Weakness
Put yourself in a leadership position for an extended period and it won’t take long to figure out where your weaknesses are.
That is a lesson I have learned since going from part time to full time at my church and taking on a lot on more responsibility.
I’ve found that I struggle to be confrontational in difficult situations. And yet, I truly believe that all situations are better when an open dialogue can occur. This takes a person in the situation to confront the issue. I guess I get scared my being confrontational will be taken the wrong way; that somehow I’ll be perceived as mad when really I just simply care.
I’ll often sit back and have an internal fight with myself about whether to start the conversation and bring up the subject or not to. Whenever the “not to” side of me wins then fight with myself about why I wouldn’t confront the issue.
One of my bosses, Jay, often says, “if it feels funky, engage.” Meaning that if something doesn’t feel right, the best solution is to confront the issue or the person (in a Biblical way).
Believe me, no one likes to figure out where they are weak. It is most often a humbling rather, and not something that builds confidence. But, especially within leadership, how can you become a better person without learning the hard way?
This is what I’m learning.
How have you learned your weaknesses?
said: 
said: 
said: 
said: 
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Tyler Braun.
You know how you always hear people say work on your strengths and do not worry about your weaknesses or something like that? I wonder in this situation, as something that is as important as confronting be worked on if it is a strength or a weakness.
What would the experts say about that?
I am still working on my weaknesses, but I think one that I have seen is that I can tend to be a perfectionist or idealistic and when things do not go the way I thought they would or the way I want them to go I tend to get negative and cynical instead of engaging in the conversation.
I LOVE that leadership principle: “If it feels funky, engage.” So often we trade in “speak the truth in love” for “avoid conflict at all costs.” I’m a strong believer in getting to the real stuff quickly and with grace and love in the process. So yes – I agree with Jay, and it’s great advice for all of us leaders. If it feels funky, ENGAGE. Thanks Tyler.
I am the non-confrontational king of all creation…not too proud of that title. But, it’s true a lot of times.
I work in a treatment center that’s Biblically based, and we have ‘truth in-love’ sessions for families. The healing that takes place during these cannot be credited to anything other than God. It’s about saying the hard things, removed from the fear of judgment.
I think the fear of judgment is the biggest thing that hinders leaders in the church, because quite honestly, it often lacks the feeling of a safe place to be honest. If we, the Body, can overcame that, we’ll all be better able to speak the truth.
That is what the church tends to do and that is why it is fading into the background; It becomes a gray instead of a vibrant primary color, because honesty is passed on, whats the point of being involved with something if the mindset is “I pass, maybe someone else will do something”?
Personally, I really like knowing where I need to improve. After being in rehabs and hospitals for a while; thats one thing I have learned to depend on. And church is kind of a hospital.
It doesn’t do anybody any good to let things go. It is important to not expect perfection and to confront in a loving way.
Honesty in a kind way. I pray that people would come along side me and help me out by being confrontational; not being opinionated or judge-mental. That is helping others.