Replenish: Developing Spiritually Healthy Leaders

I have spent a lot of time the last few days in one-on-one interviews with staff members from a church I work with in Canada.  I have been consulting with this church for the last couple of years and have passed a lot of these staff members in the hallway.  We have exchanged the expected cordial greetings. I have been in ministry meetings with some of them.  But I didn’t really know them.

These last few days have given me the chance to get to know them… to hear their story.  To hear about their families, how they came to Christ, their journey into ministry, and their life-shaping events.  We also spent time talking about their ministry area and the teams they work with.

I love sitting across the table having an unhurried conversation with these dedicated staff members.  Having these conversations is like mining for gold.  And the way you get to the gold is by asking good questions.  Think of how often Jesus used questions to dig into a person’s life.  Even more important than questions are GOOD FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. It is often a 2nd and 3rd follow up question that discovers the gold nugget of insight.  

Often when those of us in ministry ask people questions, they give us safe answers or the answer they think we want to hear.  But if we will slow down long enough to actually engage the conversation… really listen… and ask good questions, we might be amazed what we will discover.  

I have a good friend who is great at asking questions.  I always walk away from our conversations feeling valued and cared for.  Think about it… asking questions requires being unselfish.  It puts the focus on the other person.  Asking good questions says “I am interested in you… I want to get to know more than what is on the surface”.  

So, let me ask you a QUESTION???   Do you need to start learning the “art” of asking good questions.  Really work on this in the coming week.  When you have the chance to have a conversation…

1.   Slow down.  Stay present and engaged. 
2.   REALLY listen.  Give the person your undivided attention.
3.   Work at asking follow up questions.  

In your conversations the next few days… GO FOR THE GOLD!