The longer I\u2019m in leadership the more aware I am of the need for every leader to be in touch with her gifts, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. The current term for this is \u201cself-awareness,\u201d and it implies that while leaders can strive after all kinds of information, we can attend workshops and summits, we can read fantastic books and listen to talks from those who lead leaders\u2014all these efforts will be hindered from helping the most effective leader without a good dose of self-awareness.<\/p>\n
Put differently\u2014unless you know yourself, it may not matter what else you know.<\/p>\n
The great thing about this self-awareness is the freedom, both for herself and for others, that comes as we live into this awareness.<\/p>\n
The pursuit of self-awareness starts by acknowledging that God has lovingly and wisely wired up each of us differently, and wants us to live fully into how we\u2019re made. I don\u2019t know about you, but coming of age as a Christian in an era of big names and big testimonies, I pretty much thought for many years that I was supposed to strive to be like those leaders I watched, heard and whose books I read. I thought if they were the model, I should be like them.<\/p>\n
The problem with that approach is that it sets us up for confusion and the potential of a \u201cbad fit\u201d\u2014a little like taking a size 10 garment into the fitting room when you are a size 14. The size 10 looks good on the rack; it may even be a color and style you love, but if it\u2019s not sized for you, it won\u2019t work!<\/p>\n
There are all kinds of tests, inventories, surveys and tools to help leaders become aware of their gifts, abilities and personality\u2014the Myers-Briggs inventory, the Enneagram, the Leadership Compass, the S.H.A.P.E. tool from Saddleback Community Church and any number of spiritual gifts assessment tools\u2014these are all popularly available and helpful to the leader who is eager to lead well.<\/p>\n
The awareness that can be gained from this stuff is exponentially magnified when the leader gets to know the unique style and gifts of those on her team. Suddenly what may have seemed like annoying traits and tendencies make perfect sense in light of how another processes information, makes decisions, or approaches a project. If you\u2019re leading a team and you are frustrated, you may want to your group to take any one of the inventories mentioned above. I hope to share more about this in a future blog post.<\/p>\n
This year, your Women Ministries coaching team is focusing on the spiritual gifts we receive when we enter into a saving relationship with Christ, reminding us that we are most effective when we accept and exercise our gift or gifts by serving the church with and through them. We\u2019ve prepared a great training experience called Treasuring the Gift within You. It will be available at most of the fall retreats through The Leadership Connection (TLC), a yearly training component designed to equip and sharpen women leaders.<\/p>\n
I urge and encourage you to check out TLC and to get there. The journey to self-awareness starts by acknowledging God\u2019s love for you and the gift of the Holy Spirit that is ready to be received by the church!<\/p>\n