Tips for Connecting Relationally With Your Teams

{This video was a 3:3 leadership teaching on 3.26.17}

It can be summarized in one word: TRANSPARENCY

Definition of transparency:

Allowing light to pass through so that objects can be distinctly seen.
Having thoughts, feelings or motives that are easy to detect
Open to public scrutiny

Synonymous with: obvious, evident, unconcealed, clear, apparent, indisputable.

As a nerd of the word, I could geek out because there’s so much biblical gold to mine here….But because the time is ticking let’s look at:

2 Corinthians 2:17 We are; for, unlike most teachers, we are not fraudulent hucksters of God's Message; but with transparent motives, as commissioned by God, in God's presence and in communion with Christ, so we speak.

I come to you today with stories and lessons learned from my personal transparent experience over the last year:

Your transparency can help others heal!

Last year as I was in heart recovery after a heartbreaking assault from the man I thought I was going to marry, the thing that helped me the most was for my leader, Pastor Rachel who transparently told me stories of her past heartbreaks and how God met her there and healed her. That was helpful and encouraging and helped me heal! Thank you, Pastor!

Let your teams know the REAL you, not your representative!

This time last year as some of us assembled our cars in the cross = love shape in the parking lot, I had a mega meltdown. Thankfully my dear friend Chandra was there to remind me that I was allowed to be human and process my emotions. She freed me from the deceptive lie that I had to appear to "have it all together" when my spirit was crushed. When you allow others the opportunity to see below the surface (= Intimacy: into-me-you-see) you afford them the ability to minister to your heart, remind you who you are, encourage and strengthen you when you're weak and wounded and relieve yourself of the pressure of pretending and hiding your emotions in the dark place of hurt and despair. God orchestrated the Church to be a family...let people love you through your pain and see you at your lowest. Because just as you care and want to serve others, there are more people than you think that want to love and serve you too!

Admit when you're wrong

Let's just be real...we're all trying to figure this leadership thing out and the reality is, we're not always going to "get it right." We learn through failing forward, being lovingly convicted by the Holy Spirit and sometimes corrected by our leaders and peers. Don't let failure cripple you. Embrace it as an opportunity for growth and maturity. Humility is the antidote to pride. Simply admit when you're wrong, apologize, ask forgiveness, forgive yourself and KEEP MOVING ON. Don't get hung up on the failure and limit your growth, reach and impact. Understand that by providing an example of humility, you will earn the respect and honor from those you lead.