Week 10 :-: Connection: The Art of Activating Engagement

And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.—Psalm 78:72

Objectives:

• Understand the importance of connecting with the heart first;
• Review how to activate the commitment of your people;
• Develop habits that help with connection.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
for riches do not endure forever,
and a crown is not secure for all generations.—Proverbs 27:23–24

Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand – John Maxwell.

How do you keep people consistently motivated? This is one challenge every leader is guaranteed to face.

In a time when African Americans were fighting for emancipation, one leader stood out in his actions and this became a turning point for the African Americans. His name was, Martin Luther King Jr. He hit a note in his speeches, which went straight to the hearts of his listeners. He however did not end there but was involved in protest marches, placing himself right in front, where there was the greatest possibility of being harmed by the forces of “law and order”. His actions and communication grew his influence while earning him some enemies. Luther indeed achieved his goal and till today, still has influence in the USA. How did this happen? Martin Luther knew how to connect with his audiences. He touched their hearts with his speeches as well as through his actions.

Maxwell calls this, the law of connection. While we may think it especially foolish for a gentleman (who is interested in a lady), to go and ask for her hand in marriage without first trying to win over her heart, what about leaders who try to get things done without seeking to first connect to individuals in their team?

Definition

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.—Matthew 7:12

In other words, the people we lead are humans who need the same attention that you seek. You need love, show love. You want to see a people who are engaged and committed, show them that you truly care for them: touch their hearts!  This will require you to consistently work on your emotional intelligence as well as develop your ability to relate and communicate with others. People are more engaged when they know their leaders listen, are available, willing to share their success with them and know them as individuals. Do you share your success with your team members? How? Sometimes, all you may need is to invite them out for breakfast or lunch. Are you available and do you listen? Sometimes leaders think being close to the people they lead will make them loose their authority! This could not be further from the truth.  Meditate on these verses:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves—Philippians 2:3

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.—Romans 12:3–8

Do not think too highly of yourself but rather lead with diligence.

Connecting intentionally

In addition to developing your listening skills, making yourself more available to your people and being willing to invite them to share in your successea as you work on getting to know as individuals, Maxwell proposes the following eight practical steps for connecting with others:

1. Connect with yourself. Work on increasing your self-awareness (week 3) as well as utilize the SWOT (week 9) to identify areas for growth and set growth goals.
2. Communicate with openness and sincerity (week 8).
3. Know your people (week 3).
4. Live your message. Be authentic and walk consistently in integrity (week 7).
5. Go where your people are. Mingle with your people be close to them. You are not greater than anyone (week 6).
6. Focus on them, not on yourself (week 3). This is the core of servant leadership.
7. Believe in them. This may help you challenge some of your prejudices.
8. Offer direction and hope (weeks 4 &5).Servant Leaders are dealers in hope. Help your people dream bigger, hope for more and look forward to greater things ahead.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.—Galatians 6:9

Connecting with our people will help us unleash their potential as well as build commitment. Are you willing to connect?

Assignment 10:

1. Do you connect well with your team/family members?
2. We saw that people are more engaged when they know that their leaders listen, are available, willing to share their success with them and know them as individuals. Meet with a few people you have influence over and lead in one way or the other and ask them to give you their honest opinion on the following questions:

·         Do you feel like I listen to you when you are speaking?

·         Do you have any difficulties coming to me with any issues that may be bothering you?

·         Do you feel appreciated enough (as part of the team) when our team or the leader receives credit for a job well done?

·         Do you feel there is something I do not know about you, which I should probably know?

3. Review the 8 steps for developing your ability to connect. Which point (s) do you need to work on the most? Write them down in your goal setting book.
4. Sit down with someone influential from your family or organization and discuss what you found out.
5. Write down the names of a list of people you would like to encourage this week by giving them hope. Pray about them and draw up a plan on which areas you will tackle with them
6. Write a brief summary of what you learned this week and explain why it is important for all leaders. Post on your blog and share the link in your group.