Best and Worst Leaders I've ever seen...

I just accepted a new job offer... I can still here "Movin' on up... to the east side..." replaying in my head. During the interviews, the manager asked an intriguing question. It was so interesting, I thought I'd share it with you.

Q: Without naming names, tell me about the best boss you ever had, and the worst boss you ever had. Tell me what attributes landed them in that category.

This reminded me of two articles written by Michael Hyatt on that topic:

• THE VALUE OF WORKING FOR A BAD BOS
• I’ve had more than twenty bosses in my career. I worked well with nearly all of them. But surprisingly, I learned the most from the worst ones. (continue: read here)

• THE TOP-10 CHARACTERISTICS OF LOUSY LEADERS
• If you look at the major news stories in business, politics, diplomacy, whatever, it’s pretty hard to miss that most of the crises we face are crises of leadership. (continue: read here)

I do not recall exactly how I answered that, but I figured I would take this time to think through my career and highlight the best and worst trends across multiple companies and multiple divisions within those companies.

This list I'm sure is incomplete, but it's what I came up with as I thought about ALL of the experiences I've had. Check out my story after the list for a perfect example of Deaf Leadership.

The Worst Leaders:

• Too Sudden: Leader comes into a new department and immediately started making changes without taking the time to understand how those changes would affect the customers or the front-line employee. 
• Counterproductive: Leader made changes that were actually counter-productive and hurt the department, staff, and customers; all because they didn't take the time to understand the problems before trying to fix them. 
• Insufficient Data #1: Leader made decisions to start something they thought was right; but the data was insufficient to make that decision. They didn't even know what they didn't know. They should have waited to start that project or change.
• Insufficient Data #2: Leader made decisions to stop something already in motion before they arrived because they knew they had insufficient data to understand why it was being done. By the time they realized their mistake (9 months later) and corrected, the damage was done, irreparably, to morale, production, and output. Many employees left by the time they fixed it.
• Insufficient Data #3: Leader relies only on the managers reporting to them for information, and never comes directly to the front line employee. The Mid Managers are more interested in looking good, not upsetting the Leader, or any other number of politics, and no REAL information ever gets up to the Leader.
• Too Slow: Once a new problem (or a problem created by one of the above) is acknowledged, Leader takes months to make a decision that should have taken days (or weeks at most), exacerbating the problem.
• Deaf/Doesn't Listen: Leader either doesn't accept any feedback at all (hides behind the Ivory Tower office) or makes excuses instead of accepting feedback openly. 
• Don't Understand (or try to): Leader just "doesn't get it", no matter how you try to explain it. They assume that they are not feeling the pressure, so the front line employee shouldn't either. But that Leader doesn't have to actually bear the burden they put on the employee. They can't feel the burden, so they don't sympathize.
• Over Promise/Under Deliver: Leader "Vision Casts" about the grand new world they want to create, and they don't come anywhere near delivering on that vision. Hopes raised and dashed hurt morale more than hopes never raised.
• Changes Too Fast/Asks Too Much: Every change is an "Ask" of the employee/customer. Making too many changes too fast puts a drain on any good will you created or had when you arrived. If all you ever do is ask, ask more, ask more... and you don't give back in equal or greater amounts, you drain the morale. The sentiment is created: "Enough... no more!" or "What have you done for ME lately?"

The thing is, in most cases the poor leadership is not a reflection of the person being a "bad person".

Often times the person is funny, charming, friendly, and a joy to be around... just not to work for.

I've seen some leadership embody all of these at once, or just some.

In one instance a quite a few years ago, a new policy was created that increased call volume for the sales department.

Every last person on the front line could have told the Leader that it was a bad idea, but it was instituted company wide (10,000's of employees) without asking a single one of the people who would take those calls how it would affect them or their customers.

On the first month, the call volume increased as expected, but sales per call plummeted (as the front line expected). Leaders said: "Give it a chance" over and over like a broken record, as we watched the company plummet into madness.

By the end of the first quarter, they had to re-set (read 'lower') the standard just to get people to their bonus (because no-body reached it, even the top performers). Customer satisfaction scores plummeted.

We lost many customer's with high value assets because they were tired of being "tricked" into being transferred to sales, and they went to smaller boutique companies that would treat them like a human and long term relationship (instead of a quick sale).

It STILL took over 12 months (one year) for the company to realize what a total disaster the program was, and despite that, it still took an executive at the highest level to see that we were literally "wasting" (because it was producing nothing positive in the way of results) 7 million dollars of overtime (in six months) before someone finally said... "Hm... maybe this isn't working after all..."

Any one of the 10,000's of employees affected could have told them that (and tried to) before it even started.

The thing is... the best characteristics are essentially the opposite of the worst list.

Best Leaders:

• Take Time: Leader comes into a new department and takes time (a lot of time) with each level of employee (front line and Managers) to understand things. Not just a day, or week, but multiple weeks/months. 
• Solicit Ideas and Feedback: They do open forums, email suggestions, one-on-ones, and they ask, ask, ask, ask, ask for ideas, concerns, problems.... They gather information. They don't evaluate or respond yet, they just gather. 
• Productive: Leader then uses a long dissection process to evaluate and ask some more and evaluate... Then they ca make informed decisions that will be productive for everyone involved.
• Morale: Having made the entire staff part of the process, they earned the right to make changes, and make big asks of the team. 
• Announce when ready: Leader only announces a change when it's firm, final, all kinks are already worked out and it's sure. This eliminates the need to say: "Oh... Um... But not yet."
• Sufficient Data #1: Leader made decisions with all the right data, so the decision was effective the first time. They knew that they knew what they knew.
• Sufficient Data #2: Leader let decisions already in motion play out, making just as sure to gather information before stopping something, as the did before starting something. People already in need of those resources would not be frustrated without them for months. 
• Sufficient Data #3: Leader relies NOT only on the managers reporting to them for information, and but actively and frequently seeks out information from ALL front line employees. Nothing is hidden from them through politicking, and they get REAL and practical information.
• Act Fast: Once a new problem (or a problem created by the New Leader) is acknowledged, Leader acts fast, knowing that employees are actually MORE inportant that customers, attorney's, or agencies. If the employee is not taken care of, they won't in turn take care of the customer. Problems are then prevented, or lessened. However, less of these occur, because of the prior steps.
• Listen: Leader actively requests (not just at the start, but on an on-going basis) any and all feedback from the team. Constantly "spot checking" to see if we're on track. Front line employees know about problems miles before their direct managers fully understand it and push it up the chain.
• Understands (or tries to): Leader understands that they don't have to have that customer on their phone, and and talk them off the ledge, while pushing those buttons. They understand that the pressure they feel is less than the Front Line (at least less urgent). They do everything they can to "really get it". They check for feedback, "I hear you saying... Is that right?"
• Under Promise/Over Deliver: Leader "Vision Casts" about the grand new world they want to create, ONLY after they have crossed all T's and dotted all I's. Until then, they are asking for ideas and feedback, but it's not time to Vision Cast. Once the vision is cast, they deliver before time and under budget, and with bigger bells and whistles than previously promised.
• Jab, Jab Jab... Right Hook (affiliate link): As Gary Vaynerchuk so elequently taught us in his book so titled, anyone who asks all the time eventually becomes noise in the background, ignored, or actively avoided. You have to give 10 times for every ask. For the Leader, that means a constant flow, flood, tsunami of praise, celebrations, thank you's (big and small), "what can I do for YOU's?"... ONLY when the floor is full of people who feel like the Leader would walk in front of a train for them, will they they turn around and walk in front of a train for the Leader. 

Political side note: This is why I could never in good conscience vote for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in November 2016. They both scream the bad leader characteristics. It's all about them... their plan, their ego... nothing collaborative about their tone. I'll be voting for Gary Johnson. I hope he wins, but even if he doesn't I can go into 2017 voting for liberty instead of tyranny.

I'm sure this list is no-where near complete. So let me turn the tables and you can comment below::

Q: Without naming names, tell me about the best boss you ever had, and the worst boss you ever had. Tell me what attributes landed them in that category.

Answer in the comments... 

Darrell

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An out of the box solution to save money for a trip!

One Yahoo Answers poster asked a question that really got me excited: (here)

Best way to save money for a trip?

Need to save $3000 for a trip in about 5 or 6 years. And we'd also like to buy a cheap R.V plus the $3000. I can't do like a fundraiser or anything because it's a personal trip, so...

Celestine Chua Journey that matters. 

My Answer(s):

Good question, and great forethought! Hope you don't mind, but this inspired me so much I'm going to write a post on it for one of my sites too.

Side Note: Buying an RV could be $10,000-60,000 or more. Just went RV shopping last month. I'd rent one for $3,000; OR, you could crowd fund that purchase too... the rest of what I'm going to say still applies.

I see this two ways.

1) You need $6,000 in 5 years (conservatively). 

5 Years is 60 months. So start putting aside into savings account $100 per month, and you'll have $6,000 in 5 years. Your bank will set it up to auto transfer, or you could do it manually.

That's without earning interest. You could also put that $100 into the savings until you hit $1,000. Every time you hit $1,000 put that into a CD (something's better than nothing with interest). Make sure that CD matures on or before you GO date. So the first $1,000 will be ten months from now. That CD will need to mature in 4.5 years. The second will need to mature in 3 years, etc. etc.

2) You actually CAN crowd fund this. 

There's a lot of ways, friends, family, church, donations... but here's another way.

2.a) Set up a free blog at Blogger.com. 

Make it all about this trip and/or travel in general. Put together a Start Here page describing the trip you want to go on, when, where, why, and tell us that this blog is your journal for planning the trip. Tell us if we help you take it, we can come along too (via pitctures, posts, even live events with Skype or Periscope).

You could set up a proper domain (MyTrip.Com) for $10-12 per year; or, just leave it with the default domain MyTrip.Blogspot.com. Either way.

• Domain.Com (Affiliate Link)
• Blogger with Customer Domain (Article)

2.b) Put together a guide for travelers. 

Call it "The Top 10 things you need to consider when traveling to..." Just use a Word Doc to put it together, make it pretty, and turn it into a PDF.

• Gumroad: (HERE)

Gumroard let's you choose a Name Your Price option: Use Gumroad to upload the PDF. Link the Gumroad set up to your blog. Then tell people they can help you take the trip by purchasing your guide for $1 or more.

When the time gets close, you can set up a GoFundMe page, and get the momentum going faster.

• Go Fund Me: (HERE)

2.c) In the 4.9 years leading up to your Go Date, write to us. 

Tell us about your trip. Why you want to go. What you hope to see. Read articles on other sites, research for your trip, and tell us what you learned getting ready for it. Remind us every so often you only have x days/months/years left to go.

It doesn't have to be daily. You could post weekly, monthly, as often as you research for your trip. It'll help you keep the vision alive, and help us be excited with you.

2.d) Get our email address, and remind us about the trip by posting new stuff every so often.

Use the Gadget's tool to make sure you add an Email follow option to the blog. That way we'll get an update every time you post.

You could probably set all of this up before you go to bed tonight, and start. 

If you do this, email Me@DarrellWolfe.com if you do this. I'll become your first follower, and maybe you'll be taking your trip before five years.


By Darrell

References:

• Blogger.Com

• Domain.Com (Affiliate Link)

• Go Fund Me: (HERE)

• Gumroad: (HERE)

• Savings and Interest: (HERE)

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Resume: God's or Yours?

What a cool idea for a "Resume Infographic" | By  Bart Claeys

What if your resume was more about God than you?

Do a search for "Resume" online and you'll find things like the "10 words that ruin a resume", "6 tips for writing an effective resume", or simply "How to make a resume".

While these are all fine and good, helpful even, there seems to be a missing link. There's one big thing that's not being said by the experts about resume's that needs to be said.

What is a resume?

Recently I was talking with a close friend who is a hiring manager.During the conversation he made a point that struck home with me. He said: "What do your qualifications, or those of the other interviewees, have to do with your getting hired? It's the Favor of God that's going to promote you in due time, not your qualifications."

WOAH! What a a great reminder! It's about God, not about me!

In addition, he noted how he has so often seen a resume embellished or enhanced in an attempt to sell "how great I am". He stated, that there is a dose of pride found in many resume's that just turns him off. However, my friend pointed out that you cannot blame the person entirely, we've created a culture that teaches this self promotion. The very act of creating a summary document of your past accomplishments, in an effort to convince someone to interview you for a position, lends itself to boasting and pride.


Wiki Defines Resume'

A résumé (/ˈrɛzʊmeɪ/, rez-u-may or /rɛzʊˈmeɪ/; less frequently /ˈrɛzjʊmeɪ/ or /rɛzjʊˈmeɪ/; French: [ʁezyme]),^[1] also spelled 'resumé' or 'resume',^[2] is a document used by persons to present their backgrounds and skills. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons, but most often they are used to secure new employment.^[3] A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education. The résumé is usually one of the first items, along with a cover letter and sometimes an application for employment, which a potential employer sees regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, often followed by an interview. The résumé is comparable to a curriculum vitae (CV) in many countries. However, it is substantially shorter than a CV in English Canada, the U.S. and Australia.^[4] In French, résumé means summary.

He went on to say that we get so focused on our education, experience, background, accomplishments, and all these things that are going to help us get ahead of the other guy as we compete for that one job... but what if there were another way of looking at the Job Market?

What if we turned the tables on the resume building? 

• What if the resume was not a list of YOUR past accomplishments and achievements. 
• What if it had nothing to do with how educated you are, your experience, your this, your that... 
• What if your resume had nothing to do with you at all?

If you are a believer in Jesus, you should know that God has a specific and targeted plan for your life. God promotes you, not your background. God lifts one up, and puts another down. Humble yourself before God, and HE will lift you up, in due time.

As I look back over my life, I see a trail of jobs that I found searching diligently and then asked God to give me.

In most cases, God gave me what I asked for. I've never been without work, sometimes two jobs at once. However, each position seemed empty.

So I started looking for a new way to find a job. I started praying not for what I wanted, but for what HE wanted.

It was a paradigm shift in my job search.

I have talked about before, and probably will again, about all of the things God showed me during that season (which was just the start of this revelation for me), and I wrote an article about The Sweet Spot, which is at the intersection of your greatest skill and your greatest passion. He showed me to look to Him in my search, and ask Him about what I should be looking for.

It was within two months of posting that article that God led me to the job I have now. I don't want to call it "unexpected", because frankly I was learning how to build my expectation from as early as a year before, that "something would change", God would show me what I was doing wrong and I would look to Him and He would direct me into HIS plan.

That's not to say that my expectation was perfect, mature, or without doubt. In fact, I've struggled with doubt my entire life... but I was working on trying to put my faith, belief, and expectation aside, and rely on His Grace instead. I just kept pulling myself off of the fear and back to Him. I was so ridiculed with self doubt, that I almost didn't go to the interview for the job I have now. If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit, my wife, and my wonderful new boss... I wouldn't have gone. But that's another story.

Frankly... the job was unanticipated. Out of the blue (or so it felt) I got a call, interviewed, and landed a job that is everything God had shown me I should be looking for. But it wasn't because I went hunting it down. I did apply to it (along with 100+ other positions during those months). But I didn't know what it was, I didn't understand the job (even after the interviews really). It wasn't until a few weeks into working the new job that I realized how much of a perfect fit it was, and the best part is... I DID NOT DO IT. It wasn't my planning or research. A non-believer would call it dumb luck that I submitted the application not knowing what it was, and that I got interviewed two months after applying, and that I was late to the interview and got hired anyway, and that in so many ways God's favor was on the process.

That was the lesson. FAVOR. I didn't get hired because of my talents, I got hired because of His Favor and Kindness to me.

And that brings me back around to my point (which you probably thought I'd forgotten).

What COULD a resume look like, that wasn't about ME (or you)?

What if I chose to look at my resume as a highlights reel and review of all the Favor God has had on my life. What if my resume was all about what He's done in me, for me, and through me, and not about my background, my accomplishments, and me, me, me... What if my resume was about what My God can do through me FOR YOU?

It need not sound so religious on paper, in fact, it probably shouldn't. We are in this world, and not of it. We are here to minister to them, not take from them. We are backed by the King of Kings, we are here to serve, not be served. And being too religious just turns people off. We have an enemy. That enemy is out to attack us, and prevent us from accomplishing the mission of serving others into God's Kingdom.

It may be that we need to be a bit more stealthy in our movements on this earth. Maybe even like under-cover agents in some organizations. We should be wise as serpents, and yet harmless as doves.

So maybe we write that resume, and it looks and sounds 90% the same as what others produce. Same basic content. But the attitude and Spirit behind what we write is totally different. And that scent of Favor wafts through the paper. We sow that resume as a seed, expecting a return for God's investment, not just ours.

What would that resume look like? 

I don't know... I'm going to attempt to draft one myself. I'll try to remember to let you know how it turned out. Why don't you try and post yours to your LinkedIn profile, and I'll do the same to mine (here)? When you are finished, share the link to yours in the comments on this post.


See Also:

• Interview Skills- An Introduction

• Interviews PT 1- Concrete and Specific

• Interviews 2 | Know the Job Description

• Interviews PT 3- Know Yourself

• Resume: God's or Yours?

• Discovery | Finding Your Place In God's Plan

• The Hedgehog & The Sweet Spot. Finding Your Unique Place In This World. 

Darrell Wolfe, Topos Consultant

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Discovery | Finding Your Place In God's Plan

Michael Hyatt, in Creating Your Personal Life Plan, wrote that many people spend more time planning their vacation than they do their own life.

I went through a class called "Discovery | Finding Your Place In God's Plan" by Gateway Church. I thought I would share some tools and insights I picked up for myself. In so doing, I hope to help provide you with tools to make your own discovery.

Self Discovery Tools

If I'm going to make an impact on this planet, and not just stumble along blindly in life. I'm going to need to become very clear why I am here, and what God's purpose for my life is.

If God had no purpose for our being here, He could just zap us on home moments after we are saved. 

So here are some practical tools I've been using to attempt to begin to answer the question: 

"Why am I here?"

The following are the various tools I used in the discovery process. The results are specific to me, but may give you an idea of what you could expect from each tool. Pick the ones that pique your interest, or gradually work through all of them.

Note: Not everything every assessment ever says will ring true to you. That's perfectly normal. Just use these tools as part of your process, and take note of the things that jump out at you as true and real. Those items that resonate with you.  

Career MAPP 

My mind is a world of ideas; where each idea triggers other ideas. As an author by nature, creative writer by preference; I enjoy exploring abstract and theoretical concepts and idea, as I seek to alleviate the pain points of the disenfranchised, providing them the concepts they need to grow and gain traction in their walk with God. I see the universe as a giant puzzle. Each fact found, each piece of information, interesting on it's own, but fascinating as it relates to the whole

Gallup Top 5 Strengths Finder Results:

Note: Strengths Finder's is a paid test; however, you can get your top five for only about $10.00. If you are just starting your journey, that's all you need. You may want to go back someday and pay more to get the rest of your list, but the top five is what you'll be talking about with people, and thinking most about. 

• Intellection
• Introspective Thinker who enjoys a good intellectual conversation.
• Write Journal
• Learner 
• Constant satisfaction in learning new facts, skills, and beginning a new area of study. No topic is off limits, and the process of learning, rather than the result, is the only aim.
• Embrace new technologies and opportunities to learn something new. 
• Ideation
• Derive energy from a new concept of idea. I revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so people can view it from a strangely enlightening angle.
• Write Journal, process ideas into clear thoughts before communicating them to others. 
• Achiever
• I take immense satisfaction in being productive and accomplishing things. The day must not end, without accomplishing something. 
• I must learn to take breaks, and enjoy the success of a job well done. 
• Input
• I take joy in knowing more... about anything and everything. I am a sponge for new, interesting, curious, or even strange information. 
• I will journal, write, and store this information to pull up and use another day.

Meyers Briggs / 16 Personality Types (E/I - S/N - T/F - J/P)

I tested as an INFJ, with a slight preference to the Feeling end of the Feeling/Thinking spectrum.

*Because my F/T preference is slight. It was interesting to also explore the INTJ also, and take notes of the items that stuck out for both. The longer I've read both, INFJ rings truer every time.

INFJ - Primary | Passionate Idealist | Meaningful Work | Work Alone | Avoid Spotlight

The INFJ personality type is very rare, making up less than one percent of the population, but they nonetheless leave their mark on the world. They have an inborn sense of idealism and morality, but what sets them apart is the accompanying Judging (J) trait – INFJs are not idle dreamers, but people capable of taking concrete steps to realize their goals and make a lasting positive impact.

INFJs are likely to find that most corporate career paths are not designed for them, but for those focused on status and material gain. This doesn’t mean that people with the 

INFJ personality type struggle to see viable options though. In fact, they are likely to face the opposite problem – many INFJs struggle to begin a career early on because they see ten wildly different paths forward, each with its own intrinsic rewards, alluring but also heartbreaking, because each means abandoning so much else.

This is the most rewarding option for INFJs, as they will step out of the overly humble supporting and noncompetitive roles they are often drawn to, and into positions where they can grow and make a difference. INFJs often pursue expressive careers such as writing, elegant communicators that they are, and author many popular blogs, stories and screenplays. Music, photography, design and art are viable options too, and they all can focus on deeper themes of personal growth, morality and spirituality.

INTJ - Secondary | Relentless Intellectualism | Thirst for Knowledge | Nothing is Impossible

It's lonely at the top, and being one of the rarest and most strategically capable personality types, INTJs know this all too well. INTJs form just two percent of the population. It is often a challenge for them to find like-minded individuals who are able to keep up with their relentless intellectualism and chess-like maneuvering. People with the INTJ personality type are imaginative yet decisive, ambitious yet private, amazingly curious, but they do not squander their energy.

With a natural thirst for knowledge that shows itself early in life, INTJs are often given the title of "bookworm" as children. INTJs will often find ways to automate routine and mind-numbing tasks, and as they progress, their natural confidence, dedication, and creative intelligence will open the doors to the increased complexity and freedom they crave.

INTJs tend to prefer to work alone, or at most in small groups, where they can maximize their creativity and focus without repeated interruptions from questioning colleagues and meetings-happy supervisors. For this reason INTJs are unlikely to be found in strictly administrative roles or anything that requires constant dialogue and heavy teamwork. 

Rather, INTJs prefer more "lone wolf" positions as mechanical or software engineers, lawyers or freelance consultants, only accepting competent leadership that helps in these goals, and rejecting the authority of those who hold them back.While they don't care for the spotlight, INTJs do enjoy controlling their ideas, and will often expand into low-profile but influential roles as project managers, system engineers, marketing strategists, systems analysts, and military strategists.

Strengths Deployment Inventory (SDI)

This test can be explained in some detail here. This tests behaviors within group environments. How people react to each other. Generally people will be either Red, Blue, Green, or some variation of these. 

The way I learned it; Red is the Bulldozer (Win/Get'r Done). Blue is the Ambulance (How can I help?). Green is the Submarine (Organizers, Process Creators, Excel Geeks).

The test plots on a large triangle, dividing into the one of each of the three colors on each side. Most people tend to test as a blend of two more than the third. 

• Altruistic–Nurturing (Blue), 
• Assertive–Directing (Red), 
• Analytic–Autonomizing (Green), 
• Flexible–Cohering (Hub), 
• Assertive–Nurturing (Red-Blue Blend), 
• Judicious–Competing (Red-Green Blend), 
• Cautious–Supporting (Blue-Green Blend).

HUB - The School Bus. Community Glue. "Can't we all just get along?"

The HUB personality is someone who tests nearly equal in all three area (at the center of the triangle). This person can take on any of the three major character traits, whichever is most needed in the group setting.

• HUB personalities test in the center of these three. Displaying all equally. Rarest of the bunch, a HUB can become the missing link. 
• Whichever side is most needed, the HUB will fill that gap. However, the one distinctive force, will be the HUB's drive for unity. 
• HUB's know how all the others think and feel, instinctively.
• HUB's will work to bring everyone together.

D.I.S.C Inventory: C -Conscientiousness.

Take the DISC assessment here. The disc assessment divides the personality traits into Outgoing (D/I) and Reserved (S/C) and then divides again into People Driven (I/S) and Task Driven (D/C). All people will likely score some in each of the four quadrants. The test then shows "The Real You" and the "The way you behave".

C: Biblical Character LUKE. 

Positive: Listens to Suggestions. Time to Think. Organized. 

Opportunity: Moody (Not Optimistic).

I show a strong preference toward the C in both inward tendencies, and outward behaviors. I also show some leaning in the D. I behave more S than I am. VERY little in the I. It is recommended that you take a look at all four, and speak about yourself in terms of your top two.

People with the C style place an emphasis on working conscientiously within existing circumstances to ensure quality and accuracy.

When communicating with the C style individual, focus on facts and details; minimize "pep talk" or emotional language; be patient, persistent and diplomatic.

People with the D style place an emphasis on shaping the environment by overcoming opposition to accomplish results.

When communicating with the D style individuals, give them the bottom line, be brief, focus your discussion narrowly, avoid making generalizations, refrain from repeating yourself, and focus on solutions rather than problems.

UniquelyYou.Org Spiritual Gifts Assessment

• Teaching (40/40)
• Prophecy / Perceiving (38/40)
• Leadership (38/40)
• Encouraging / Exhorting (38/40)

Good Fit Opportunities

• Coaching
• Discipleship
• Scripture Reader
• Leadership Roles

Teaching

Christians with the Gift of Teaching prefer explaining why things are true. While the prophet declares truth, the teacher explains the reasons why it is true. Interested in research, those with the Gift of Teaching like to dig into seemingly insignificant details. They enjoy presenting what they discover. Often negligent of the needs of others, they press toward a deeper understanding. They love to study. Searching patiently and persistently, they may miss the obvious. They stretch the limits of learning, setting high standards of education.

In a word: In-depth
Overuse: Digs too deep
Goal: Reveal truth, don't exhaust it
Scripture: Rom. 12:6,7b; Col. 3:16; Jam. 3:1; 2; 2 Tim. 2:2

Prophecy / Perceiving

As with the Prophets of old, today people with the Gift of Prophecy seem to have the same seriousness and straight forward attitude toward truth. They like to share truth, regardless of what anyone thinks. Prophets today are motivated to confront anyone with what they believe is right. When controlled by the Holy Spirit, the Gift of Prophecy is a powerful tool to reprove, rebuke and exhort others. Prophets often find themselves pointing the way, declaring specific truth or standing up for something significant.

In a word: Bold
Overuse: Fighter
Goal: Declare truth, don't divide Christians
Scripture: Ph. 4:7,11; 1 Cor. 14:1,3; 2 Pet 1:19-21

Leadership

The Gift of Leadership, much like the Gift of Administration / Ruling, is evident in those who demonstrate an unusual ability to influence others. They seem to have an independent determination to challenge and direct others toward a specific goal. They stand out and take stands. Those with the Gift of Leadership tend to be multi-talented excelling with their people and tasks skills. Often result-oriented and driven, they need to guard their strengths. They also need to be more sensitive and patient with those who don't respond as well or positive as they. They are great motivators.

In a word: Dreamer
Overuse: Too demanding and impatient
Goal: Lead by example and willingness to be a servant
Scripture: Rom. 12:6,8c; John 13:13-17; Heb. 13:17

Encouraging / Exhorting

Christians with the Gift of Encouraging find themselves exhorting others. They are compelled to give advice. As counselors, they seem to often have steps of action. While Prophets declare truth and Teachers clarify truth, Encouragers / Exhorters like to tell you what to do with truth. They bless others with a strong sense of concern. Often looking to encourage others, they are sought out as counselors. People find Encouragers friendly, understanding and practical. They enjoy using their communication skills to share specific insights.

In a word: Encourager
Overuse: Talks too much
Goal: Apply truth, don't create expectations
Scripture: Rom. 12:6,8; Acts 11:23-24; Heb. 10:24-25

Encourager (here): The gift of exhortation is often called the "gift of encouragement." The Greek word for this gift is Parakaleo. It means to beseech, exhort, call upon, to encourage and to strengthen.

Discuss ONE experience for each of the following:

A Rewarding Ministry Experience.

Once, when leading a group for the Christian Club on Campus, at College of the Desert, I (and the group) laid hands on a young lady, and she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues. That was the first moment I saw that something bigger than me was possible. God really could use me... it frightened me, as much as it thrilled me.The idea still makes me hesitate. Like Moses before the fire, I often find myself saying "Lord... I don't speak well... send someone else." Yet there is this fire that pushes me to continue.

A Gratifying Personal Achievement.

Publishing Banking Basics for Believers. A woman I didn't know, was informed by a friend of mine to read it. I gave her a copy, my gift. She said that it helped her personally and professionally understand money in a new way. When she read it, she was doing the very same job I had been doing when I started writing it. She felt that it should be mandatory reading for her fellow employees. What an amazing circular experience.

A Touching Relationship Experience.

Hearing my wife (to be at the time) pray in tongues for the first time. It was the first time I found out that praying in tongues still existed. Before her, I thought it had either died centuries ago, or was happening in some remote monastery. When I heard her, my world opened wider than ever before. I knew I needed more of whatever she had.

A Tremendously Difficult Life Experience.

My Pastor-Father came out as an Alcoholic Atheist, later turned Crack Addict, then Psychologist. Parents Divorced. World crashed down. I struggled with identity for those first few years. But as I look back now... I struggled with identity for years before too. As a child I'd seen Jesus with my own eyes, and a demon too. Yet I grew up in this frozen-chosen religious traditional church, full of people who wouldn't know God if he walked up and said hello. There were precious few born again people in those churches, and even fewer Spirit Filled ones. So I was always torn between the life of the supernatural I experienced around me, and the dead religiosity of the people around me. So as I look back... it wasn't an event that changed me... it was an event that crystallized the experiences of my youth, and forced me to choose which world I would live in: Spiritual or Natural.

Interests and Passions

What are some of the things you enjoy doing/being? Just spit out the words as they come to mind.

Writing, Blogging, Internet (HTML/CSS), Reading Non Fiction, Reading Fiction, Study, Learning, Reading anything I get my hands on. Gardening. Soda. Cheeseburgers. Cooking. Discovery Channel. Science Fiction. Prophecy (End Times). Addiction/Recovery Topics. Finances. Personal Growth. Calling and Purpose.

Those were the results from my discovery assessments. Now go try yours, click on the links in each section and take your own tests. Write Me@DarrellWolfe.com to tell me how it went.



See Also:

• Interview Skills- An Introduction

• Interviews PT 1- Concrete and Specific

• Interviews 2 | Know the Job Description

• Interviews PT 3- Know Yourself

• Resume: God's or Yours?

• Discovery | Finding Your Place In God's Plan

• The Hedgehog & The Sweet Spot. Finding Your Unique Place In This World. 

Darrell Wolfe, Topos Consultant

Read more →

The Hedgehog & The Sweet Spot. Finding Your Unique Place In This World.

Have you ever been doing something so long you just do it because that's what you do?

It's like you just walk through the motions in life, trying each new thing that comes along, never really finding... traction. Your engine is running, but your tires are just spinning. You aren't going anywhere.

It's like you are busier and busier but you accomplish less and less.

What you need to do is find your inner Hedgehog!

Once upon a time, there was a hedgehog and a fox. The hedgehog was not smarter than the fox, faster than the fox, more talented than the fox or craftier than the fox. But the hedgehog did have one thing he was good at. It was that one thing that saved his life over and over and eventually led him to outlast and out perform the fox.

Read on to find out what you can learn from Little H, the Hedgehog, about success and simplicity.

Attribution: Hedgehog II by Kalle Gustafsson; With Ken Coleman Quote Added "You find your sweet spot by finding the intersection of your greatest strength and your greatest passion."

The Story Of Two Competitors: A Fox and A Hedgehog

There once was a little Hedgehog who's name was Little H. One day the Hedgehog wandered along the path to find his next meal. Out from in front of him, seemingly out of no-where, a fox jumps into the path. Foxes' teeth are glaring at him.

Fox obviously intends to make Little H his next meal.

Little H curls up into a ball, and pokes out his spines. The fox lunges and gets poked by one of Little H's spines and yelps! Fox runs away.

The next day Little H is roaming along the path and the Fox jumps out from behind Little H. Little H rolls into a ball and Fox lunges, get's poked, and runs away.

Over the next few days Fox tried to take Little H through various surprise attacks, different angles, different times of day, he tries sneaking up on him slowly. No matter what Fox tried, Little H rolled into a spiky ball.

Fox learned after the first few times that once he got into that ball he would not want to pursue. Little H continued to plod along and Fox eventually gave up in search for an easier meal.
Little H had learned to stay in his sweet spot and he found great success.

*(Story Adapted/Paraphrased from: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't (Affiliate Link), Jim Collins

Have You Found Your Sweet Spot?

Sometimes it seems like you are trying out so many ideas that you never gain traction on any of them. I have been experiencing that some with the soft launch of this blog (and my other online pursuits). That's part of the reason I gave myself all of 2014 to just write, experiment, and write... to find my voice.

In his video Ken Coleman referred to "The Sweet Spot".

"You find your sweet spot by finding the intersection of your greatest strength and your greatest passion." Tweet That

That reminded me of Jim Collins classic work: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't (Affiliate Link). In this book, Jim talks about "The Hedgehog Concept".

The idea is that the hedgehog does just one thing, and he does that thing REALLY well. The Fox can try to adapt, change, try new things, all to subvert his competition, try out 100 new tricks and cheats and hacks, but in the end it's the Hedgehog that wins, not the Fox.

(* While searching for my blog photo for this post, I even saw someone who had totally missed the point of the analogy and reversed the lesson.)

Why? Why does Hedgehog Win?

The Hedgehog wins because he does one thing, and he does it really well. I think that's what Ken Coleman is unpacking for us here in a different way. When you find that one thing you are most gifted to do in the area you are most passionate about, you find real resonance in life!

Just like the glass in this video (Click Here) when you find the frequency you ought to be operating at the confines of your life will shatter and you will be caged no more.

Jim Collins uses this concept to show how and why businesses who found their key guiding principle find better success.

On his website Jim explains: "The Hedgehog Concept"

"You’ll know that you’re getting closer to your Hedgehog Concept when you align three intersecting circles that represent three pivotal questions:

• What can we be the best in the world at? (And equally important—what can we not be the best at?)
• What is the economic denominator that best drives our economic engine (profit or cash flow per “x”)?
• And what are our core people deeply passionate about?

Answer those three questions honestly, facing the brutal facts without blinking, and you’ll begin to see your Hedgehog Concept emerge."

As individuals then for our own lives we must find our greatest strength and greatest passion.

As I do I will get closer to the "Why am I here on earth?" type answers and I'll find that true note that resonates throughout my whole life.

So too, you must discover that thing that makes you who you are.

What does it mean to be "Best In The World?" 

It means that you are doing what you are uniquely gifted to do. Nobody does it quite the way you do it. It doesn't mean that you are better at it than everyone else in the world. It means of all the things you do, this is what you are best at! Best in YOUR world.

I like what Michael Hyatt said about this. Why should you write a book? He said that there may be 1,000's of other people who have already written about your topic. But only you have your experiences and your voice. There may be people who will resonate with you and not with those others, or will find you and wouldn't have found them.

You need to write that book, publish that art, work on that job, do that thing because only you do it the way you do it.

Sometimes in sales they call this your: "Unique Value Proposition". What makes you better or different?

Lesson to Learn:

Find your greatest passion and your greatest strength and focus on that for the rest of your life. Hone it, get closer and closer to it, get better at it, define it better. That is one key to amazing results!

This Weeks Resource:

• Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't (Affiliate Link), Jim Collins “Some of the key concepts discerned in the study,” comments Jim Collins, "fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people.”

And now I leave you with 3 questions:

• What is the one thing that either you know you are most skilled at?
• What is the one thing that you are most passionate about? 
• Where do you think those might intersect? 

To Respond: Leave a comment on this post to answer all three questions



See Also:

• Interview Skills- An Introduction

• Interviews PT 1- Concrete and Specific

• Interviews 2 | Know the Job Description

• Interviews PT 3- Know Yourself

• Resume: God's or Yours?

• Discovery | Finding Your Place In God's Plan

• The Hedgehog & The Sweet Spot. Finding Your Unique Place In This World. 

Darrell Wolfe, Topos Consultant

Read more →