The Clifton Strengths Analysis is the name given to a psychometric instrument used by the Gallup organization to test for and identify what an individual's strengths are.
According to the Clifton Strengths Analysis, "The best way to improve is to focus on what you are good at." They claim that focusing on your strengths makes you "6x as likely to be engaged in your job" and "3x as likely to report having an excellent quality of life." This confirms to me a long held belief I have had about the importance of utilizing our individual uniqueness in our ministry.
THE 2 BEST WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR MINISTRY:
1. Identify and lean hard into utilizing your particular strength or gift to the benefit of your ministry. This has long been an idea I have advocated. In our desire to be well rounded and accomplish a lot, we often focus on improving our weaknesses. Then, we often short change on our strengths. What is your particular strength? How does it benefit the ministry? Are you utilizing it to the max?
A "more religious term" is Spiritual Gift. Our Spiritual Gift usually points to our calling. Utilizing it in our life tends to be bring the greatest satisfaction. Are you leaning hard into your Spiritual Gift?
Warning: Leaning into and utilizing your strength DOES NOT mean you can just ignore everything else. Especially if you are a one woman or one man ministry. Some things just have to be done to make things work.....AND.....keep your employer happy!
Beware the natural tendency to copy the best College Minister you know or have heard speak at a meeting. You AINT them!
2. Identify and lean hard into the strength of the ministry you lead. Another way of looking at it might be to ask, "What is unique about the ministry?" That is the best thing you have to offer. If there is more than one ministry reaching out to students, what does yours offer that might meet a student's needs? Multiple ministries meet a variety of needs and connect to a wider variety of students.
Make sure in the promotion of your ministry or inviting students that somehow or other it is clear what is the unique or strong point of your ministry that would benefit them.
Warning: Do not succumb to the temptation to just copy "The IT ministry". This ministry may be in your town or on your campus or it may be one somewhere in the country that everyone talks about and points to. The "IT Ministry" is built on a particular set of strengths of the leader and the ministry. You and your ministry may not share any of those strengths.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve, if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage: if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Arliss Dickerson's book, A 3 Part College Ministry Success Formula, is available at Amazon.com/dp/B0BZ6Q7HSV. Reaching More College Students is at Amazon.com/dp/B0BMW8NPMN.
No comments:
Post a Comment