Recently, I received an article that tells the story of an "introverted leader". I have attached the full article to this blog so you can read it for yourself. This article immediately grabbed my attention when I noticed that the person that posted the article was also a pastor kid and whose father (the pastor) happened to be an extrovert.
One of the dangers that we may run into when we are either; under the leadership of one person, grew up in the church or have had one mentor during our lifetime is that we start to measure our personality, skills, and gifts to that person. My father is a life-time learner and at the age of 65 received this doctorate in Theology. I admire my father and his will and desire to continue learning. Today, he is a retired minister and at the age of 68 he is teaching himself how to read, speak and write Hebrew and Greek. Amazing, right? However, it is very easy for me to measure my gifts, skills or knowledge to his and quickly come to the realization that I do not posses the knowledge that he does- comparison is one of the enemies traps and can hit a leader hard! I once read a quote "You can not compare your beginnings to someone else's middle". We can easily see an extrovert, a very charasmatic person, a sanguine- life of the party personality and believe that we are not cut out for leadership because we are just not "wired" that way. However, I want to remind you today that you were made, wired, put together just how your Heavenly Father wanted you to be and be useful for His Kingdom (Psalms 139:13-14). Do not try to adapt to someone else, be yourself- we bring honor to God when we do!!!
Drew Dyck, Leadership managing editor, tells us that "Introverts comprise anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of the population, and some of the best pastors I know are introverts. Introversion is not a ministry liability. But it can present challenges, especially in America where many churches foster an extroverted ministry culture."
I say welcome Introverts to leadership, embrace your God-given personality and use it to bring love and comfort to His Kingdom. Also, don't forget that you are in very good company when Moses was also considered an Introvert!!!!
Be encouraged STN LIDs!!!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Transparency- What does that mean???
According to the World English Dictionary -transparent means to 1. permitting the uninterrupted passage of light; clear: a window is transparent 2. easy to see through, understand, or recognize; obvious 3. (of a substance or object) permitting the free passage of electromagnetic radiation: a substance that is transparent to X-rays 4. candid, open, or frank.
I just love the reference in the definition above to an “uninterrupted passage of light”. During our first LIDs session with Dr. Liz Rios we discussed the qualities a Healthy Leader has and traits an unhealthy leader possesses. Each leader provided the group with their expectations of the course; which can I say included a lot of transparency and honesty from each of us. We put it all out on the table for our fellow LIDs to see and hear. I know that God is going to do some great things through this group because of our hunger to serve and love His people.
I value transparency from the people in my life and I realize the value and importance of providing it to others. You see, I grew up in a generation where church folks did not appreciate transparency. When you were asked how you were doing, your answer should always be "In Victory, my brother or sister". They somehow made you feel that this was some type of weakness or even lack of faith in your situation if you shared with folks how you really felt, so you sucked it up and put on a great big SMILE!
Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating "full disclosure" of our personal and intimate life to everyone- that you leave for your safe people and the ones in your inner-circle. Like Dr. Liz explained, not everyone can handle "your full transparency". We need to pray and ask God to give us discernment as to not “harm” young believers with our actions. I believe that there are some things that you only share with God, there are other things that you share with the few in your inner-circle and then there are things you share with people that are struggling or can learn from your situation. I don't know about you but I don't want to fall on my face because I am too prideful to take someone's advice who has experienced what I am struggling with. When we show and tell believers of what God's grace and mercy has done for us, we are not only glorifying God but we are also encouraging them that someone has lived through something similar and made it to the other side!!! I don't know about you but I want to be that encourager and I want that type of encourager in my life!!!!
I encourage us to grow in our transparency in leadership!
I just love the reference in the definition above to an “uninterrupted passage of light”. During our first LIDs session with Dr. Liz Rios we discussed the qualities a Healthy Leader has and traits an unhealthy leader possesses. Each leader provided the group with their expectations of the course; which can I say included a lot of transparency and honesty from each of us. We put it all out on the table for our fellow LIDs to see and hear. I know that God is going to do some great things through this group because of our hunger to serve and love His people.
I value transparency from the people in my life and I realize the value and importance of providing it to others. You see, I grew up in a generation where church folks did not appreciate transparency. When you were asked how you were doing, your answer should always be "In Victory, my brother or sister". They somehow made you feel that this was some type of weakness or even lack of faith in your situation if you shared with folks how you really felt, so you sucked it up and put on a great big SMILE!
Don't get me wrong, I am not advocating "full disclosure" of our personal and intimate life to everyone- that you leave for your safe people and the ones in your inner-circle. Like Dr. Liz explained, not everyone can handle "your full transparency". We need to pray and ask God to give us discernment as to not “harm” young believers with our actions. I believe that there are some things that you only share with God, there are other things that you share with the few in your inner-circle and then there are things you share with people that are struggling or can learn from your situation. I don't know about you but I don't want to fall on my face because I am too prideful to take someone's advice who has experienced what I am struggling with. When we show and tell believers of what God's grace and mercy has done for us, we are not only glorifying God but we are also encouraging them that someone has lived through something similar and made it to the other side!!! I don't know about you but I want to be that encourager and I want that type of encourager in my life!!!!
I encourage us to grow in our transparency in leadership!
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