Right now there’s another new buzz going around our church. Many people are learning more about who God created them to be. They’re starting to realize God’s call for their life. It’s great to watch!
Jim & I enjoy helping people catch God’s personal vision for their life and launch them into the missio deo (mission of God). We believe in this so much that we intentionally designed Jim’s job to be focused around coaching people on their strengths.
The main thing that has prompted the recent conversation is that there are a number of people who have taken Gallup’s “Strenghts Finder” inventory and are meeting with Jim on a regular basis. To read more about it go to Redeemer’s website.
And a few of you have asked me what the inventory said about me & how I’ve incorporated it into my thinking. So, here are some of my learnings. The inventory said that my top 5 themes (of 34) are as follows:
- Strategic -People strong in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
- Maximizer – People strong in the Maximizer theme focus on strengths as a way to stimulate personal and group excellence. They seek to transform something strong into something superb.
- Activator – People strong in the Activator theme can make things happen by turning thoughts into action. They are often impatient.
- Ideation – People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.
- Woo – People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person.
The other day I took these themes and thought about some previous relationships and came up with some patterns. Although these strengths should probably been seen as overlapping circles, I drew the graphic below to illustrate how I have seen them work together when it comes to the times that God has used me to coach & launch people.
I love the spirit that is created when this kind of thing takes hold. Why? Because I know that God’s going to use it… it’s going somewhere. Erwin McManus said: “My goal is not to cast a vision that everyone buys into, but to create a visionary community where everyone who enters in begins to have wild and God-sized dreams and visions.” That’s also my goal for Redeemer. And this is also the reason why this Blog promotes the “people launching” idea.
I’m sharing this with you because if you have taken the Strengths Finder or will soon, let me know your top 5 themes and ways that you have seen them play out in your life.
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Hi John,
I was hoping you could take a look at my website and the ‘48 Days to the Work You Love’ seminar. It is an incredible workshop ministry by Dan Miller that is changing the lives of many people. I am a fan of Strength Finders, as I use Strenght Finders 2.0 in my career coaching process, but Dan Miller has an incredible way of communicating our need to discover God’s unique purpose for our lives, and than translating that purpose into meaningful, fulfilling and profitable daily work.
I too, share your heart to help launch people into God’s vision for their lives. ‘48 Days to the Work You Love’ may be a tool to help you do this.
Victor Encinas
602.393.0444
Wow, we are not acquainted, but we share 4 out of the 5 same top strengths! I am working on a Strenths-based curriculum to do with the leaders of our church. Is there anything you can send me to glean from? By the way, my strengths are Strategic, Focus, Maximizer, Activator, and Ideation.