Why didn’t you say something?

“It’s not a big deal.”

“I didn’t want to cause a problem.”

“I didn’t know you wanted to know.”

“I figured it’s just the way it is.”

“I was going to say something but I didn’t get the chance.”

“The last time I said something it didn’t go well.”

“I know you’re really busy.”

“It won’t create a change anyway.”

“I didn’t think you cared to know.”

It’s inevitable. Along the path of discipleship, throughout the dance of relationships and under the mantle of leadership we will encounter times when those we are leading and loving have frustrations and times of confusion. Our goal as leaders, lovers and disciple-makers is to know when frustration and confusion exist and strive to address it and make positive change.

One of the most effective ways to discover frustration and confusion sooner than later is by creating a culture of healthy communication. Often times we can avoid having to ask the question “Why didn’t you say something?” after the fact, by intentionally creating healthy rhythms and spaces for the communication of frustrations and confusion to be expressed along the way. So, how can we do this?

1. Say It

Creating a culture that shares and values feedback and communication – whether it be celebration or frustration – begins with casting vision that honest communication and the sharing of frustrations and confusion is not only okay, but is expected and highly valued. Others need to know that what they are experiencing is critically important and necessary to know in order for us to grow and get better. It is a big deal. They’re not creating a problem by sharing. You do want to know!

2. Show It

It’s one thing to say it, but another to show it. As leaders and disciple-makers we are to be intentional in how we model what we mean. We get to be do-ers and coaches of what we desire others to be and do, not just say-ers and pray-ers that hope it happens without examples. If we want others to value and participate in sharing their frustrations and challenges in a healthy way, then we must model what that looks like for them. How you model this is up to you, but remember the way you do it sets the stage for how you want them to do it as well.

3. Schedule It

Culture is created by consistency. Consistency is supported by scheduling. If we want to promote healthy communication and the sharing of challenges then we must put it on the calendar, on the meeting agenda and in our conversations. Be intentional and ask the question “are there any frustrations, challenges or confusion right now?” Give them the chance to share. Show that you aren’t too busy. Display value by making time.

4. Support It

We can say it, show it and schedule it, but if we do not support the sharing and communicating of frustrations and challenges by doing something with their feedback, it will be tough create a culture of it. We can support healthy communication by:

Actually listening to what is being shared and not dismissing or downplaying

Thanking others for sharing regardless the feedback given

Not stifling unflattering or critical sharing

Taking action steps to help address the challenges presented

Coaching others towards positive change form their sharing – help them move through frustration and to solutions

Heart check: Do you tend to view and take feedback personally or providentially? If we view and receive feedback as merely a personal value statement we will tend to avoid any and all negative or corrective feedback making the effort of creating a culture of healthy and honest communication nearly impossible. When we view feedback and honest sharing providentially (opportunistically) then we can hear and receive both negative and positive sharing as it is a means to understanding and gathering the critical information necessary to help others grow and succeed.

Our goal as leaders, lovers and disciple-makers is to know when frustration and confusion exist and strive to address it and make positive change. We can accomplish this be creating healthy rhythms and spaces for sharing, hearing and change to occur.

Originally posted at: Why Didn’t You Say Something? | Relational Discipleship Network (rdn1.com)

Because of the importance of intentionality in disciple making, we at Discipleship.org are going to emphasize this skill set and mindset over the next four months.

Please join with us and seek to share understanding, insight, and practical tools so that you can become skilled at intentionality in relational disciple making and you can help those on your team or in your leadership group to do the same.

There are four ways in which we are emphasizing intentionality to help you in the next four months.

Discipleship.org City Tour Forums – our four City Tour Forums are designed to help you and your team both understand and develop an intentionality posture. The tour is comprised of one day, high impact forums where there will be teaching and round table discussions. Every attendee also gets a copy of Brandon Guindon’s new book, Intentional: Living Out the Eight Principles of Disciple Making.

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Take the FREE Individual Disciple Maker Assessment – we designed this assessment with a team of national and international disciple making leaders to help each individual be able to evaluate their disciple making mindset and skill. Just by taking this assessment, you will gain an appreciation for the value of intentionality, along with a sense of how you can increase your own level of intentionality.

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Read the short FREE book, Becoming a Disciple Maker: The Pursuit of Level Five Disciple Making – Bobby wrote this short eBook with statistician Greg Wiens to help you understand the mathematical and practical impact of one person’s disciple making efforts and skills.

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Read Brandon Guindon’s book, Intentional: Living Out the Eight Principles of Disciple Making – Brandon wrote this Discipleship.org book and Zondervan is publishing, because the understanding and practice of disciple making is so crucial. Every attendee at each of our City Tour events (Nashville, Houston, Dallas and Raleigh), as mentioned above, will receive a FREE copy of Brandon Guindon’s book.

Click the image below to pre-order Brandon Guindon’s book from Amazon.com.

Please join with us in this quest to better understand and practice intentionality. It will help us all to become more and more like Jesus, the world greatest disciple maker.