Know Your People

What do you really know about your team? Do you feel connected or just tolerate each other?

In this Faith and Leadership Insight, I will be talking about how important connection is to your personal and professional life. Unfortunately, many people are “turtling up” during the pandemic. Often instead of reaching out, we isolate. We have not taken the time to find out what motivates our team or what they are struggling with in their life. It is lonely when you only have your dog and spouse to confide in. There is a great article on We Are Losing Connection with Our Networks by Marissa King and Balázs Kovács so you and your team can come out of your shell and thrive again.

As I think about building connections one great resource is the Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman. I have found that my wife has a love language of quality time and acts of service; whereas I’m words of affirmation.

We ran into conflict when we first got married because I had overscheduled myself and left one night per week that was open…that doesn’t work with a quality time person! Luckily, we talked through this and I learned to readjust to a more reasonable schedule that actually included boundaries.

The soil of the Townsend Competence and Character Growth Model looks at grace, truth, and time. I often forget how much time it takes to develop relationships and trust; we live in a microwave generation; instant trust doesn’t happen…only in reality shows!

One client I talked to asked their supervisor about development and training for the team…he responded with “you are on a board for an organization”. He missed the chance to truly know and strengthen the team. Find their inspiration and connection to the mission of the organization, if you haven’t done that yet, put it in your schedule to do ASAP. Ask them about what motivates them at work and when was the last time this occurred.

What did the disciples need from Jesus? How did He empower them? He spent three years training and developing them as leaders of the church. The way Jesus treated Peter wouldn’t be the same as with Matthew or how He responded to Mary was different than Martha.

As you pursue growth in your own life learn to think differently. What is comfortable for you as you relate in your love language is not going to be the same as everyone on your team…if it is then you need some diversity. Realize that many people need quality time and give yourself space to devote enough time to develop trust and buy-in. Think about the root of your tree from the model in Luke 13…grace, truth, and time.

As you reflect on this Faith and Leadership Insight, get to truly know your people; who they are and what motivates them and you will see the culture and their performance improve.

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