Leading Others

Author: Lee Wise
Copyright Date: 2003
Word count: 1131
Characters/line: 60

LEADING OTHERS
Helping People Become All They Can Be
© Lee Wise 2003 All rights reserved

I have spent a good part of my life striving to encourage
people. It seems as though I've always wanted to help
people "win."

When I was in high school, I coached a swim team during the
summer months. I loved coaching...

Seeing the kids improve.
Helping them "win."
Having fun with them.
Being their friend.

One of the greatest joys of my life has been "coaching" my
children. I love being a dad...

Watching "the kids" grow in any area of their lives.
Helping them "win" at anything!
Having fun with them.
Loving them.
Being their friend.

I have spent many -- if not most -- of my years in ministry
in some sort of training capacity. I have loved...

Helping people succeed.
Encouraging people when I could.
Inspiring people at times.
Assisting them in becoming all they can be.

WHICH IS A LONG INTRODUCTION TO GET TO THIS POINT

In my own way, I have tried to encourage people. I have
sought to influence them -- to help them do what *they*
have wanted to do.

Maybe that's why I kinda favor, , this short quote of
mine about what it means to "lead others."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
LEADING OTHERS
©Lee Wise 2003

"Helping people become all they can be
through your influence"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

HELPING PEOPLE BECOME ALL THEY CAN BE

I was interacting with a student the other day. We were
working together in an effort to establish a set of goals
he wanted to accomplish for his present ministry.

After I was done communicating with this person, I realized
I was following a pattern: a pattern I have gone through
over the years as I've tried to help people. I'm not
saying I'm the "cat's meow" on this subject. Far from it!

What I am saying is that maybe this simple process will
assist *you* as you strive to help people become all they
can be through *your* influence.

Here are the steps in the process:

1. Listen to people
2. Strive to capture the desire of their hearts
3. Chart "action steps" together
4. Prompt them to strive towards excellence
5. Release-Guide-Release

Since you already know where I'm heading on most of these
points, I'll be brief.

LISTEN TO PEOPLE

Back to my "pattern." I realized that my pattern was to
listen.

That's right --> listen.

Much of my interaction with people has been trying to
discover "where they are at."

What they mean by things.
Allowing them to express themselves.
Pausing.
Asking questions to clarify.

Just listening.

Because if I listen closely I can...

"CAPTURE" THE HEART OF A PERSON

I help interns create goals for their ministry projects. It
is a part of my role as their coordinator.

In the process of helping them create their ministries, I
have often said...

"Does this express your heart's desire?"
"Forget school work. Forget this project. Just tell
me this: what is your heart-beat in this?"

If I can "capture their heart" in the process of writing
their goals, it will give them staying power. It will help
stay them motivated.

I love it!

Which leads me to the next point...

CHART A COURSE OF ACTION

Term it whatever you want: set goals, establish steps of
action, create a way to solve a problem...

Whatever.

Just give people something specific they can do. Help them
"take action." In doing so you help those help you are
influencing become all they can be.

But there's something more to this process: put *their*
heart it!

I have stated to the interns over the years: "If I can wed
these two together, I have a winner: your heart's desires
and your goals."

It's true. When you...

Understand someone
Capture their heart's desire
Create actions based on their heart's desire

You have a winning combination!

But you can do "more." You can...

CHALLENGE THEM TO EXCELLENCE

I'll give you another example. In talking with the intern
that prompted my thinking -- and eventually this issue --
I mentioned:

"I've included a sample to show how you can improve.
The other example I gave will do for now. However, if
you want to keep on developing your skills in this
area, pay attention to what I have written and it will
help you in the future."

I was quick to add: "Don't let this kill you. Do what is
'you' in this regard. However, pay attention to these
simple suggestions and use them as you can."

Why did I add the statement above? Because I wanted the
intern to see that he *could* do more -- but he didn't have
to make it his life's passion! You see, I knew it wasn't
his area of interest. I gave him a slight challenge to
excel *in his own way and *at his own time.*

But it was a slight nudge towards excellence!

Then I had to...

RELEASE!

It was time for the intern to "just go and do it!" We had
talked before. And, I'm sure we will talk again.

There's the pattern: release -- guide -- release.

Let the person you are influencing try!
Be there, yes. Like a good coach.

But let the person run his own race.

When I was swimming competitively and I heard the words,
"Timers and judges ready. Swimmers take your mark."

And the gun went off...

Don, my coach, wasn't leaving that starting block.
Lee Wise was!

You've got to release. Let them try.
But be ready to guide them again.

After the races were over, I found myself back in the pool
again with "you know who" guiding me, pushing me, and
challenging me to be the best I could be.

You got it -- my coach, Don.

Good swimming coaches do operate that way. And so do
good life coaches.

Which is what you might term "a leader."

SO WHAT'S THE PATTERN?

*Listen
*Capture the desire of the heart
*Chart action steps
*Challenge towards excellence
*Release-guide-release

AND WHERE ARE YOU?

Can you identify any of the stages of this pattern where
you are *right now* with someone?

Could you improve in listening, capturing, charting,
challenging, releasing or guiding?

That's not a guilt trip. I'm not "in" to guilt trips. It
is, however, a reminder to both of us. A reminder to
keep improving our ability to help others become all they
can be through our influence.

Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,

Lee

-------------------------------
Lee is a seminary administrator, has a part-time business
at home, and writes two motivational ezines: "A Beautiful
Moment In Time" and "Hope For Daily Living." Permission
is given to distribute article. This paragraph must be
included. Email: Lee@seariches.net
Link: http://www.seariches.net