I am always searching for principles ...even while I follow my inner nudges to peek around on Facebook!!!
To back up, the other day I felt nudged to look at some books in order to help me understand new ideas for ways I can sow into my marriage. I found this in audible and listened to the sample clip and was eager to learn more.
Click the image below to listen to a free audio sample of Jimmy Evan's book (he's got great stuff on marriage!!! Check out a variety of his books here!)
I told hubby (using my new wonderful empowered wife skills) that I would LOVE to know his opinion...and before I knew it he does what he does and off we went into a new adventure learning about our strengths.
Click below to hear a free audio sample. If you buy the audio book you receive an email with a code to access the test to find out your top five!
In addition to all this, I'm so thankful for the dialogue today with a person who invested his life in helping others grow to be better people. He works with children in a camp setting in South Africa and I have admired his choice to pour into those kids as well as bless his family. He shared with me some tips about leadership which I will ponder more later. I wanted to record them here for you in case it helps you, too. He gave me permission to share.
Here's his initial comment:
The challenge of explaining teamwork to groups on camp.... ( I have this same conversation on almost a daily basis)
Me " What do you think you could learn from the activity you have just completed?"
Group: "Teamwork!"
Me :" Teamwork is a very broad subject. What aspect of teamwork do you think you needed to do the activity properly?"
Group " Working together"
Me." Yes, that is team work but what specific things did you do to enable you to work together better?"
Group "Teamwork!"
And that's how the cycle of conversation goes until I start mentioning the specifics.....
😳
🤔
🤣
😳🤔🤣
It's clear many are taught to just give clinical answers and not taught understanding ]
I admitted I was clueless too and asked for his help. He was honest and said he struggled too...then he came up with these gems:
"The keys for me are :
1) We need each other. No one can do it on their own.
2) We are all valuable and need to be treated as such
3) We all have our weaknesses. Protect the weak because one day it will be your turn to be weak.
4) Trust and proper communication are vital.
5) Serve and build others up rather than dictate.
And from a Christian perspective - Love, mercy and forgiveness go a long way
And let each person lead from their unique skills or abilities.
I often use a five finger contract.
I hold my open hand up and ask the kids what does each finger represent to them and then explain it like this :
The thumb (thumbs up) represents encouragement ( well done, you can do it, you're amazing. Etc)
The index finger is used for pointing. It represents judgement. I'm judging others when I point my finger. ( I'm right, you're wrong. Or pointing out the faults of others to make them look bad and me better) Don't judge others. Judge yourself (plank in your own eye).
The middle finger.... That's rude. Watch how we speak to each other. Control our tongue. Use it to bless not curse.
The ring finger - it represents marriage and commitment. It's a decision not to quit. To persevere and always give my best for the sake of others and myself.
Lastly the little finger - it represents the weak things in our lives. If we cut it off our hand is weaker with it missing and looks funny. We are all weak at certain things and strong at others. My strength is someone's weakness and vice versa. If we protect the weak and treat them as the most important it contributes to the team not weakens it.
Then I make a fist and say - when all my fingers work together their combined strength makes power. By themselves each finger can be broken. As a fist it's very difficult to break.
Work together and your are a fist.
Lastly I get them to agree to a ' contract' of how they will treat each other based on each finger. Start simple and build on it.
When things fall apart then I say to the people concerned - remember your agreement? Stop being a middle finger or I raise my the appropriate finger ( other than the middle one🤣) and cough to get their attention.
They get it quickly enough"
I hold my open hand up and ask the kids what does each finger represent to them and then explain it like this :
The thumb (thumbs up) represents encouragement ( well done, you can do it, you're amazing. Etc)
The index finger is used for pointing. It represents judgement. I'm judging others when I point my finger. ( I'm right, you're wrong. Or pointing out the faults of others to make them look bad and me better) Don't judge others. Judge yourself (plank in your own eye).
The middle finger.... That's rude. Watch how we speak to each other. Control our tongue. Use it to bless not curse.
The ring finger - it represents marriage and commitment. It's a decision not to quit. To persevere and always give my best for the sake of others and myself.
Lastly the little finger - it represents the weak things in our lives. If we cut it off our hand is weaker with it missing and looks funny. We are all weak at certain things and strong at others. My strength is someone's weakness and vice versa. If we protect the weak and treat them as the most important it contributes to the team not weakens it.
Then I make a fist and say - when all my fingers work together their combined strength makes power. By themselves each finger can be broken. As a fist it's very difficult to break.
Work together and your are a fist.
Lastly I get them to agree to a ' contract' of how they will treat each other based on each finger. Start simple and build on it.
When things fall apart then I say to the people concerned - remember your agreement? Stop being a middle finger or I raise my the appropriate finger ( other than the middle one
🤣) and cough to get their attention.They get it quickly enough"
Thanks, AC!
What is your experience with teamwork and such things? Marriage, family life, business, ministry...how does teamwork look in your world? What are you doing to build your strengths??? Please comment below! We'd love to hear from you!
Be blessed!
~Kate
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