Most leaders would agree that part of their responsibility is to develop the team to perform at increasingly higher levels.
In Romans 11:29 Paul tell us that, "We have diverse gifts according to the grace that is given to us ..."
I think leaders should spend more time understanding the core strengths of each team player. I fault a leader for assigning a worker to a task beyond his gifts. Leaders place round pegs in round holes.
Consider the following elements of gift management:
1. Inventory of gifts. Have you completed an assessment of the key gifts for each member of your team? What gifts are missing from your team?
2. Tasks vs. gifts. Would your team say that your focus is on task completion or the nurturing of gifts? Do you focus on lists or lifts?
3. Expectations. Do you favor the fulfillment of a job description or do you coach your team to radical personal growth?
4. Accountability. Do you hold each member of your team accountable for personal growth? Do you monitor reading, continuing education and on the job learning?
The Parable of the Talents is a good reminder of how we could evaluate the performance of leaders. What have we done with what we have been given? God sends us the talent we need to accomplish our organization's objectives.
We are promised an abundance as we work to develop the talent we have been given.
Effective leaders provide Return on Human Assets.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every man according to his ability. And immediately he took his journey. He who had received the five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents. So also, he who had received two gained another two. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. He who had received five talents came and brought the other five talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted to me five talents. Look, I have gained five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.' He who had received two talents also came and said, 'Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His master said to him, 'Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow. So I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' His master answered, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not winnowed. Then you ought to have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. And throw the unprofitable servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'" (Matt. 25:14-30).
Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.
Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.
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