From The Pastor's Desk!
From The Pastor's Desk!
Leading Life with Your Strengths
From the June 2014 Newletter
In April, I have asked three church members at Calvary and seven others (from my former church friends and fellow clergy) to rate my leadership strengths. Based on their evaluation and my self-evaluation, I have received a leadership report that identifies my top five leadership strengths: Connectedness, Responsibility, Intellection, Empathy, and Arranger.
According to Gallup Strength Center, Connectedness – Those who are especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason; Responsibility – Those who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty; Intellection – Those who are especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity. They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions; Empathy – Those who are especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others’ lives or others’ situations; Arranger – People who are especially talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity. In addition, the next five strengths are Futuristic, Adaptability, Strategic, Belief, and Developer.
Leadership is crucial. In fact, it is everyone’s business because all of us are leaders in some ways. For example, at home as parents, at workplaces as coordinators, managers, directors, executive officers, or owners, at church as Lay Leader, Council members, Committee chairpersons, and members, we utilize our leadership strengths to lead our lives.
Interestingly, one particular person does not own all the leadership strengths. God has created all and given us different leadership gifts. That is why we need one another. As you pastor, I need your support and help to effectively carry out God’s ministry at Calvary. When we work together with our strengths, we can do better works for God’s mission. Will you share your leadership strengths for God’s kingdom work?
By the way, some of you may be interested in knowing my “less” strengths, in other words, weaknesses. My bottom top five strengths are Command, Competition, Maximizer, Activator, and Significance.
The season of summer is an appropriate time for us to take care of God’s fields, to pluck up weeds and give more nutrients to God’s plants. Let us think of our own spiritual gifts and leadership strengths. Then let us work together to please our loving God!
Blessings and love, Jae