upward and onward to our next levels in Christ.
If you're called, you are equipped; He has credentialed you. Don't worry about it--keep doing what you're called to do.
•Announcing that you're being unfairly singled out -
This is an 'uncoachability' problem not only for those who refuse to take responsibility actions, but also for those who are prone to be protective of them. Encouragers, shepherds, those gifted with servants hearts, and others who are gifted in faith, mercy, and burden-bearing are likely to be found experiencing moments of uncoachability here.
One of 'our own' falls into the latest scandal: problems with the IRS, infidelity, drug abuse, ministry drama, etc. We rush to defend him (but not as quickly to defend 'her), without allowing the moment to teach us what God wants us to know about where are own hearts are.
To be more coachable, don't minimize the chastening of the Lord for our heroes and for ourselves. Take a breath and listen to the still, small voice. He has something to say. And don't be defensive--cut it out.
•Pointing out, angrily, that the last few times, the coach was wrong
Those who have a prophetic gift get the brunt of the uncoachability sting here. If a prophesy doesn't have an exact date, day of the week, and time stamp in our particular time zone, some folks make quick calls about whether or not the rhema word has come true. We get cranky when our promised jobs, husbands, and new cars aren't delivered in our own time. When we're bitter about the last word we got, we're apt not to listen to the next one.
If you have a 'word' you're waiting to come to pass, ask God prayerfully if the word was from Him. If not, so be it; if so, continue to ask what you must do to see manifestation. It's not always the prophet's fault--or the coach's!
•Identifying others who have succeeded without ever being coached
Those with the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are among those who are least likely to fall for this fallacy. There are some 'do-it-yourself' personality types that experience this uncoachability symptom more often than others, but gifts and personality types are not the same.
We all need coaching. To grow and develop, we all have to take a learner's posture.
I'd love it if I could sound like Kim Burrell or Vicki Yohe whenever I wanted to open my mouth to preach or to sing. The truth is, if God meant me to be Kim or Vicki, I'd be them. I can't 'steal' their testimonies of success and appropriate those for myself.
Testimonies help us to stand in faith and to overcome fear and doubt. Every overnight success has a 5, 10 or 20 year story of hard work behind them. We can be inspired by what God has done with and for others in our similar circumstances, but we have to realize that He has a path just for us.
Stay open to being coached into action, so that you can walk out your own callings and giftings in God's designed plan.
•Resisting a path merely because it was one identified by a coach
This is not connected to a gift...it's the manifestation of flesh, hiding behind gifts. We are ALL on the hook for this one!
If you've ever decided that something was wrong just because so-and-so said it, you know what this is about. If you've ever ignored a valuable suggestion because someone didn't hold a particular ministry title, or fall into a certain demographic, or demonstrate a certain set of ministry gifts, then you've been uncoachable here.
Imagine yourself being on the other end of that out-of-hand rejection, and you'll know how wrong it is.
I'm sure that, if you're experiencing this, it's only temporary. Why? Because you're going to change your posture to one of coachability...right?
Just like we all lead at times and follow at other times, we all coach at times and are coached at other times. Every gifted believer gets a little bit of the uncoachability load to bear.
My challenge to you as a coach is to prayerfully identify how you're loading up others with the burden of uncoachability, and to turn those shortcomings around for the benefit of the Body and to the glory of God!
If you'd like to strategize around become more coachable, or with addressing coachability as you serve in your gifting, sign up for a free coaching strategy session at http://www.foundationalgifts.com/free_coaching.
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