There are some things we simply shouldn’t do alone?
Kingdom ministry, for example.
We try though, don’t we?
There is such temptation in me, and I am sure in many of you, to just “get the job done”. Those moments where the pressure is on, the deadline looming, the circumstance tough or unsure. As leaders we can drift into, or just settle into, prioritizing delivery over development.
We need people. We need team. We need to be a Band of Brothers or a Fellowship of the Ring, not the genius with a thousand helpers.
But how do we produce heroes not helpers? How do we access the gifts & treasure of all, not just have people around us who make us shine? As we consider 5Q, there is some territory to be covered together as we think of team.
Releasing the value of others.
As disciples & leaders we need to set the example (culture) and have a sense of the shared purpose & direction (vision). But we are also called to release the potential of others. Leaders should produce other leaders, not gather more followers.
Recognizing each voice is key.
But these voices have a worldview and wiring, a motive or driver and set of desired outcomes that will be heavily influenced by their APEST gifting. Utilizing each five-fold gift to bring maturity, unity and fullness to your team is a key role as a leader. Each will ask different questions. Each will see the world through different eyes. Each will bring a different perspective to the table. Each will have a natural ‘drift’ or ‘leaning’ in conversations, planning and prioritizing.
For maturity each voice needs to be heard, validated, engaged and influential.
Don’t create a team that looks and sounds like you. Create a team that looks and sounds like Jesus.
If 5Q is raising our five-fold intelligence, it means growing in our five-fold awareness and application as leaders. It means being self-aware, but it also means being aware of your team, the environment and conversations you’re having. And it means allowing each voice to shape the conversation and create a shared pathway and way forward as a team together.
[bctt tweet=”5Q increases our five-fold intelligence in both awareness and application as leaders. ” username=”@5Qcollective”]Allow the questions to come.
Then allow the discussion to turn to action.
Thought becomes discussion becomes action.
Anchored in the unique 5Q personalities, here are five ways APEST can provide questions to help you build your teams and move them from thinking to doing :
A – Are we moving? Where are we going? What is next? Are we clear on our vision? Where’s the next frontier? How do we create momentum? What are the step we need to take to get moving? Are we investing our resources strategically? Is what we are building sustainable & scaleable? How do we model these things?
P – Are we listening? Are we living with integrity? Are we true to our values? Where are we being led next? What does our culture & lifestyle say about us and what we value? Have we lost our way and are too pragmatic? Are we being faithful to our original call & vision? Do we live out our vision personally? How is it seen and experienced by our neighbor?
E – Are we sharing? Are we connecting with people? Are we making a different to non-Christians? Is our message engaging & relevant? Are we seeing kingdom impact? Do people feel connected? Have we tailored our message to engage those on the ‘outside’ not just the ‘inside’? Are engaging the people already around us?
S – Are we caring? Are we being relational? Do we value people? Are the relational bonds growing & deepening? Are we building authentic community? Are people being trained to love each other & live well together? Do people feel safe? Are we loving people? Are people whole?
T – Are we learning? Are people being equipped to study, think and learn? Are we sharing information or creating transformation? Are we taking the time to investigate, reflect and deepen our understanding? Are we equipping people to learn for themselves? Is there rigor and clarity in our reflective practice? Do our systems and structures have integrity?
Questions like these create an environment for dialogue, engaging the unknown and provoking exploration. As you develop trust as a team you can allow more questions to come and explore these conversations more deeply. This will allow you and your team to grow you into greater maturity as a team – a team with a higher 5Q culture & practice.
Q: How do you allow space for these questions to be asked as a team?
Q: Which are the questions that you are not asking as a team?
Q: Whose voice is missing from the discussion?
Q: How do these discussions turn to intentional action?