Coaches Report Archive
10 FAQ’s: How
do I Discover My Spiritual Gifts? (Part 1)
By Paul Ford and Steve Hoke
Cartoon images: Copyright 2004, 1995 Ed Koehler and Christianity
Today International. Used with permission
Using the Grip
Birkman in Organizational Development
By John Blake
Organizational Development is an overused term currently. It’s
almost become a type of buzz word, dancing through organizational
lingo like “organizational effectiveness,” “employee engagement,”
and even “talent management.” Organizational Development [OD] is a
specific process, defined by Anderson as “...the process of
increasing organizational effectiveness and facilitating personal
and organizational change through the use of interventions driven by
social and behavioral science knowledge.” This young process
(developed and defined in the late sixties) is one based upon action
research, or a discovery process of on-going research within the
specified organization. Many of the principles of OD fall directly
inline with that of the Grip-Birkman Coaching core beliefs.
In Organizational Development, the consultant is not an expert in
the industry, rather an expert in the process and in change. The
primary method of discovery comes through effective question asking.
The OD professional believes at his or her core, each person of the
organization has a desire to positively contribute. “Fit” is a key
word in OD, and organizational alignment becomes without question
one of the greatest pursuits of the OD professional.
The following is known as the Galbraith Star, developed by Jay
Galbraith, one of the leading organizational design experts.
In evaluating each of these aspects as they relate to the
Grip Birkman Blueprint, we can discover with greater clarity, how
organizational development might go hand-in-hand with organizational
development.
People – God’s plan is relationships,
and God’s plan is organic. If that is true, by using the
Grip-Birkman, we are given the most profound “cheat-sheet” on each
person to discover about their unique supernatural gifting and their
natural desired outcome (LifeStyle Grid asterisk). We can also
understand their most effective style, as well as have a tool to
help us identify their underlying needs.
Rewards – By evaluating two things in
the Grip-Birkman, we can gain a clearer picture as to how to reward
individuals based upon their unique, natural part of their design.
The Birkman “Advantage” component as well as
understanding a person’s Areas of Interest give us
great insights into how to maximize a person’s full potential by
shaping our rewards to fit their unique aspects. As an
organization, we must also be very aware of what we indirectly
reward or punish, as this is a primary source of organizational
cultures.
Process – By grasping the
Birkman components of Structure, Change, Freedom,
Thought, Activity, and Acceptance, we can
begin to identify why processes are in place. When we evaluate the
leadership putting the processes into place under this microscope,
we can potentially identify why conflicts may occur. We also have
then the opportunity to see potential gaps or stressors based upon
the given system. From the Birkman LifeStyle Grid, an
important aspect to evaluate is the directional movement from the
diamond (Usual Style) to the Circle/Square (Needs/Stress). This
would show us what needs to take place for the leader to be most
effective, also allowing us to evaluate how those needs are being
met by the processes which are in place.
Structure component –
Structure here is defined as the roles, responsibilities, and
relationships among functions. This means that grasping the core of
relationships defines how we are willing to interact. Evaluating
Birkman components of Esteem, Acceptance,
and Challenge will give us greater depth of
understanding. This understanding will allow us to see if there is
true misalignment, or perhaps simply frustration due to failed
relationship. In addition, this is a true opportunity to address
the supernatural need areas based upon the Team Styles
and Primary Functions.
Strategy component –
Strategy is organic, or relationship and people based. Therefore,
for us to understand the direction of the organization or the
long-term vision, we must closely evaluate who God has given us.
This can be done through our gifting, our usual style/diamon from
the Lifestyle Grid, and even our Organizational
Focus. Once evaluated, we are able to begin the discussion
of what strategy suits the organic nature of who God has given to
us.
Organizational
Development is a process of discovery, feedback, process
development, intervention, evaluation… and then do it all over
again. Its goal is to create effective systems and organizations,
while keeping the individual as central to the process. The
Grip-Birkman can be a very powerful tool for this to happen
in many organizations. It may not always be the answer, but through
proper diagnosis and discovery, God may clearly guide to utilize
some of these aspects in your next opportunity to use the
Grip-Birkman.
The Tornado of
Power
By Melanie A.
Lorenz, new GBB Coach
I recently had the
pleasure of completing my Grip/Birkman coaches training. Paul
Ford came out to the Pacific Northwest, and he and two Southern
Baptist Convention men, and I spent four days discovering who we
naturally are, how the Holy Spirit moves powerfully within us, and
how we can help other people discover these same things for
themselves. Plus my favorite part, how in doing so, we can bring
truth and life to humanity as we invite people to engage more fully
in Kingdom living with God through this process.
I have to admit I was unsure of what to expect from this training. I
knew I wanted to do it. I knew that I had experienced so many “Aha!”
moments when GBB Trainer Hal Burke had taken my team in South
Africa through the process last year that I had to somehow become a
part of this organization. I needed to have access to these tools so
that I could extend the same freedom and grace that comes from
understanding [and affirming!] who you really are to other people
struggling like I had been.
What I didn’t realize is that I would be deeply affirmed for who
I am. As a woman with a specific calling from God to serve in
mission – inviting people to deeper and deeper experiences of His
Kingdom on earth – I’ve had what at times has felt like an uphill
battle. Other strong-willed women can probably relate to my
experiences, i.e., ministry has been a man’s world for hundreds of
years.
So what do we do when our spiritual gifts move us from a non-direct
blue into a super direct red? What do we do when our gifts end up
being those of a visionary leader? A role over-prized by men, and
yet frequently kept only for them. Then you have my brother Rick
Derby, one of the amazing pastors I had the pleasure of being in
training with. His heart for people, his concern for individual
needs, his gifts of service, helps, mercy, and especially pastoring
give him the affect of a shepherd any person could trust. Yet he has
felt so much pressure for not being the “man with the plan.” I have
been like Deborah [Judges] and he has been like Stephen [Acts] and
our traditions would rather we were Mary and Paul.
I think my favorite part of this experience was each individual
personal revelation. Matthew Young, another coach in training with
us, seemed surprised that his interests lay in the outdoors,
science, mechanics, and art… and then he told us of the pergola he
built outside. Since we are Facebook friends now I happen to know
it’s a beautiful piece of art in addition to being mechanical,
outdoors, and needing science in order to accomplish it. I look
forward to someday hearing if he has the wisdom gift, one he had not
considered, that we that discussed as well.
At the end of our time together I think we had a newfound respect
not only for ourselves, but also each other, this process, and what
God may have in store for the people entrusted to us. I’m so
appreciative I’ve had the opportunity to take this first step into
the Grip/Birkman organization [organism?], and look forward
to many more.
A plan for
infecting GBB throughout Evangelical Congregational Church
By GBB Coach Bruce
Wagner, an ECC denominational leader
Evangelical Congregational Church Denomination:
154 churches concentrated in PA, but spread from New Jersey to
Illinois. On any given Sunday morning we will have about 10,000 in
worship in these churches.
Within the Evangelical
Congregational Church we are in the beginning stages of using the
Grip/Birkman Blueprint. Our intent is to use it as a
basis for leadership development and pastoral deployment. To begin
to see this happen, we have asked all of our people who are involved
with pastoral assessment, pastoral credentialing, and pastoral
assignment do a component level GBB and
participate in a two hour debriefing as a group of about thirty
five.
We have decided to have all
prospective pastors do a base level GBB before
entering into the assessment process. The assessment process is a
four-day interactive experience with a team of assessors. We will
build into the four days time to coach the prospective pastors
through their report. For those who assess well and will be deployed
as assigned pastors, we will order a component level report.
Our
purpose is two-fold. We will build the concept of self-assessment
through the GBB into the DNA of our denomination as we
introduce it to all incoming pastors. We will also have another tool
in our hands as we seek to deploy pastors to churches in the best
possible way to energize both pastors and churches.
The
concept of self-assessment will be followed up as we build “Baseline
Coaching” into our DNA. Our goal is to see everyone who is willing
to “fit and flourish” in ministry. The GBB gives us a
starting point whereby to begin the lifelong coaching process that
will facilitate this goal.
In doing pastoral deployment,
we work by a somewhat modified system of “stationing.” A Stationing
Committee matches up pastors and churches according to what we know
of each. We then seek first the pastor’s willingness to interview at
a church and then that church’s willingness to interview that
particular pastor. We have developed some tools whereby we can
understand both pastors and churches. It seems to be in everyone’s
best interest to do this well. The GBB will be a valuable addition
to our “toolbox” as we seek to know our pastors as well as we can.
To date
we have six trained GBB coaches. We hope to expand
this base as we corporately realize the value of a coaching model
built on the Grip/Birkman Blueprint.
Using GBB as a
Local Church Lay Mobilizing Process
By
Mark Frueh
Mark, a GBB Coach and Certified Lay Pastor, is the
Director of Outreach and Discipleship in the church referenced
below,
Editor’s note: this is the first successful lay mobilizing model
developed that utilizes the Grip/Birkman Blueprint
At First Presbyterian Church in Minot, North Dakota we have equipped
50 laypersons to date using the Grip/Birkman Blueprint model
through five classes over the past two years or so. We have done our
mobilizing process using several
formats, the best being to meet on back-to-back weekends. We meet
7-10 p.m. on Friday night, from 9 to 4 on Saturday; we follow the
same agenda the following weekend. Since we have four coaches (two
couples) we are able to divide up the training (couples alternating
sections), which always allows two of us to listen for opportunities
to add additional clarification or insight. We also advertise it as
one of our foundational small group offerings to people in our new
member’s class.
When we interview people who have completed the GBB training
we do a lot of affirming, listening, and encouraging. We listen and
watch where the Holy Spirit is working in a person’s life. We ask
what where the most important things that they took away from the
process. We give them plenty of time to really connect with what the
Spirit is doing in their heart. We probe a little deeper into every
area they mention trying to draw out from the depths of their heart
– using that same affirming, listening, and encouraging model. In
the last part of the interview, we ask they if they have a ministry
burden or passion that they feel they must do, start, or wish be a
part of. From there we have a pretty good picture of how they have
been shaped and bent by God and where they might fit into ministry.
We offer at least 5 possible areas of ministry that might fit who
God has made them to be. We ask them to give the consideration time
for prayer and thought, to really let it resonate in their heart.
We primarily use the Base Level GBB instead of the
Component Level GBB so that participants are not scared away by
cost. After they find out the value of the assessments, many pay the
additional cost to get an upgrade to the GBB Component Level.
I personally find the Primary Leadership Function piece from
the Leadership Grip most helpful for me – it helps me define
what role God has designed for this individual as it relates to the
big picture. An example might be in what ministry opportunity will
this Active Listener have the biggest impact base on his/her
passions? I find the need (invisible)/stress (visible) combination
to be one of the most helpful pieces from the Birkman Foursome.
Knowing this about the people I value and team together with helps
me with greater awareness of my and their needs so that I can be
more proactive in my relationships.
The value in releasing people to their God-ordained callings could
never be fully calculated – I love watching the Holy Spirit grab
hold of people! Recently we released a dear brother to facilitate
our Financial Peace University Classes. Everything from his
Birkman Foursome, Your Leadership Grip, and Ministry
Burden/Passion pointed to this being tailor made for him to step
into. The result – many people are being set free in their finances!
Introduction to Primary Functions of Stewardship in Detail Chart
(Read
It Here)
By John Blake
People
all define and describe the Primary Functions of Stewardship
a little different. According to Tim Roehl, it is “How God stewards
my gifts to accomplish His Kingdom purposes.” Paul Ford says it as
“How I steward my part in the Body of
Christ.” I tend to explain it as more of our outward expression of
our gift combination. All of us are right. It’s all true; which is
partially what led us to the necessity of further unpacking this
powerful third angle of the Gifts Triangle.
As Steve
Hoke, Paul Ford, and I sat around a table, sketching on a flip-chart
each of the Primary Functions, the depth hit me in a
whole new way. This significance hit me for a variety of reasons:
(1) For
the next generation, who struggle for clear role definition in life
and ministry, this equates our supernatural gifting into a
functional language. How I function powerfully serves as the
accurate and appropriate counter-piece to being defined by a role;
(2) The
Primary Functions of Stewardship shows us powerfully
the embodied function of our gift combination, or gift “mooshing”;
it becomes a simplified descriptor of the Body Life ligament action
we get to embrace (Ephesians 4:13-16); and....
(3) The
Primary Functions of Stewardship challenges us in a
new way to embrace our upfront or alongside role in the Body as well
as gain further clarity on who we need. All of these contribute to
the necessity of greater understanding, coaching, and teaching
through this stewardship corner of the Gifts Triangle.
Through this added sheet of information regarding the “Role or Function”—the
underlying “Motivation,” and the “Indicators of Functions
Fulfilled,” we hope to create a greater clarity and depth to your
current understanding of the Primary Functions. If
you attend a Coaches Recertification event this year, you will have
added teaching on additional specific uses of this chart and the
Primary Functions’ depth. Though not all of this may
resonate strongly with you, our prayer is that as you wade through
this new information, nuggets of truth with be discovered, owned,
and passed on in you coaching, teambuilding, and living out of your
own Primary Functions of Stewardship.
Retaining
the “Glocal” Dimension of the “I” to “We” to “They” Paradigm
By
Steve Hoke, GBB
Trainer
How many of
us, while working with local churches or ministry teams here or in
other countries, have seen churches
committed to obedient outreach but missing the mark because their
understanding of the DNA of the missional church was off by a
component or two?
To put it more practically, why are we GBB Coaches helping
individuals and teams understand and steward who they are? Let me
remind all of us of the big picture to which God has called us as we
continue to coach and train stewardship in the “I” and the “WE”
while utilizing the Grip/Birkman Blueprint.
Going Glocal is moving from “I” to “We” to “They”
Former associate pastor of The Church on Brady (now Mosaic), and
current Church-mission consultant Carol Davis coined the term
“glocal” in 2000 to connect the two inseparable biblical spheres of
church outreach—the local and the global. Now Pastor Gene Wood has
captured that same biblical, holistic integration in his book, Going
Glocal. It is a marvelous coalescing of different perspectives and
paradigms into one shared framework.
“Glocal” is a word that fits nicely into the “I” to “We” to “They”
progression that ChurchSmart and the NCD (Natural Church
Development) paradigm have adopted. It’s a single word that reminds
us that the two dimensions of local and global are organically and
relationally linked; too often we have failed to see that. That has
allowed us to go off on tangents because we thought “our passion”
was the most important.
Recapping the 3-step progression. The Grip/Birkman
Blueprint is a critical tool linked with a coaching process that
enables us to expand people’s awareness of their own Spiritual
Gifts, to see how those Gifts play out on a particular team setting,
and how those Gifts are the divine compulsion for the particular
Equipping Function in the Body that each person contributes.
Paul uses the term, “the Stewardship Three-Step” to describe the
process by which people realize how their “I” fits into the “We” of
teams and groups in the Body of Christ, and leaders then relate to
“groups of we.” That’s three steps into a more organic understanding
of oneself and one’s gifting in the Body of Christ. This tool is
fundamental to helping people see their role and ministry identity
in the first two steps of the “I” to “We” progression.
Next, Paul’s book, Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder, brings to us
a discussion of how seven specific cultural values lock us into
cultural prison that has kept us from seeing the freedom found only
in the Body Life Design Team model. Paul traces how the values of
narcissism, entitlement, dissatisfaction, sarcasm, the “ladder
mentality,” rebellion glorified, and blame become road blocks to the
relational growth and maturity the Spirit wants to bring in every
church.
Re-Framing the Third Step. Thus the “I” to “We/groups of WE”
then adds the “They” framework, which plugs individuals into teams
and groups in the Body of Christ, and then links them to the
“they”—those people currently beyond the reach of God’s tender
mercies, whether local or global. As no other church growth or
missional church paradigm has done to this date, this new three-step
progression helps North American churches realize it is the biblical
DNA from which all subsequent growth extends naturally. Without all
three, any model of missional church or growth is flawed.
Seeing the Big Picture
The “apostolic genius” (to use Alan Hirsch’s term) of the Church is
that God has gifted each Body to be out-reaching locally and
globally from the very outset. He has given specific gifts to
accomplish that glocal ministry from its birth. That is why it is so
vital that every member know and embrace their gifted strength as
well as their weakness—the people with the gifts they need to
function effectively on the Body of Christ. No one person has to or
can do it all. The local ministry advocate needs the gifting and
insight of the global champion to be fully balanced and effective.
At the same time, the global missions champion needs to see how they
need the gifting and passion of the local enthusiasts for the
outreach of the church to be truly biblical and balanced.
So, what’s the point of this discussion? Simply to remind us who are
GBB coaches and Trainers to keep “the main the main thing.” Always
point to the “Big Picture.” Don’t forget that helping people
discover their ministry identity by moving from “I” to “We” is only
the first two steps. The journey stretches to the nations.
• Clarity on giftedness and role is to help believers discover their
place in the Body Life Design Team.
• Clarity on Team Styles and Equipping Functions enables believers
to begin making a supernatural contribution in the vitality of the
Body.
• As the “I’s” become “WE’s,” body life takes its next powerful step
to wider, deeper impact
There is even greater impact to be had from this point! Significance
of “I” to “We” is ultimately realized when every church or ministry
takes its responsibility seriously to mobilize its members in glocal
ministry so that disciples are made among every people group. Tom
Clegg of CoachNet and author of Lost in America, says it succinctly:
“The “I” and the “We” is for the sake of the “They.”
The Global Resource Team Looks Toward a New Year, A New Decade
By Hal Burke, Team Leader
Some
Some GRT member referenced in article (left to right):
Hal, John, & Steve (Hoke) in back row, and Lois in front right (with
coach Lisa Womble)
In anticipation of a New
Year and decade, I asked the members of the Global Resource Team to
share some of their dreams and goals.
Here is just a small sampling of the care and creativity of
this wonderful group of men and women committed to resourcing you,
our coaches and trainers.
Bruce Lininger
(Albuquerque, NM) states “We cannot impart what we do not possess so
I will be guiding our team to utilize aspects of the team building
principles (we teach) on our bi-monthly calls.”
Steve Potter
(Bradenton, FL) says “Knowing that GBB coaching is all about
relationships, I hope to see that more developed among coaches.”
John Blake
(Atlanta, GA) wants “2010 (to be) a year of implemented
systems-honoring our coaches and trainers through the newly
developed recertification process.”
He goes on to say “I hope that our focus never becomes that
of an assessment, but how we can take that knowledge and directly
apply it to greater Kingdom impact.”
In a similar vein
Chet Ainsworth (Idyllwild, CA) wants “to make the GRT/GBB
process more supportive of coaches.”
One practical way of helping accomplish that is how
Lois Hoogeveen
(Sioux Falls, SD) sees “the GRT (using) a simple, user-friendly,
proven and effective software program that helps communicate
efficiently with GBB coaches and trainers worldwide.”
Steve Hoke
(Ft. Collins, CO) reminds us of the importance of “prayer for the
Spirit to descend, fill us, empower us and lead us out into expanded
dimensions of supernatural service.”
It is safe to assume Steve is not just referring to the GRT
but all of us who serve the Bride of Christ as GBB coaches and
trainers. I,
Hal Burke
(Sarasota, FL) have decided the most important thing for me to do is
model what we teach, so my main focus is going to on deepening
relationships on the team.
One way I am going to do that is to complete a GBB Summary
sheet on each team member so I understand each one as God made him
or her naturally and supernaturally.
Otherwise we aren’t doing all we can as the GRT to model what
we give so much time and energy to teaching and helping you do.
Please intercede for your team as
Steve Hoke says so
well “praying that the Spirit would baptize our team with ‘fresh
wind, fresh fire’ to move in greater supernatural power…to be the
servant-stewards Abba has called us to be.”
Thank you for the privilege of serving our Lord by serving
you. Please let us know
if there is anything we can do to resource you.
May God grant you a blessed year of helping people be who God
created them to be “until all of us come to…maturity, to the measure
of the full stature of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13
“Here’s What I Think of You!” Makes a
Comeback...
Subtitled: A Reasonably Priced Christmas Gift
By Paul Ford, GBB Trainer
 Check
out the new, downloadable pdf’s of the
“Here’s
What I Think of You!”
worksheet and scoresheet on our
GBB Coaches Resources page. If your
clients take the Your Leadership Grip portion of our process
online, you will want to make certain that you send them this
important 360 tool. While this assessing piece remains in the paper
workbook, it is NOT in the online questionnaire and results.
Pleased. We have been so pleased that the Your Leadership
Grip process has been available online now for several years.
This has been particularly important for those who utilize our tool
in other parts of the world, meaning that no paper workbook needs to
be shipped. We are also excited that we now have our first-ever
Birkman-like report on the Your Leadership Grip side. Anyone
who takes the Grip/Birkman online now will see our new
“Double-Check” pages and the “Dotted Diamond”
introduction. We have come a long way as we grow through input from
so many of you in our learning community of 160+ active coaches and
trainers.
NOT Pleased. We did have a difficult discovery along the way
to going online with Your Leadership Grip. We found out the
hard way that the “Here’s What I Think of You!” assessment
and feedback tool did not work. It gummed up the whole online
process, so it was removed. It is still in the workbook but no
longer could this input be gathered online.
But wait a minute. This input from three to five people who have
observed you in ministry is way too valuable! We heard from coaches
as far away as Istanbul with comments like this: “This 360 input
piece helped me to suddenly realize that I had the gift of faith. I
would have never seen this without input from those who watched me
serve.” Agreed. “This feedback from others is essential to my
effectively coaching people toward good stewardship of who they
are.” Bingo. We need to have this invaluable 360 feedback so that
people can soberly estimate how others see them, even as they
evaluate their own Spiritual Gifts, Team Styles and Primary
Functions.
So now, please visit the newly updated “Here’s
What I Think of You!” worksheet and scoresheet on our
GBB Coaches Resources page.
Just send these two pieces to anyone whom you are coaching
individually or working with as a team and require them to have them
completed by the time you coach or teambuild with them. It is as
easy as pumpkin pie, to be calendar relevant just now. The input
from others will likely be as invaluable for them as it has for
thousands of others who have gone through our process,
Truth be told, I still do this worksheet for myself whenever I work
with folks who know me – probably have 40 copies of the worksheet
that have been done on yours truly. Recently I am considering
whether or not I have the gift of wisdom/word of wisdom – because of
input from others through this worksheet!
How’s this for a nice, inexpensive Christmas gift? Merry Christmas!
First-Ever Week of GBB Trainers Gathered
by John Blake
Trainer Re-Certification Group: Steve Hoke, Ron Ward, Hal Burke,
Gail Davis, Matt Zamzow (from Birkman International),
Su Berkeley, Mike Johnson, Tim Roehl, Susan Gay, Larry Gay, Paul
Ford, John Blake (missing: Kathy Fouts)
The tagline for “Google
Scholar” is “stand on the shoulders of giants.” We had an
outstanding group of Grip-Birkman giants – some of the best
practitioners and scholars from around the world – gathered together
at home office of our publisher ChurchSmart Resources in St.
Charles, IL last week (October 20-23). As you looked around the
room, people traveled in from multiple nations representing a number
of major Christian organizations to share in the inaugural two-day
GBB Trainer Re-certification, immediately followed by
the first-ever GBB Trainer Gathering.
History was in the making as Birkman International supported our
Global Resource Team in conducting this first ever Trainer
Recertification event. Why is this significant? Those recertified
not only met all of the requirement pieces for the Your
Leadership Grip-Birkman process, but also for the renewal of
the Birkman Level 1 Consulting requirement (every three years). We
were honored to have Matt Zamzow, the Director of Training for
Birkman, join us, and he offered key insights and profound depth to
our trainers in understanding and using the Birkman side of the
Grip-Birkman process.
Dr. Hal Burke, Dr. Mike Johnson, Dr. Steve Hoke, Dr. Paul Ford and I
all had the honor of bringing critical information to our GBB
Trainers in areas like teambuilding and team dynamics, cross-overs
from the natural to the supernatural, dotted diamond, new Gifts
triangle discoveries, and greater understanding of the Birkman
components. This event by itself would have been a “giant” event.
The Trainer Gathering, however, was the highlight for me. Dave
Wetzler, President of ChurchSmart, hosted us and honored us in a
number of ways. He involved himself throughout the two days, even to
eat meals with us. Hear from one of our trainers via email since the
event.
I was also deeply touched at the standard displayed by Dave
Wetzler. ChurchSmart is a real blessing in the attitude and
prayerful care extended into the business world. That has helped me
appreciate the standards more deeply. I have always been impressed
at Bob Rummel’s representation of the organization, as his courtesy
and patience are amazing. But in context of Dave’s attitude that
takes on more meaning, The generous and godly spirit is something
rarely seen in business and so even more valuable when found.
We spent two quality days together sharing how God was using the
Grip-Birkman process throughout the world in our ministries. How
broad is the Grip-Birkman being used right now? Well, simply stated
from those represented in the room, the trainers had worked with
people using the GBB in 45 countries. Of those 45 countries, these
trainers had trained GBB Coaches who were now living in twenty
different nations. In that room of thirteen trainers, there were 13
different organizations represented who were actively using the
Grip-Birkman. It is humbling to confess that I had not previously
grasped how profoundly God was using the Grip-Birkman process
throughout the world for His purposes.
Our hearts were challenged at a new level, however. Rather than
simply looking back and praising, and looking at where we were and
praying and praising, we wanted to intentionally look ahead. Through
strategically looking at coaching, teambuilding and leader
development, we discussed the future improvement and further
development of serving our Lord with the Grip-Birkman as a tool.
Over the next months, changes and communications that you see from
the GRT and trainers around the world will be a direct result of
these profoundly impacting days. A room full of giants, brought down
to size once again understood our minuscule size next to the
Almighty and His Purposes.
Using GBB in Supervisory Relationships
by
Name
withheld
I couldn’t understand
it. I was frustrated. He was under stress. I was giving him room
and time to process (just like I would want), why did he keep
calling me about the minutest decisions? Everyday, I would get a
phone call with another question even though I had told him in an
email what my expectation were. Why couldn’t he get it?
Oh, yeah, check his
Grip/Birkman, maybe there’s a clue in there. Boy, was
there, how could I have been so blind?! Unlike, me, my friend, Bob
(name changed), when under stress can’t stand indirect
communication. While his usual style most certainly puts him in the
blue in which he displays an introspective nature without a lot of
direct, verbal communication, when he’s under stress, he moves up
into the green, the exact opposite of the way I would want someone
to deal with me in stressful situations. While I would desire time
to get away, to read an email at a later time so I could process and
think through a situation, this person for whom I am responsible to
supervise, wanted someone to talk to. Hard to believe that
someone who is so quiet would need so much verbal, but there it is
in all it’s “greenness.”
This ah-ha moment was a
watershed for me in my supervisory relationships. I’m responsible
for overseeing the work of missionaries scattered across 5 countries
in Central Asia. Simply put, we all live in a pressure cooker. We
live in our stress response. Learning about stress/needs response
in the GBB is one of the most important supervisory
tools I’ve ever had. Learning how people want communication while
stressed out has improved my effectiveness as a supervisor, but also
helped me to “learn” – be a better student of - these servants of
the Lord.
After learning this
about Bob, I decided to create a simple Word file that listed each
supervisee’s needs/stress response that I could quickly access.
Now, I have a good idea of the kind of communication that these
people need to do their job, not what I assume they need,
which is obviously indirect, written communication, like any
“normal” stressed out person like me would need.
So, now when dealing
with those who supervise others in coaching situations, I’ve added a
fourth question to the famous troika of “How are you strong? How are
you weak? Who do you need? My quartet is complete if I ask, “How
do you stress?”Knowing this will help you find those quiet-types
that desperately need to talk to someone when the going gets tough.
Thanks, GBB, that’s just what I needed!
Perspectives on the Administration Spiritual
Gift
by GBB Trainers Paul Ford
and Steve Hoke
“Have you ever
invested a lot of time and energy into designing and planning an
event, and God blesses and 800 participants show up
instead of 400?” (GBB Coach Lois Hoogeveen)
“You spend hours and
hours designing procedures, creating forms and checklists, but at
the end of many days and weeks feel that you have been diverted from
our primary passions and contribution.” (Steve Hoke)
“Have you ever spent
hours of days each week in administration, filing and bringing order
to a system, but sensing very little joy or power. But someone has
to do it? (Coach Lisa Womble)
Which of these persons
would you say has the gift of administration?
We have observed that
many ministry leaders have administration in their top four scores
of their Spiritual Gifts questionnaire results. But
they attest to not deriving much joy or fruit or power in the
exercise of the perceived gift. So, does that mean that fewer
really have that spiritual gift because they experience minimal, if
any, joy, power or fruit?
Here are some observations and suggestions for better understanding
this gift:
1. When
the administrative is not the lead gift, i.e. it is secondary, you
won’t see yourself as an administrator, and you won’t value
administration as to focus of our serving, managing, or leading or
equipping. Why? Because it’s not about the administration. It’s
about the value the administration serves that is purposed in the
use of your other gifts and passion.
2. When
a person’s lead gifts are Equipping Gifts, they see the gift
of administration through their lenses is through equipping, not
administration or the broader Serving Gift category. So they
will tend to downplay the administrative dimension.
3.
What will it look like if
it is a Gift that really drives your heart? One or more of these
points will be true:
You will thrive in the process of piecing together, framing, systems
building parts of your work
You will find fulfillment in simply serving others by covering the
details
Seeing a conference or event “hum” and no one notices brings you
incredible joy
You will love the chance to free another person’s gifts by releasing
him or her from administrative details that may be bogging them down
4.
You may not have the gift
of administration if:
You find little joy, fruit, or power in fulfilling the details and
systems work noted in #3
KEY: One or both of your usual style (diamond) and/or circle
(needs) in the Birkman Lifestyle Grid are in the
yellow quadrant – that is, your natural behavior is systems or
detail oriented
You do administrative tasks because you have to in your role and not
for the fun of it
I (Paul) have found
literally scores of people who have been told all their life and
ministry
that they have the gift of administration, but actually have a
systems or detail-oriented personality. That is, there is little or
no power, joy or fruit in the doing of administrative tasks or
systems work. They can do such naturally, but it is not the power
of the Holy Spirit. The Grip/Birkman “sober estimation” process has
proven really helpful in delineating which it is: powerful gift or
natural talent.
SO, when you are
preparing to coach an individual or work with a team, here’s the
most important cue. When you see a person who lists administration
as one of their top four gifts, AND they have their diamond and/or
circle from the Lifestyle Grid in the yellow – or yellow is their
longest Organizational Focus bar – then be very
watchful! Be prepared to ask the fruit, joy and power questions.
When it’s NOT a gift, people will find great freedom in being
released from the expectations of such. When it IS a gift, people
will be greatly confirmed in the joy, fruit and power they
experience when using this gift of administration.
Talents can indeed be
used for the glory of God. But they do not bear the fruit, joy and
power that one experiences when functioning in the power of the Holy
Spirit through one’s Spiritual Gifts.
Reflections
on Couples Coaching with the Grip/Birkman Blueprint
By Steve Potter, GBB Trainer who has started Coaching for
Change
During the mid-April Grip/Birkman Users Group meeting, Lois
Hoogeveen presented a model for using the GBB as coaching tool for
couples. She provided a description of her process and a guide
which she put together as a result of her experiences with couples.
It contained both preparation questions for the couple and coaching
questions for each section of the Grip/Birkman Blueprint which focus
on the marriage relationship.
Lois’ presentation and tool gave me the confidence to venture into
coaching a couple very close to me, a
great chance to test out Lois’ guide. I knew there were limits to
what I might accomplish as a coach, yet I also knew there was power
in the GBB which could make a start for them in growing their
marriage. So I offered them a gift of the GBB. Little did I
realize how much of a gift it would be.
COUPLE #1.
My first insight in this experience was that the GBB provides an
objective and non-threatening picture of the differences among us,
and it enables a constructive conversation about those differences.
As the WE begins to honor the differences which each I brings to the
WE, the I’s can build strategies for stewarding the differences into
a stronger WE.
But what about differences that are so far apart and completely
unappreciated, even discounted as valid behaviors? When coaching
this couple through the Lifestyle Grid, they
discovered that her lower right-corner Blue and his upper
left-corner Red interests were unappreciated by the other. They
realized that these were strengths and could provide a basis for
contributing to the success of their life and work together. They
are now building strategies around expanding both their home
business and new weekend activities in which they each can express
their diverse interests. What now seems amazingly simple to do,
they were blind to before seeing distinctive pieces from their
Birkman Foursome.
A
second major insight came in comparing their eleven Birkman
Components. They were able to build some very useful
planning tools in their daily routine which satisfied their need for
structure and time for managing the unplanned changes to their full
routine containing home schooling and home businesses. The insights
gained into their needs revealed both similarities and differences
they had not previously understood with the clarity needed to
develop behaviors that supported each other’s most effective style.
They were so excited by this that they created a document containing
all the actions they planned in order to provide the best needs
environment for each other’s most effective style. They really got
the idea that their best would come out when they effectively
created an environment supportive of each other instead of trying to
fix each other.
COUPLE #2.
Gaining confidence, I offered to do GBB coaching for a pastor friend
and his wife. After exploring their Gifts Triangles,
I asked them to also look at their Birkman Organizational
Focus. In the resulting dialogue, it became clear that they
had a significant ministry calling together, beyond being a couple
with the wife supporting the husband’s vocational ministry calling.
Their most powerful insight came when they saw their gift mooshing
move their Dotted Diamonds into overlapping fans in
the green quadrant. Approaching retirement in a few years, they
realized that the mission field where they met would become their
calling in retirement from their current vocations. This insight
was a powerful moment to watch as they previewed their future in
ministry together.
Through this new arena of working with couples, I have experienced a
new depth of understanding the power of the GBB in our growth from I
to WE through being obedient to God’s prompting to coach a couple
very close to me. That experience and the guiding Lois provided at
the User Group have been a blessing as I now coach other couples
through their GBB and to new depths in their relationship.
Two Reflections
from our Coach Re-certification Process in mid-April
#1 - Specific Training Modules
by Lois Hoogeveen, a "Life Connections Coach" from Sioux Falls,
South Dakota
The first module of
training that was particularly helpful for me was "Going Deeper
with the Dotted Diamond." The Apostle Paul encouraged his
spiritual son, Timothy, to fan into flame the gift of God
(2 Timothy 1:6a). As we visually illustrated how our
dotted diamonds move when we are functioning in the areas of
our spiritual giftedness, fanning my usual behavior into a
new range of potential behavior enriched the meaning of
these words. The result of fanning into flame my personal
gift mooshing is that my usual style fans into new ranges.
Adding not just a dotted diamond, but a dotted fan
provided me greater appreciation for the impact spiritual gifts have
on a person's usual or naturally effective style.
"Mining the
Components" was another powerful "aha" for me during the
coach re-certification process. Although I feel like I am still just
scratching the surface of the Birkman Components, the
re-certification teachings took me into a deeper level of
understanding what the components reveal about a person. Learning
how to use the report to clarify relational and motivational
patterns as well as reveal elements of one's significance was
valuable to me.
A third element of the
re-certification that was significant for me was the benefit of
learning from four different presenters. Hal, John, Steve and Paul
each have their own unique passion and presentation style, and the
four-trainer-combo indeed provided us with the "best of the best!"
#2 - General
Reflections
by
Lisa Womble, Ministry
Advancement Program Coordinator at Saint
Louis Christian College
I must admit I
came into the April GBB Coach Re-certification event
in Waxahachie, TX exhausted. Even though I knew the
re-certification requirement was a good idea and that I needed to
understand the tool more fully, I was feeling fairly overwhelmed
with the timing of it in my schedule. I had left behind a mound of
papers to be graded and reports to be read for the work I do at
Saint Louis Christian College. I issue grades to over 300 students
and the week I was in Texas was the due date for all their reports
to me. But before your sympathy pours in, I am happy to say the
time with the GBB folk was truly refreshing.
The Lakeview Conference Center is a beautiful, relaxing location.
The approach of the leadership team was personable, humorous, and
encouraging. The interaction with fellow coaches was also helpful.
I truly enjoyed the relationship building that was part of the
process.
As all of us who
work with the Grip-Birkman Blueprint Blueprint know,
the depth of information in the report leaves one feeling like they
have just scratched the surface with clients even after a two day
seminar or personal coaching sessions. The same is true for
learning to use the instrument. The more I know and understand
about it, the more I grow to appreciate its value. I have chosen to
use the GBB above other assessment options specifically because of
the depth and holistic nature of the report, so it makes sense to me
that I need the extra learning experiences of the recertification
process in order to help me utilize it most effectively. For that
reason, I benefitted from the coach re-certification event. I am
excited to think that the things I'm learning will help me to better
prepare my students for life and ministry.
Personal Insights the April Grip/Birkman User
Group in Waxahachie, Texas
By Deborah & Keith Grimaud, 2nd year Grip/Birkman Coaches
Most of the participants from the Texas GBB Users Group:
Article contributors Keith and Deborah Grimaud are on the far right.
Steve Hoke and John Blake
are down in front, with Hal Burke, Tom Wymore, Steve Potter, and
Lois Hoogeveen pictured as well.
Boyd Pelley and Paul Ford are not pictured.
Dr. Ford has been whisked to an undisclosed location high in the New
Mexico hills for national security reasons according to his security
detail. This is not yet confirmed.
What brought you to the GBB User
Group?
Keith: Eleven other colleagues that we work with in Europe met
in Germany last November for a GBB User Group, but we were here in
the States and regretfully missed that meeting. The moment we saw
the opportunity to go to the GBB User Group in Texas, we were elated
and signed on. Then, just before the conference date, our travel
schedule and our stretched “to do” list nearly kept us away. If we
had decided not to go, we would have missed the shared experiences
and vision, the fellowship and encouragement, and the much-needed
affirmation from old and new friends who were there with us. Hal
Burke and the GBB Global Resource Team welcome from the users far
more than mere feedback; they also welcome input into the ongoing
processes of GBB development, allowing us to participate in the
changes that are already on the horizon. They exemplify the
steward-styled leadership model that the GBB instrument is all
about. The time together was a gift from God, making it worth far
more than the time or expense to attend. To all of you who were
there, “Thanks!”
What in particular did you take away from the User Group?
Deborah: Unity. Again. The GBB process itself, in both
individual and teambuilding ways of discovery, illustrates the unity
in Christ’s own prayers for His followers. For the purposes of the
Lord bringing together those of us at the user group, our minds and
hearts were knit together. While participating fully in the
discussions and applications of stewardship, followship, and
leadership, I enjoyed the process of learning and growing together
with those around the table. We have encountered this sense of unity
doing GBB teambuilding events in London, Barcelona, and Paris with
other “colleagues-in-arms.” It’s as if all around us, this sense of
unity showing Jesus to the world, like an old seed deeply buried in
the hearts, is cracking open and taking root to burst forth within
His followers everywhere. We sensed it,
again, at the user
group. How awesome to sense God at work in ways far beyond our
planning and imagining!
Keith: As Paul Ford shared his sense of direction that GBB is
taking, he told us how the Lord had been shaping his thoughts
through Ezekiel 34. The verse he shared to call us out of
complacency in ministry is: “Son of man, prophesy against the
shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the
Sovereign LORD says:
Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of
themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?”
(Ez 34:2) Whew – good news for me! I have always tended to care
actively for anybody put in my charge or given to my responsibility,
be it in business, ministry, sports, or among friends and family.
Fortunately, that’s just how God made me.
A few years ago, my
Grip Birkman Blueprint
validated this in identifying me as having an alongside style of
leadership – this in spite of roles of leadership I’ve had that were
positionally out front. During that GBB teaming session, I learned
that my leadership style had not been wrong, even though I had had
supervisors through the years that pressed me toward a highly-valued
corporate, “upfront” style. Ezekiel 34:2 was indeed a “wake up call”
to conscious living and ministry. Even though I’m inclined to care
for the flock, have I really been living and working to effectively
shepherd and steward the flock in the field where I’ve been planted?
God reasonably expects from His stewards much to whom much has been
given. Living in blessing and favor, charged by the time together
with the user group, “snapped out of it” by God’s Word through Paul,
I am returning soon to our field in France with heightened senses
for more fully investing in and stewarding the flock God surrounds
me with and helping many others to do likewise. I pray that when my
feet touch French soil again, I won’t slow down or turn in retreat.
Can you speak a little more about your “shepherd’s field” in France?
Keith & Deborah: As soon as we were introduced personally to our
own GBB’s, we realized not only the value of sharing and spreading
this among our American colleagues working in Europe, but even more
with our French brothers and sisters in Christ. After we learned
that the Birkman was available in French, we immediately began
seeking the Lord to show us how to use this in France. Amazingly, He
opened to us a great relationship with a longtime Birkman consultant
in Germany who had lived many years in France. In turn, he’s
introduced us to two French men who are using the Birkman in France
and could help us make similar applications. The missing piece for
ministry? The Grip part of the GBB. Aware of certain challenges and
seeking God’s help, we will begin the process of translating the
Your Leadership Grip
assessment workbook into the French language. We believe that God
could use the GBB to transform the same sort of mindset of
leadership that exists in France as it does elsewhere, and to bring
a fresh release among communities of believers in France. It will
affirm in those of us there the experience of Body Life only read
about in the New Testament.
Keep us and France in mind, if you would, Pray for us and ask God
for open doors and direct pathways as we follow H
Testing our new GBB Teambuilding Outline in
South Africa
By Hal Burke, Global Training Team Leader
Recently, March 16-26, I went to Pretoria, South Africa, and had the
privilege to work with the Nieu Communties South Africa, a part of
Church Resource Ministry’s work there. I got to use our new
Teambuilding
Workshop Outline here.
One of the special things about Nie Communities that made this
particularly relevant is they have added four new, permanent staff
to the five already there, as well as hosting 8 new apprentices.
The apprentices are young men and women in their middle 20's to
early 30's who are spending ten months to determine the next steps
for their lives in serving the Lord.
I spent four hours a day for three days with all seventeen members,
using the new outline. We were able to get through six of the eight
modules with the realization that they would do the other two under
the leadership of Arthur and Melissa Stewart, among our newest GBB
coaches. The group was very involved in the process from the very
beginning, being most engaged when they had the opportunity to
discuss the subject at hand in pairs or threes. The "breakouts" are
a tremendously effective tool for allowing the participants to
discuss and apply the principles shared — i.e. to work on
teambuilding. They quickly grasped the “Stewardship 3-step”
concept because it is already applicable to them: staff, apprentices
and all together! This group included several S Africans of various
ethnic groups, a person from Zimbabwe and a variety of folk from the
U.S., so the discussion concerning “Cultural Values” was very
interesting with the conclusion that these are indeed no longer
values of the West only.
Since Arthur and Melissa are new GBB coaches, they took the
responsibility for individually coaching the apprentices in
preparation for the training. That way, all were acquainted with
the basic concepts of the “Gifts Triangle” and the “Birkman
Foursome.” They were ready to dig in to deeper discussions and
applications. The “Lifestyle Grid” floor exercise was a LONG
discussion time because they were going beyond the basic
understanding and applying what that meant to them. For instance
there was only one person (of 17) with interest in the red and one
in the yellow. Even though we had a big square blocked out, there
wasn't enough room in the blue when we got to the need/stress
section. What a blast!
The group was also particularly responsive to the “Dotted
Diamond” and the “Team styles.” Several made some
changes when we introduced the “Integrity of the Corners”
concept; that was helpful in getting them to carefully examine
earlier choices on their gifts, team styles and primary functions.
We used several segments from the new video series. This tool
wasn’t as helpful as hoped for this group of young adults, due to
some editing issues (being worked on already at ChurchSmart!). They
did find some of the content very helpful, especially the
presentation of the “Parable of the Creme-filled Cookie.” In
fact, I brought closure to the whole process by giving each person a
creme-filled cookie as they left the room the last day and asked
them to consider how they were going to apply the concepts of their
spiritual gifts and right relationships to living out the truth of
the Gospel.
We have a great teambuilding process here, ready for your usage as
well. And the new video resources will be ready for you to use very
soon.
Applying the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint Organization-Wide
Note: OMS has substituted the Discovering Your Ministry
Identity workbook for Your Leadership Grip)
By Gail Davis
OMS is about 10 months
into the official process of integrating the DYMI/Birkman Blueprint
throughout our culture. This is our second report to you on this
(see 11/08 Coaches Update). We are learning a lot about ourselves
and the process as we systematically apply it at every level of our
organization.
 The
Plan. We began assessing and coaching (step #1)
new missionary candidates and missionaries in transition. Within a
short period of time we were able to offer teambuilding events
(step #2) at the departmental and field level. We are
excited by the potential for people in our organization to grow in
their understanding of DYMI/Birkman Blueprint and begin to
contextualize the insights they are getting about themselves and
each other and apply those insights to their own discipleship and
ministries. As our missionaries are deployed to their ministry
assignment and learn first-hand what it means to apply the “I to We
principle” (Ephesians 2:19-22) in the context of the team, it opens
the door for greater unity and effectiveness in ministry.
The Leader as Good Steward, a new hybrid seminar (step #3),
challenged our top leadership to evaluate how they are doing on
stewarding the resources within our organization.
Insights Gained.
As I’ve reflected on what has been learned this past year, of
greatest significance, would be the “I to We” process. I’ve learned
that we must identify early the purpose of the assessments as they
relate to God’s intentions for body life, so that we don’t
accidentally promote a sense of entitlement – “I deserve to use my
gifts and fulfill my ministry burden/passion.” If this happens it
becomes very difficult to acknowledge God’s larger purposes and
their need for others.
Because we are committed
to a culture of empowerment in OMS, we must be watchful so that we
can see God’s larger purposes by acknowledging who He has brought in
order to understand what He intends. For us, this means:
acknowledging the significance of every member of the organization
(Romans 12:4-6), understanding what part He has designed each to
play (1 Peter 4:10) and by demonstrating we value team unity by our
actions (Ephesians 4:13-16). We each play a part in shepherding
unity in the ministries and in the roles where God has placed us.
Next Steps.
In the year ahead we will be focusing on three key areas for greater
organization wide application: assessment and coaching of
leadership at all levels, baseline coaching skills training for all
leaders to further develop our culture of empowerment, and continued
team building for departments and fields worldwide.
TEAMBUILDING THROUGH
THE GENERATIONAL GAP
John Blake
Generational Teambuilding is bridging communication lines for the young
and the old to function most powerfully in their ministry team context.
As the driving force of organization’s organic growth and development,
it syncs the passion of youth with the experience of age. Therefore, as
leaders and teambuilders in ministry contexts today, we must understand
the gaps between the generations to facilitate greater understanding,
and ease leadership transitions.
From experience in working with teenagers through recent college
graduates, I commonly hear “They just don’t get it.” “They don’t
understand where I’m coming from.” “They just seem like workaholics.”
These and other similar statements are heard over and over from the
younger generation as they fumble through high school, fight through
college, and begin discerning their next chess play in life’s seemingly
overly complex maze of communication.
As teambuilders, the generation gaps are a real issue. The generations
may not be headed in different directions, simply their way of getting
there may be different. And at times, their methods are not even as
overwhelmingly different as once assumed; rather, it is the
communication of their heart. Big picture ideas and ideals often bring
people to the same teams. The living out of individual values, however,
may be extremely different from one individual to the next.
Therefore, in teambuilding we must re-evaluate our methods of
interaction, growth and coaching and adapt them to the mentality and
wave-length of the younger generation. Connecting with Gap-ers, Gen X,
Y, Next, Boomers, and any other generational description we like to
label each other with, requires connection points. Sounds fundamental,
though we often limit our own effectiveness by failing to consciously
address the following three principles:
1. Ask over Tell
Help the team to reflect. Challenge the team to think. Guide team
discovery. Facilitation of this requires a firm hand to handle the
over-talkers, and patience to allow the quiet and reflective members to
process their thoughts. In situations of team mediation of conflict
resolution, avoid the trap of simply stating, “Put yourself in their
shoes.” Rather, ask questions that are grounded in the reality of their
team’s situation, but that stretch their thinking to deeper levels:
“Where is the ministry overlap with your personal and team mission in
your intended activities?”
“Interpret what God may be doing through His design of your team through
your specific team members.”
“What does this mean for your interaction, affirmation, and investment
in your team?”
Through this simple progression of questions, we are able to allow them
to evaluate their mission as it relates to the team’s; see what’s God
heart may be within this context, and grow their investment in the team.
The most effective questions will guide participants’ thinking out of
the maze of individual differences back to the values, goals, and common
points of the team. Once we understand differences within the context of
team, we can grow our understanding of the value of each individual God
has placed on our team.
As we go through this process, however, the reactions will be varied.
Potentially with the younger generation, they will use phrases of
“always,” “never,” and “they don’t get it.” These responses demand a
firm, loving, and immediate clarification of “When”, “Who”, and “What”
to free us from the extremes to meet on common ground. They will talk
through the “experience” and “emotions” that were evoked. Allow time for
this, while maintaining sprinklings of “reality” questions: “How was
that seen?” “Who seemed to experience that, and how was that clear to
you?” In facilitating discussion with this generation, moderation is a
key component.
The older generations issues of teambuilding are founded in routine and
experience. Their communication and conflict resolution may struggle in
learning to listen to the younger generation through their inexperience
and passion. Older ministry leaders often have a level of understanding
they cannot easily impart to the next generation. Therefore, the result
is often phrases like “inexperienced,” “passionate without substance,”
and accusing of “action without think-through or structure.”
This remark, however, should spark our reaction as Teambuilder to their
imperative role in growth, learning, and development. At times we need
to guide our questions and responses to validate the accomplishments of
the younger generation, the value of their passion, and even the benefit
of potentially less structure.
In addition, some will struggle with the idea of discovery over
answer-giving, and may become impatient with the process. Because of
their high-paced life, they may overlook the process, and choose to
function as answer-giving consultants. This has the potential to
turn-off or stunt the growth of the young team members. “I can’t seem to
get our youth group to grow. No one is involved.” This leaves the door
open for two distinct options:
1. “You need to do this, this, and this.” Directive advice shuts the
developing team-member out of the thought process, the creativity angle,
and the ownership of the ideas.
2. “What ways have you tried to get the group involved? What are new
ways to draw in the type of student you are trying to reach? What end
result are you trying to get to? Who can support you in this process?”
This angle of questioning opens up reflection and allows emotional
release while starting to look ahead to growth. This, however, takes
more time, and can be frustrating for the question-asker.
Fundamentally, this becomes a joint issue of coaching as well as
teambuilding; or, perhaps more accurately “teambuilding coaching.” The
skills of coaching must be engrained into our leaders to facilitate gap
closure between generations. Teambuilding becomes a catalyst of a
coaching culture. I do not see how they are separable, as the skills
developed are so interrelated and built on the foundation of solid
communication skills.
So, from a teambuilder’s perspective, we must require reciprocity of
generations. Tolerance is not the goal. Mutual complacency isn’t our
target. Older mentors being appreciated for their experience isn’t the
our desired. Young leaders getting their passion-filled way isn’t the
solution. Teambuilding effectiveness is joint appreciation of difference
for Kingdom growth. Therefore, whether young or old, the surrender of
your personal agenda to the furthering of the Kingdom is preeminent.
Foundationally, remember the goal of the teambuilding isn’t that
everyone becomes alike. Rather, the goal is that all would see their
small part as it interacts with others in the Kingdom ministry at hand.
2. Utilize Experience with Content
Experience comes in two basic forms: atmospheric [the ethos of the]
experience or the feel of the experience (ethos), such as “that
conference was such a great experience with the worship, the speakers,
and the atmosphere.” The other is tangible experience, such as “that was
great activity for me to remember that key point of the training.” It is
the impact of the learning experience. Both must be addressed in our
approach to meeting the generation gaps.
Some classify the “Need to be entertained” as a new phenomenon. I don’t.
I simply state that the younger generations have greater options when it
comes to creating the experience to impact the content. Powerful story
tellers of old would sometimes use props or puppets. We’ve morphed that
into Veggie Tales and cute PowerPoint’s to give us Karaoke worship at
some churches.
However, most effective connections to facilitating teambuilding will
occur through humor, illustrations, and visuals. Creating atmospheres of
learning must be based upon our audience. Wrong assumptions have been
made that high tech programs and flash images are all that connect with
the younger generation. I don’t believe this to be true. Rather,
facilitating through a variety of methods will address the unique
personalities and learning styles within your teambuilding. Attempt to
use things like pictures, comics, humorous illustration, movie clips,
life experiences, quotes, poetry, music, and physical activity—such as
hikes. All of these create a complete atmospheric experience only when
they embrace the issues being addressed. Nothing is worse than an
ill-suited “experience.”
The second issue is that of the tangible experience. Teambuilding has
often been dumbed down to simply become ropes courses and ice-breaker
games… Why? We are trying to provide interaction to enhance the impact
of the message while using the physical stress of an outdoors setting.
It has shown to be a more powerful cohesive factor, including simulated
stress, anxiety, demands for teamwork and mutual assistance, than
sitting around talking about it.
I believe we need to use a slightly different model. Teambuilders should
find experiential opportunities within their own context. This doesn’t
allow for cookie-cutter activities, but rather presents a challenge of
unique, custom designed experiences. Some ideas might include:
role playing a church function;
planning a ministry project together;
doing a ministry project;
creating a play dough model of their frustration;
illustrating your uniqueness through a magazine picture.
The tangible, hands-on experience (what adult educator Jane Vella calls
“learning tasks”) must be followed with key discussion questions and
group interaction debrief which address what the facilitator just
observed. “I saw some frustration when we realized that Jeff didn’t
agree with the approach to the ministry project. Why was that? Jeff,
what did you feel? How did the non-verbal reaction of the group make you
feel? Group, where was your frustration and how could you have addressed
it differently?” These questions will hit on the cords of conflict which
are greater than simply the activity.
Design appropriate and customized experiences. Creativity is required.
It’s not the goal of the time, but it’s a way of honoring those varied
learning styles, and those with short attention spans.
3. Allow Service over Structure
The younger generations love to serve. They love to give of themselves
for causes they see worthy of attention, focus, love, finances, and
time. The significance of finding one’s “Sweet Spot” in ministry isn’t
simply for greater results. Joy, power, and fruit as we serve the Lord
are the issues at stake.
If this is true, then joy, power, and fruit become objects of our
new-found accountability for the younger generation. Busy-work or
mandatory meetings are part of a failed-system. But some fear to
question it. Coming alongside and coaching through their areas of
greatest spiritual pleasure is the new model we must embrace.
Understanding someone on their terms means that we will have to approach
their world, getting our hands messy with their passions in order to
effectively relate, communicate, coach, and hold accountable those
around us.
Change is required. Change could mean eliminating a meeting to replace
it with a rotation of ministry experiences. The new way of addressing
teambuilding is “doing unto others as they need done unto them.” Find
what structure, accountability and communication team members need to
fit and function within the team most effectively. This will require a
definition of team and an understanding that team is not optional.
Teambuilders create opportunities of team growth in the harvest fields
and not in the offices. For some who fall short in communication but are
powerful in action, this will allow us to appreciate, value, and affirm
them in a new and exciting way. This results in clarity to the vision
and scope of the ministry.
In order to be most effective, we don’t need to overanalyze the
generational norms. We don’t have to complexify communication.
No. We need to ask before we tell. We need to create an experience which
addresses the needs of those we are reaching out to, and we need to be
willing to meet people in their areas of passion.
Generation gaps are real. Teams struggle with this. However, as
facilitators of clear communication, we must embrace this challenge of
transferring knowledge, experience, and passion from one team member to
another.
Grip-Birkman Blueprint
Hybrid Teambuilding Outline Unveiled
John Blake and Steve Hoke
 So, what do you do as a Grip-Birkman Coach when you have a group or team
on a church, mission or organization staff who want to know how the GBB
might help them become a more effective and powerful team?
What is a high-impact way to gain entry into a
church or organization that both serves an immediate need for unity and
teamwork, while providing a “taste-and-see” of more?
Voile! The Grip-Birkman Blueprint Teambuilding
Workshop!
At the heart of the Grip-Birkman Blueprint is how
God uniquely created us naturally and supernaturally so we can fully
understand our fit in the Body of Christ. If the GBB process is
relationally based, then wouldn’t it make sense for us to develop a
powerful teambuilding experience (and tools) to equip people to fully
understand their role within the context of their immediate Body? And
in so doing forge a stronger, better linked team that really “gets” each
other?
For those of you who have been waiting, it is now
within your grasp!
The Teambuilding Workshop outline is a toolbox of
training, laced with group interaction, activities, and quality
discussion. Set up as eight different modules, the freedom of this tool
lends to customizing (or contextualizing) your training to meet the
specific needs of whatever group with whom you may work.
While conducting training with a pilot group of
European missionaries, I (John) was overwhelmed by the response. The
power of clear communication and transparency, made possible by
uncovering one’s personal Grip/Birkman Blueprint results allows others
to see your heart in a new and powerful way. Some had worked together
for many years, and yet were amazed to find out new discoveries. They
began to see the overlap in their ministries as it related to how God
had wired them, creating opportunities for ongoing discussion about Body
Life among team members.
We weren’t able to complete all eight Modules in
our allotted time with the Europe group. However, even this became a
powerful tool as it forced ongoing interaction in their team meetings
regarding some of the other pieces.
In each of the three Teambuilding workshops I’ve
facilitated (Steve), there has been a similar and immediate “Aha!”
dynamic as members gain breakthrough insights into each other, as well
as a whole list of questions for further exploration and discussion for
the leader to pursue. This Teambuilding outline presents in a clear,
easy-to-use format, the opportunity to translate the depth of the GBB
into the heart of a team. With both the Facilitator’s Guide and the
Participants Guide, this outline should be a great resource as
teambuilding is often the “in-road” for many coaches and trainers to
establish ongoing coaching relationships.
As you discover new insights and begin to use this
tool, please share your experiences with all of us. Email Steve Hoke (steve.hoke@crmleaders.org)
or me (john.blake@jmblake.com)
with new insights, ideas, or possible changes you would like to see.
And may God challenge you to address Body Life issue in many new group
settings.
A template PPT will be coming within a week or
so—an early Christmas present as it were.
We look forward to hearing from you as you use it
and find ways to improve and adapt it for other groups.
Coaches and users can access the Teambuilding
outlines both facilitator’s and participant’s, on the
Resources
page.
Coaching Birkman Stress AND
Spiritual Gift Liability issues hand-in-hand
GBB Coaching Tip #1
Paul Ford, GBB Trainer and Pioneer
One is obvious while the other is not. One we
train actively in our GBB Coaches Training. The other quietly slips by
and is usually not even acknowledged, much less addressed.
 Here’s
the new idea to consider from today forward: think in tandem about both
Birkman stress responses AND spiritual gift
liabilities. We are not only coaching individuals to stay out
of stress responses by addressing underlying needs. We also can coach
them to be watchful and address liability behavior that is tied to their
spiritual gifting, often unrelated to their baseline
personality. My oh my, we are giving them a “twofer” – two for the
price of one!
Coach the Circle/Square.
The initial side of the coin reveals one of the most valuable pieces of
the Birkman Method, the circle/square from the Life Style
Grid. Here the Birkman Method does successfully what I
have found in no other assessment tool. It reveals that stress
responses in our behavior are directly tied to our underlying needs,
portrayed on the Life Style Grid as the “circle/square.” The ultimate
reason that the circle and square are together is because there is a
direct cause/effect relationship between the two. If I seek to meet the
underlying needs present in who I am, I can minimize, if not remove,
specific stress behavior in eleven different parts of who I am.
The Stress Pages report is
one focused tool that deals with this in-depth, but we also see
relationship between specific stress and related need in any Birkman
report where the circle and square are shown or where the need and the
stress response categories are shown (Strengths and Needs Graph
report, Needs Graph report, etc.). We have a number of
tools to coach someone to understand.
Coach the Gift & Team Style
Liabilities. Seldom noticed by most of us is
the other side of the coin. Each of us has another complete category
where stress-like behavior is revealed. On the spiritual gifts side,
though, we call them gift liabilities. You actually have
two sources from which to look at yourself and others. The first is the
“Gift Liabilities” category in the “Equipping Gifts” and “Supporting
Gifts” sections in the Your Leadership Grip workbook or
pdf download. This gives you separate lists of the distinctive
liabilities that may come with each of your confirmed spiritual gifts.
We also have a second access point to
your spiritual gifts as they moosh (i.e. meld) together. The
“Potential Liabilities” column on the Team Style Evaluation
page actually gives you a list of liabilities you may portray because of
your spiritual gift combination. This column of information is not
showing personality stress responses as with Birkman. Rather, it
clarifies what happens when you try to exercise your spiritual gifts in
your own strength OR when you are struggling in your daily Christian
life and have pulled back from the Lord. What is amazing in this is
that each one of us will find that we have different liabilities due to
our gifts than what is found in the Birkman Stress Pages
report.
Evaluate yourself.
To practice, look at your own stress responses in the various Birkman
reports referenced earlier. Note several that strike you in
particular. Then do the same with the Gift and Team Style liabilities.
As you compare and contrast, you will find stress and liability points
that are distinctively different from what you may have expected given
each category.
Review another’s results.
Now you have a new area in which to coach a person! Review his/her
stress behaviors and do the same with his/her Gift and Team Style
liabilities. Be prepared to ask questions about each to bring out
sober understanding. Then consider with them, by way of application, how
to move away from the stress and/or liability behaviors. By working
from both categories and not just the stress behaviors, you coach the
whole person and not just the natural, behavioral issues that need
addressing.
We now have opportunity to coach the
whole person, natural and supernatural, in regards to stress
points and liabilities. We are addressing not only underlying needs,
but also providing checkpoints on spiritual health and ongoing spiritual
maturity. Happy coaching!
Using the Grip/Birkman Blueprint
organization-wide in a mission agency
by Gail Davis, GBB Trainer
Director, Member Development
OMS International
I started using the GBB – for us it is actually Discovering Your
Ministry Identity/Birkman – process in the pre-field preparation and
cross-cultural training of our missionary candidates. The GBB is an
excellent tool for helping missionaries to better understand themselves
(gifting, interests, usual style, needs and potential stress) as they
anticipate moving into a new culture. Little did I know of the
tremendous potential this tool had for broad application within our
organization. A lot is being learned along the way as we work to apply
this in every area.
Both parts of the sober estimation process, the natural and supernatural
are incredibly useful for team application. Everyone in the
organization, from the field missionaries to the home office staff who
serve behind the scenes need to get a better grip of what it means to
serve as one among, all must learn how to move from “I to we” if we hope
to advance the Kingdom.
Gail Davis with Steve Potter and
Tim Roehl
at April's 2nd Annual GBB Texas User's Group |
Getting a better grip on what is involved as we move from “I to we”
(Ephesians 2:19-22) involves identifying the negative cultural values
that must be discarded, and choosing healthy biblical values instead so
that ”we” can be builders of God’s kingdom. It requires a sober
estimation of ourselves, not in isolation from but in relation to
others, the body or the team in which God has placed us. Our task is to
learn how to extend grace to those who have different styles from us,
learning to speak each other’s language so that the body is built up.
EXERCISE #1 (now found the Coaches Training/Facilitator’s
Guide, page 15).
As we work with teams through this process we use two methods to talk
about the transition. As we talk about the natural side of who we are,
we like to do the floor exercise to enact the Life Style Grid (now found
in the Coaches Training/Facilitator’s Guide, page 15). As people
position themselves on the grid and see themselves in relation to each
other their eyes are opened and they begin to understand the
implications. It isn’t long before they are using the Birkman language
to describe what they see. Click on the Resource link, or go to
www.gbbcoaches.net/resources.htm and open “Coaches Training Outline -
Facilitator’s Notes” if you want to see the guide for doing this.
EXERCISE #2 (my own idea...). We also use giant post-it
notes to capture both the natural and the supernatural side. Using large
triangles at the top of the sheet each team member adds their spiritual
gifts, team styles, primary functions. The bottom of the sheet is for
the Lifestyle Grid. Then we typically do an exercise called, “What do we
look like as a ministry team?” We then group up our giant post-its to
observe the gift mix on the team & what our Group Grid looks like. They
make observations and answer questions like, “What gifts, team styles
and primary stewardship functions are strongly represented on the team?
Which are not?”
If the group is large (more than 6) then we multiply into smaller
groups. After we observe the natural/supernatural side of who we are, we
can move into more strategic thinking, identifying how who we are
contributes to our overall vision and goals.
When not
to use the Grip-Birkman Blueprint with Client
Steve
Hoke, CRM and GBB Trainer & David Dougherty, OMF and GBB Coach
Editor’s Note:
at the end of this article, you are requested to respond to Steve on
specific questions. We welcome your response as our GBB le arning
community continues to grow.
In a recent conversation
with my missionary training colleague, David Dougherty of OMF, he
observed this parallel between his design of a “train the trainer”
workshop and the GBB: “I've been doing some design work on our Training
for Missionary Trainers workshop, and one element that I needed to
incorporate was when not to use the approach we've been
recommending. Seeing your recent e-mail on “misuses of the GBB in
assessments” caused me to reflect on whether or not you had considered
doing something similar for mission leaders on your program?”
Hmm, I thought. That
is a novel and helpful idea.
David continued: “Here are
some situations in which I wouldn't advise using our "Training for
Missionary Trainers" workshop (a highly interactive, participant-task
driven, ala Jane Vella) approach to design training for adult learners:
-
When your participants are neutral or hostile to servant-style
leadership and need to be "in charge" of every situation.”
-
When you want to primarily inspire, challenge, or exhort to action
-
When you want to warn or comfort participants
-
When you have limited preparation time
David summarized: “What we
are doing is a great method for doing the kind of teaching you are doing
in your workshops, but I wonder, based on my own situation, if there are
several areas where the GBB might be the best choice to use?” He
suggested the following four criteria as worthy of our consideration:
-
When you are in an on-going relationship with participants
-
When you have opportunity for on-going coaching, preferably in
person
-
When people are mostly conceptual (as opposed to concrete) thinkers
-
When trainees are more sophisticated thinkers (able to process
multiple issues simultaneously)
David concluded: “I don't
recall if you have done any writing in this area, but if so, I'd be
interested in what you may have come up with.”
So, let me ask all of you
GBB Coaches and Trainers if you have yet considered these possible
focusing or, on the other end, limiting factors?
* Under
what conditions or with what kind of persons might the use of the
Grip-Birkman Blueprint inventory and coaching process not be ideal?
* What
signals that might alert us to the fact that the client may not be ready
for the GBB?
* What
situations to avoid do these criteria suggest? For example, When there
is no opportunity for follow-up or on-going coaching to understand the
results of the report.
Let me know what feedback or
pushback you might have. What we discover might save
others
some headaches and unnecessary pain.
Steve Hoke
steve.hoke@crmleaders.org
 |
Misuses
of the Grip-Birkman Blueprint
in
Missionary and Church Planter Assessing
by Steve Hoke and Tim Roehl |
Example 1: Aaron, a 20-something church
planter who recently joined a coaching network for emerging church
planters in the US, completed the Grip-Birkman Blueprint inventories
with great interest. He looked forward eagerly to what the report would
reveal. But he left his assessment crestfallen, when his coach told
him, “It’s evident that you should not be a church planter.” His dreams
were dashed. What had God been telling him?
Example 2: Rob, a 30-something missionary
in Eastern Europe, is finding incredible fruit in selecting and raising
up young seminarians to plant churches and coaching them as they venture
out into forming new cells and churches. When re received his
Grip-Birkman Blueprint results, his coach observed with interest: “Your
yellow asterisk and circle/square, linked with your blue diamond, might
have suggested that you should never have been an initiating leader
development. How do you account for your effectiveness?” Rob responded
humbly but confidently, “I guess it’s all about calling! The Spirit has
provided all I’ve needed to be effective in this setting through my
spiritual gifts.”
These two examples raise the critical question,
“Are there misuses of the GBB in assessing missionaries and church
planters of which we should be aware?” Several biblical and spiritual
dynamics influence our interpretation of the GBB for Christian workers.
First, is the issue of calling. God often
calls men and women out of the comfort zones of what their personality
profile might dictate, so that we will trust Him and Him alone....
Second, is the issue of ministry burden and
passion. God implants heart passion for people and places that far
supersede natural inclinations and tendencies…
Third, is the dynamic movement of one’s
“dotted diamond”—the direction in which the diamond moves when
supercharged by the Holy Spirit. God’s Spirit consistently overrides our
natural abilities to move us toward people to whom He wants us to
minister. That clearly was the case in our second example of Rob...
Fourth, a caution about the boundaries of
effective assessments. Assessment processes for missionaries and
Christian workers are actually times set aside for group discernment,
not merely report interpretation. It should be the Spirit’s voice we
are listening for, not only the general implications of the GBB report.
Further, an assessment team should be in unanimity in the Spirit in
speaking to an assessee with questions and suggestions, never delivering
a final judgment. The GBB never decides in or out for an applicant, but
rather creates the opportunity for critical questions to be asked based
on sound assessing information.
Fifth, it is important to note a person’s
competencies demonstrated by consistent fruitfulness. A behavioral
interview alongside a GBB profile is a powerful way to find the “skills
inside the stories” of a person’s life. GBB profiles can give us
tremendous clues about what to ask in a candidate interview.
Sixth, there are other helpful areas that
are important when it comes to assessing someone for church planting.
Here are some issues that are important to note when assessing a leader
to see where he or she might best fit and
flourish in ministry.
-
Ministry orientation: are they
more pastor/shepherd or planter/pioneer?
-
Affinity group: who are they best
suited to minister to redemptively?
-
Ministry Strategy: flowing from
the leader’s personality, gifts, fruitfulness and passion more than
a particular planting model.
-
Family needs: stage of life and
other issues to be considered to care for the family.
-
Geographic/cultural affinity
including cross-cultural indicators for the place they will
minister.
Aaron, in the example above, appears to be the
victim of a possible misuse of the GBB report. The report does not
“tell” a person whether they are qualified to be a church planter.
Neither does the GBB report definitively determine whether or not Aaron
should be a church planter. Too many other factors and circumstances
have to be considered. There may be factors Aaron needs to address, but
effective questions from GBB observations and the sixth point above will
help focus those issues toward resolve
Suggestions:
1. The
Grip-Birkman coaching session is to be just that—a coaching session in
which the coach facilitates the personal discovery of the coached.
2. Ask
open-ended questions that invite the coachee to critically reflect and
inductively discover new insights about themselves from the findings. Do
not resort to answer-giving when asking questions will move toward
helpful discovery and application.
3. Probe for
personal interpretation: “What does this mean to you? What experiences
have you had in this area? What fruit have you borne as you reflect on
this issue or insight?
4. Help the
coachee take time to listen by asking: “What do you hear the Spirit
saying to you about this?”
5. Help them
integrate what may be divergent streams of input into their life: “How
do these findings support or apparently move against what you feel the
Spirit is saying to you? For example, do these findings suggest the
ministry role you are considering? Why or why not?”
6. If, as in
the example of Rob above (a strong Yellow with Accounting/Controller
experience), the pattern and location of the symbols indicate a career
style that appears to be in conflict with their prospective ministry
role, ask: “Tell me about how the Lord has been speaking to you and
guiding your toward this role? What are some of the specific ways you
think that the Holy Spirit will provide what you need to be effective in
that role? What spiritual gifts do you believe that you have which would
empower you in this new role?”
7.
Dialogue with the coachee about any critical issue, seeking to draw them
into verbalizing what they may have thought or felt but not yet
articulated. The “Aha!” experience often comes as you help them
articulate fresh insight in their own words!
Third Annual Users Group - Dallas, Texas
Front
row: John Blake, Boyd Pelley, Paul Ford, Kathy Fouts, Gail Davis; Back
row: Mike Johnson, Steve Hoke, Hal Burke, Dennis Hair, Steve Potter,
and Dan Perrine (not pictured: Tim Roehl)
Report on Annual User’s
Group
Steve Hoke, GBB Trainer
The Grip-Birkman User’s Group met outside Dallas, TX for this annual
gathering April 7-9, 2008. Attending this year were John Blake, Hal
Burke, Gail Davis and Kathy Fouts (OMS), Paul Ford, Steve Hoke, Dan
Perrine and Tim Roehl (CRM), Mike Johnson (Ascending Leaders), Steve
Potter, and Dennis Hair, guest.
Grip/Birkman Blueprint User’s Contributions
The following participants brought at least one fresh coaching idea they
had developed over the last year to share with the broader group:
> John Blake: presented several creative teambuilding exercises
and activities;
> Hal Burke and Paul Ford: presented new GBB leadership and
teambuilding Outlines;
> Gail Davis: explored “Contextualizing the Coaching” and shared
her thinking on how the GBB needs to be adapted to both organizational
and cultural settings;
> Paul Ford: hosted an “Ask the Author” session discussing
observations and feedback to Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder;
> Steve Hoke: talked us through his approach to Coaching and
Spiritual Direction using the “Navigating the Journey of Faith” metaphor
for Spiritual Formation and Direction;
> Mike Johnson: helped us “Taking a closer look at the
Components” of the Birkman Report, and introduced a helpful summary
outline he has developed.
> In Breakout Groups, one group brainstormed fresh approaches to
marketing GBB, while the second group outlined an approach to help a
mission agency adopt the GBB tool as a leadership development tool.
Personal Reflections:
Fellowshipping with this group of like-minded GBB Coaches was delight in
several ways.
First, it is s fun to be able to “talk shop” with colleagues who have
more experience and different gift-related insights. I most valued
listening to how others interpret the triangle and grid positions of
their coachees.
Second, it is always valuable to gain personal insight on myself by
picking up interpretive insights from other experienced coaches.
Finally, sitting in this group a year ago I never would have imagined
that I would be able to coach 40 people through their GBB, and I could
not have imagined that I could have learned as much as I have about the
process. I finally feel more competent and insight as I study a report
and as I coach them through their reports. This is a gratifying feeling
after fearing that I would never be able to deliver insights with
effectiveness.
October 2007
A New Era in Grip/Birkman from your new Blueprint
Intern,
John Blake
 A new era in the life of the Grip/Birkman Blueprint (GBB) has begun. The
Global Training Team (GTT), led by Dr. Hal Burke, commenced its
objective of connecting GBB Coaches and furthering the use and knowledge
of the GBB around the world. We invite you to be a part of this growing
adventure! Items you should know:
Within the next 3 weeks, www.gripbirkman.com will be fully functional
for use as an end user website to share with people who are looking and
contemplating using GBB in their church, missions organization, business
or school.
Please send all feedback,
whether content or appearance related, to me, John Blake, GTT Intern (john.blake@gripbirkmanblueprint.com).
We will still use the www.gbbcoaches.net website for all needed
resources for coaches. If you would like your information listed as a
GBB coach on the Grip/Birkman website, please send all contact
information to the email above.
- Throughout the months ahead, I will be spotlighting certain coaches.
It is our desire that we get to know one another so we can all work
together in making our knowledge and uses of GBB more powerful and
impactful for the Kingdom. If you would like to share how you have used
GBB or coaching tips you feel could benefit others, please don’t
hesitate to share.
Notes from Dr. Hal Burke
Listed below are dates of upcoming opportunities. The User’s Group and
Recertification provide a great opportunity for fellowship and
development of skills. The Recertification will be led by Dr. Tim Roehl
who will be sharing some principles for being an effective coach. This
is the first opportunity for recertification, which is required every
two years. If you have been a coach for two years or longer, you will
need to take advantage of this opportunity to complete your
recertification. More specific information will be coming out on the
website about re-certification by mid-November.
- Upcoming Coaches Training:
Wichita, KS – Hope Community Church – October 22-25
Denver, CO – Dr. Mike Johnson Training – October 23-25
Chicago, IL – ChurchSmart – November 12-15
- Upcoming User’s Group:
Waxahachie, TX (Dallas Area) -- April 7-9, 2008
- Upcoming Recertification:
Waxahachie, TX (Dallas Area – April 10-11, 2008
Parting Thought…
While recently in Uganda, Africa, Paul and I discussed the importance of
releasing all of the glory to our Savior. “God will not share His Glory”
became an anthem for me to release my work, my will, my efforts, my
significance, my success and my failures completely to Him. Studying
through Lamentations, I came upon these verses, guiding me to this very
principle,
“The Lord has done what he planned; He was fulfilled his word, Which he
decreed long ago.” (Lam. 2:17)
So…“Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.” (Lam.
2:19)
He already had it planned, purposed, so completely give and release it
to Him.
Have a blessed and powerful month,
John M. Blake
GBB Coach
GTT Intern
A Great New Resource for
Blueprint Coaching from 2 GBB Trainers...
“You’ve just coached someone through
their Blueprint…what a wonderful experience for them and
for you! Yet, you know that for that person to continue to experience
the many layers of insight and blessing of the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint, they will need to revisit it again and again whether
you can be with them or not. To help the growth process continue, we
now offer a 30 day “Blueprint Journal.” The
Journal, written by Debbie Scroggin and myself, will allow
people to continue to process their profile personally or as part of a
small group over a period of four weeks. You can also have people you
coach use the Journal to do some “self coaching” and still be able to
check in with you as needed. We believe the
Blueprint Journal
will be a useful tool as we help
people glean more benefits from the Grip Birkman Blueprint.
Get it here!
....plus
zillions of Coaching Questions!
Debbie and I have also compiled a list of new questions for utilizing
the Grip/Birkman with different kinds of groups: couples, teams, etc.
Check it out here:
Blueprint Coaching Questions
or on the Resource page.
Tim
Roehl
Director of Re-Certification
Global Training Team
August 2, 2007
A VISION FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TRAINING TEAM
by Dr. Hal Burke, Team Leader
The Grip Birkman Blueprint (GBB) Global Training Team is in the early
stages of formulation- a work in progress. If you have ever encountered
a sign "Construction Ahead" while driving, you know that, although you
(hopefully) will be able to move ahead, it may not be at the rate you
were hoping for. We are consciously working to be sure there is a good
"base" to build on. Although I have been working with Paul on GBB
development for more than five years, there is so much more to learn and
develop. I come to this place in time with excitement and anticipation-
I just have never been here before!
Below is a synopsis of the working document that is still "under
construction".
I. My Role as Team Leader:
I desire to lead this Training Team whose purpose is to train, develop
and encourage coaches and trainers in the Leadership Grip-Birkman
Blueprint process. I intend to exercise my gifts of exhortation, pastor,
and teacher to build up this new team. I desire to positively
influence the Global Training Team (GTT) members and the coaches and
trainers whom God calls to be a part of this exciting and crucial
ministry.
II. The Core Values that will drive the Team:
A. God's Grace before God's Guidance. We will be diligent to
develop our relationships with Him before asking for direction. We will
focus first on how God is working in our lives as a team and individuals
and then look at how He will lead us in His purposes. Matthew 6:33
B. Relationships before Roles. Paul has often said "It is all
about relationships." We will incorporate this into what we model as
well as in what we teach. We will build relationships first and allow
that to influence the process, direction, and functional roles on the
Team. John 13:34-35
C. Better before Bigger. When I began my ministry with college
students, I sensed God tell me to concentrate on quality and He would
then bring quantity. I saw that happen and yearn for that to be true in
this ministry. It doesn't mean that we wait until everything is perfect
but we will not move at a pace which compromises the integrity of this
God-given tool. Philippians 1:6, 9-11
III. The Vision:
The Team will lead in four sequential and cyclical processes: ENLIST,
EQUIP, EXPAND, EVALUATE.
A. Enlist- We will see whom God has brought and continues to bring into
our spheres of influence and share the vision, then see whose hearts and
minds He touches to come alongside us.
B. Equip/Release- We will be involved in a continuous process of
educating ourselves and our coaches and trainers in: the principles of
God's Word, the best techniques for learning, and the materials we are
using. We believe that equipping and releasing is God's idea (Ephesians
4:11-16) and that it is an ongoing process. We will therefore strive to
provide on-going opportunities for education with application.
C. Expand- We believe that this is not as much about a product as a
process of discipleship and mentoring, which presumes meaningful
relationships. These relationships are the fuel to expand GBB
exponentially through the principle of multiplication. We desire to help
fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission by training and
equipping Christians in understanding and developing who God created
them to be and to do what He has called them to do. God's Kingdom has
always been intended to grow, not to be static or declining, therefore
we believe that God intends for us to expand GBB globally -- something
already well in process.
D. Evaluate- We will be constantly and critically involved in improving
relationships, materials and processes in order to stay fresh and
relevant to our calling.
IV. The Team:
The Global Training Team is composed of a Team Leader (Hal Burke); an
Advisor (Paul Ford) and six members who have accepted the following
responsibilities: Administration (John Blake), Budget (Kate Bommarito),
Communication (Boyd Pelley), Development (John Vandervort and Bruce
Lininger), Equipping/Re certification (Tim Roehl),
I encourage you who are reading this to write me
hburke2547@aol.com with your comments and suggestions. Please join
me in praying that we will be found faithful to ourselves, each
other and to our calling.
Hal
Dr. Hal Burke, Team Leader
Global Training Team
Grip-Birkman Blueprint
October 27, 2006
One Blueprint Coach’s Story
My name is
Kate Bommarito, and for those of you who don’t already know me, my
husband and I served with CRM (Church Resource Ministries) for ten years
in Budapest, Hungary. When we moved back to the States in November,
2003, I really had no idea what God would have in store for my future,
especially as we re-entered American culture, coming to a state that was
foreign to us both. The one thing I was sure of: God had placed a
burden on my heart for people – especially women – to understand who
they truly are in Christ and how God has uniquely fashioned each one for
ministry in His Body. In the midst of transition, in September 2004, I
attended one of the Grip/Birkman Blueprint Coaches’ Training
events.
 Fast forward to the next spring, 2005, when Paul Ford came to visit us
in North Dakota. Paul, Ann Persico (a friend and fellow G/B
Blueprint coach here in Bismarck), and I spent an afternoon down
at the University of Mary with a wonderful nun named Sister Kathleen
Atkinson. Sr. Kathleen had just been given the job of heading up the
University’s brand new Center for Christian Leadership, as the
university pursued its goal of becoming “America’s Leading Servant
Leadership University.” We dreamed and planned together. I presented
information on the Grip/Birkman Blueprint method (called
Blueprint from here forward) to a few different ministry
groups, and my husband and I took a small group at our church through
the process. I also led a couple of the university’s administrators
through the Blueprint, and while they raved about how
wonderful the tool is, by that fall, little seemed to have come of the
big picture plans.
Things
stagnated somewhat for about nine months, when all of a sudden late this
past spring, several different people began approaching me about the
Blueprint. I took some more people at the university through
it, and through that, we were able to get a grant for one of the
university’s classes. This fall, I had the privilege of teaching for a
week in a Theology of Christian Service class, taking all of the 26
students through their component-level assessments. One professor, who
recently finished her PhD on Servant Leadership, sat in and would like
to use the Blueprint in her classes as well. I am on the
leadership council for a women’s evangelism ministry here in Bismarck,
and my friend and council leader Fran is excited about using
Blueprint to help train our leaders. I also volunteer at the
local Teen Challenge, and we will be taking women there through the
Blueprint as they near completion of their nine-month
program, to help them evaluate their needs and gifts as they enter back
into life in the “real” world. Another friend of mine’s husband started
having me do assessments for business associates as they make hiring
decisions. Our church leadership will be going through the process and
asking the Lord how we can use it with our church body.
But the most
exciting opportunity of all came at Shiloh, my children’s private
Christian school. Another good friend of mine heads up the “Freedom in
Christ” ministry here in Bismarck, and we have talked about dovetailing
the two ministries together: Find out who you are in Christ, and then
find out how you are uniquely gifted in His Body. This year Shiloh has
been taking all of their staff and students through “Freedom in Christ”
materials. My greatest joy came when the head administrator asked me if
we could use the Grip/Birkman Blueprint materials next
year, and kick off the year by taking their forty staff through the
process!
So, here I am three years later, October 2006, and to be honest, I am
still not sure what lays before me, but I am still certain of what God
has put on my heart: finding out who you are in Christ and who you are
in His Body. I feel truly blessed and privileged that throughout this
season of upheaval and transition, God has given me the Blueprint
ministry window to see glimpses of His work in others’ lives as well as
my own.
NOTE: Click here to see Kate’s personally designed Blueprint brochure.
August 2006
Look
All Around You...Our New Website, with more changes to come!
 August
2006 is the beginning of a new season for the Your Leadership
Grip/Birkman Blueprint. No longer is the coaches website within the
website of Dr. Paul Ford. It has its own new url and its own new look
-- thanks to the awesome look given us by webmaster
Allan Gunneson of
Gunner Web Group!
Before you read our two features for July/August below, please look
around the website, starting with the Home page. And more changes will
be coming.
The biggest change is
that, by the end of 2006, I will not be driving the website's
development as I have since its inception about 14 months ago. It now
has a solid foundation with lots of possibilities upon which to build
The Grip/Birkman Blueprint AND the Coaches Website are no longer simply
extensions of my ministry -- because of the quality investment of you
all! Thus it must begin to reflect more and more of
you rather than just my creative edge.
I'm not going anywhere. But I do look forward to the new things God
brings to our process through a number of you who are trainers and
coaches for the Grip/Birkman Blueprint, some of you who want to help
create something more than what is. Be watching for an important mailing
and questionnaire about this toward the end of August....
For the Kingdom,
Paul
 |
Welcome our New
Coaches from June in L.A....
Back row: Boyd Pelley, Sharon Lubkeman, Chad Meyer, David
Dougherty, Lisa Womble, Ramona Woods, Charlene Eshleman. Not
pictured: Lloyd Rodgers.
Front Row: Trainers Rick Tansey, Paul Ford, and Steve Hoke. |
| |
 |
...and our New
Coaches from July in Sarasota, FL....
Trainer Hal Burke, John Vandervoort, Andy DeGuire, Steve
Potter, and Ron Ward |
Personal Impact from the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint Coaches Training in Los Angeles in June
The Coaches Training for the Grip/Birkman Blueprint (Torrance, CA) was
both valuable and insightful. The instruction time that included
individual hands-on activities was extremely valuable. Most valuable to
me were the opportunities to expand our knowledge and understanding of
the information and skills presented by both discovering/uncovering
God's giftings "in us" and assisting others in their
discovery/uncovering process.
I will never forget, what became a word for me: "I" can not
exist/function without "the whole". Although I have been in ministry
for more than 40 years, and have preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ for
better than 30, the truth and reality of the message of Christ was never
so real and revolutionizing as during the training, hearing teaching
about the "oneness" of the Body being the plan of God.
 This
was not just a passing thrill or moment of excitement that lasted a few
days and waned following the mid June training. The message and truth
of it was another part in the healing process that the Lord has been
working in me about "people" in general, and the Body in particular. My
profile and temperament bear out the truth that I am not nor want to be
dependent on people for anything. The grace of our Lord has allowed me
to see that not only are self sufficiency and isolation not an option,
they directly oppose the message of Jesus Christ and I do so want to be
more like Him. The leaders of our Church are experiencing the results of
this revolution in that no matter the training or teaching I do, they
are being inundated with the Body message instead of being massaged by a
"solo" message that would make it comfortable to be exclusive and not
involved.
Thank you [Steve Hoke, Rick Tansey, and Paul Ford] for allowing the Lord
to prune and use the gifts He has made in you for the Body.
Ramona Woods,
Pentecostal Pastor
Note: As the Lord begins to expand the Grip/Birkman Blueprint into
many more lives and events than just coaches training, we will see and
hear more of the following stories. PF
From Rodney Nicodemus
Youth Pastor, First United Methodist church
New Port Richey, Florida
I took the Empowering Leadership mini training at the Gathering
[Trainers Hal Burke, Tim Roehl, Debbie Scroggin, and Brad Sprague with
Paul in Sarasota, Florida] in January of 2006. It was like a light went
on in my head that said,
"Of course this is what leadership is all about.
Raising up
people to be leaders using the gifts that God has
blessed
them with and made them powerful through."
I took this radical theory back to the youth ministry I have been
working in for 6 years and changed the way I delegated responsibiblity.
I no longer just hand out projects, I give ownership of the ministry to
the young adults and youth who are spiritually gifted in those areas.
This has freed me to focus on the areas of ministry that I am gifted in
and the ministry has taken on a life of it's own. God has been blessing
and doing things through people that I could never have done.
Each person brings a passion and excitement to the ministry they are
over. I am in the middle of summer and I am more stress-free this year
than I have been in 13 years. I have learned to discover who I
need, instead of what I need, to make me complete. I no longer
have to do all of the work of the ministry myself. My goal in ministry
is to develop youth to be all that God has created them to be NOW. They
do not have to wait until they get older to do great things for God.
Thank you for giving me clarity on what leadership was intended to be.
We will always be greater than me.
Thank you [training team of Paul Ford, Debbie Scroggin, Brad Sprague,
Hal Burke, and for giving of your time to invest in the lives of kids
and adults you will never meet by changing my and others' mindsets.
Rodney
May 2006
Feedback from First
Grip/Birkman Users Group Meeting April 28-30
Six of us formed the nucleus of this first-time-ever event. Here's feedback
from the participants: Trainers Larry and Susan Gay, Hal Burke, and Coaches
Darrel and Shirley Seale:
1. Iron always needs to be sharpened by iron. Dialoguing with others who
might have similar challenges and/or experiences simply is not adequately
done in emails, blogs, or articles on a Website.
2. We are beginning to see the need to establish and maintain standards of
training!
3. New insights and innovations....We pick up nuggets from each other.
4. We had some misunderstanding about how to use the "Dotted Diamond" as it
relates to the Birkman Lifestyle Grid. As we all discussed it, we gained
new, unified insight on how it could be better explained (see summary
article below by Susan Gay).
5. Relationally we gained depth with like-minded, like-hearted people, so
that we can work together better now and in the future.
6. We came up with very specific suggestions to offer to Debbie Scroggin,
National Training Team Leader, on a framework for guidelines for certifying
and re-certifying both Trainers and Coaches.
7. We were able to address this key, ongoing question: "What needs to be don
to make the process more workable and user-oriented?"
Great summary statement: "I need the one-to-one or small group dialogue
FACE TO FACE so I can argue, question, share my gaps in understanding in
person."
Paul Ford's comment:
We had a great time and the group unanimously
confirmed that we need to continue the yearly event as a primary continuing
education commitment for trainers and coaches. Specific suggestions are
going to Debbie Scroggin, National Training Team Leader, as to suggested
certification and re-certification standards for both Trainers and Coaches.
We are almost to a critical mass where such is essential to our growth and
health.
We also established a suggested summary understanding about the "Dotted
Diamond," put in summary form below by Susan Gay. This is good stuff!
God's Spirit Working Powerfully Through Your Personality:
The Dotted Diamond and Your Birkman Usual Style
by Susan Gay, Grip/Birkman Blueprint Trainer
What happens to our Birkman Usual Effective Style when the Holy Spirit works
powerfully through us in our spiritual gifts?
 Paul
Ford’s concept of the dotted diamond begins to answer that question. At the
April 2006 User’s Group meeting in Albuquerque, the group dialogued about
what the dotted diamond means and the advantages and limitations of sharing
this concept in training.
At the user’s group meeting, we reviewed some cases where the person’s gifts
are almost totally compatible with their personality and others whose gifts
are very different from their natural personalities. The dotted diamond
concept is especially helpful for those of us whose spiritual gifts enable
us to operate in areas that our natural personalities do not reflect as seen
in the Birkman profile.
One of the questions we discussed is whether the dotted diamond always
travels in the same direction in the same individual. Could it be that God
moves our diamond in one direction under certain circumstances and in
another direction under others? Of course--because God is sovereign and He
is the one who gives us the gifts in the first place! “He (the Holy Spirit)
gives them (the gifts) to each one just as He determines.” (1 Corinthians
12:11).
While each gift or combination of gifts tends to move our diamond in a
general direction, it is God, in His sovereignty, who works powerfully to
use each of His children as He determines. We can never put God in a box or
limit His working in an individual’s life. Thus, the dotted diamond is not
necessarily in a fixed or permanent position on the grid. We will encourage
identifying general direction in how the Spirit may move the usual or
effective style (diamond on the LifeStyle Grid), but not make serious
attempts to be exacting in that movement. That confirms that the Spirit is
ultimately the One who determines the exact movement.
April 2006
Faith & Discernment of Spirits:
A New Way to think about these Two Spiritual Gifts
Tim Roehl, Trainer
As we help people process their understanding and application of their
supernatural empowering, we have them process two particular spiritual gifts
in a special way…Neither really fits effectively in the "Equipping or
Supporting Gifts " categories. So, I offer the following as a way to see
each :
 Faith is the “turbo-charger” or “energizer” of other spiritual gifts.
Whenever faith is present, it gives a supernatural boost to a person’s gift
“moosh.” Even more than that, it also helps to “turbo-charge” the gifts of
others on their team! For example, my gift “moosh” is “wise encouraging
leadership energized by faith.” As I get feedback from other brothers and
sisters, they tell me that my gift “moosh” could also be described as “wise
encouraging leadership that energizes the faith of others.” When faith is a
part of the mix, both can be true! Faith energizes your other gifts, but it
also turbo charges the faith of others! If you have faith in your “moosh,”
pay attention to its implications, and similarly encourage others who have
this gift.
“What about the gift of discernment of spirits?” The question came from an
earnest person who did not see where the gift of discernment of spirits fit
into our equipping vs. supporting language, team styles and primary
functions of leadership. Out of some good discussion, a new insight we
developed during January's Blueprint Coaches Training in Minneapolis was:
the gift of discernment of spirits identifies the source of spiritual input
(whether from God, the sinful nature or Satan). It also “sets the table” and
helps “focus” the other gifts that believer may have. For example, a
person’s gift of discernment of spirits may “set the table for” and “focus”
their gifts of teaching, prophecy, or other gifts.
The gift of Faith = turbo-charger
Discernment of Spirits = table-setter
As you process these issues with believers, let these tips about the gifts
of faith and discernment of spirits further enhance their understanding and
operation of their leadership grip!
Stress and Sin:
A Grip/Birkman Perspective
Larry Gay, Trainer
Is there really any difference between sin and the stress behaviors
identified by the Birkman questionnaire?
 The Birkman helps individuals to identify their own usual or most effective
behaviors as well as stress behaviors in eleven component areas. Acting out
of our stress behaviors is not necessarily sinful. Sometimes we must use our
stress behaviors to accomplish our goals or interests—in an emergency, or to
meet a deadline. But if we spend all our time in our stress behaviors, we
will not be as effective as we could or should be in accomplishing our goals
or interests. In that sense, stress behaviors are bad and can be sinful
against ourselves or others.
MOTIVE helps to define sin. The Birkman does not measure motive, but in some
way the seven cultural values Paul Ford has listed might point in that
direction. All of these cultural values are inherently selfish in their
essence:
• Narcissism...it’s all about me
• Entitlement...I deserve what I want because...
• Dissatisfaction...because I am just not happy with most of life
• Sarcasm...a highly prized cultural ability, humor at someone’s expense
• The “Ladder Mentality”...moving up is what is most important
• Rebellion glorified...always with us in the past, now it’s praised
• Blame...someone else must pay for my problem or situation!)
If my motives are selfish (acting out of one or more of these cultural
values) or if I am acting out of pride or fear (two sides of the selfish ego
coin), then my behavior is sinful.
Another area related to sin has to do with the definition of need or
expectation. Often, our expectations have to do with how we expect others to
act toward us. Selfishly I would expect the other person to know my needs
and behave according to how I think he/she ought to act toward me, but
Birkman insists that the individual is the one who is responsible for seeing
that his/her needs are met. Of course, I could still act out of a selfish
motive in expressing my needs or expectations to others.
Cornelius Plantinga described sin by looking at the term shalom. Shalom is
more than simple peace, it is the norm that God intends for his creation by
design and for redemption. Shalom is the way it was meant to be and sin is
Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be. (Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.,.Not the Way It’s
Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.) In my own
case, I recognize that things are not the way they are supposed to be
whenever I am acting out of stress as seen in the Birkman components,
because it keeps me from acting in my usual, most effective way—the way it’s
supposed to be.
Our usual behavior (as normed by our spiritual gifts) is by definition our
most effective behavior. This is where living in the Spirit becomes so
important for the Christian and why looking at spiritual giftedness along
with the personality is so important to us. One of our jobs as coaches and
feedback facilitators is to help people explore why they act one way or the
other and how they can be more effective in the body of Christ by being true
to who they are in the body. When I am living in my stress behaviors, I am
not very likely to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace,
patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). In
fact, a good test for whether the behavior is sinful or not might be to ask
the question “What aspect of the fruit of the Spirit are you exhibiting when
you act this way?”
February 14, 2006
Greetings Coaches & Trainers,
It is a new season for the Grip/Birkman Blueprint! My publisher and partner
in the Blueprint process, ChurchSmart Resources, had their ten year
anniversary conference, The Gathering. in Tampa, Florida January 10-12.
ChurchSmart used this venue to announce the Grand Opening nationally for the
Grip/Birkman Blueprint, and over half of the 400 attendees attended one of
my three "taste and see" workshops, two focused on the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint. Each of the participants had been given a gratis "Base Level"
report and, with Coach Bob Rummel's strong support from the ChurchSmart
staff, the majority had that report in hand for the workshop. It was
AWESOME!
Joining me in this were four of our Trainers, "the best in the world" is how
I introduced them! Brad Sprague, Debbie Scroggin, Tim Roehl, and Hal Burke
were alongside me the workshops. Hal and Debbie give you some perspective
and COACHING TIPS below on what we did. God gave us great favor as the
response was overwhelmingly positive. We are seeing fruit born actively
already from the event. Brad, Debbie, Hal, and Tim are also doing follow-up
phone calls with many of the 140 denominational leaders and pastors who
participated. Thanks you four for standing with me in introducing our
resource to North America in a public forum for the first time! Pray for
depth of insight and for God's favor as the calls are made....
NEWEST TRAINER. Tim Roehl is our newest Trainer, officially
validated in a training he and I did together in Minneapolis in January. The
coaches we trained were ALL from Tim's tribe, the Evangelical Church, so the
event really became a kick-off for introducing the Blueprint resource as an
assessing resource denomination-wide for them! Congratulations and welcome
Tim!
UPDATED COACHES TRAINING OUTLINE. From that event, Tim and I
made some changes in our Coaches Training outline --
click
here to see the newly updated "Grip/Birkman Blueprint Coaches
Training" outline. Please note changes in the presentations in #2 and #6, as
we have changed the order of how the Birkman Foursome pieces are presented.
Some of you will find value in this new order as you coach individuals or do
teambuilding events.
Thanks for being a part of our team....God's hand is on this process as we
continue to be good stewards of the new relationships God gives us with whom
to utilize the Grip/Birkman Blueprint.
For the Kingdom,
Paul
Hal Burke...
TRAINING & COACHING. We saw the demonstration of the principle
that Paul so
 passionately espouses: it is all about relationships! This was
true as we coaches gathered around him to pray and advise in preparation for
the large group presentations. We also saw it demonstrated as we
individually coached the break-out groups of 12-18 at the end of each
presentation. The participants appreciated the opportunity to process with
us in smaller groups. Otherwise
I think they would have been too overloaded
with information without the chance to assimilate and apply. I continue to
marvel at the "ah hahs" of immediate insight and, at the same time, the
potential to discover more and more by delving deeper over a period of time.
"LAY MOBILIZING" APPLICATION AREA. This particular workshop
demonstrated to me that a major target group for coaching in the G/BB
process is those in churches who have responsibilities and resources for
implementing lay mobilization. They have both motivation and the means to
follow through with the training.
I went away from this training more convinced than ever of the efficacy of
the process!
Debbie Scroggin...
EQUIPPING & RELEASING MODELED. From the large group teaching
to small group
 breakout we saw surprisingly in-depth impact in a limited
amount of time (five hours total in "taste and see" format). What a great
way to engage a large group while making them feel like a part of a personal
encounter. As Hal said, Paul introduced four pieces of the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint resource in the large group, and then had the large group break
into smaller groups with each of us four trainers so they could apply and
learn on a more personal level. In doing so, Paul modeled for them the
bigger picture of equipping and releasing others -- us four Trainers -- to
play their parts. Attendees walked away having experienced valuable
teaching, modeled application, and personal introspection.
"COACHING AS LISTENING" APPLICATION POINT. I had my doubts as
if anything of great value can be accomplished in such a short time frame.
By days end each day, my doubts had abated. Learning to sit back and watch
the group minister to each other was of great benefit. This group context
provided for several perspectives and observations to be expressed. By
sitting back and allowing them to help each other, I had the privilege of
watching a young octogenarian enjoy learning a new thing or two. I
experienced the joy in observing a women realize that she had been operating
in her stress behavior for so long that those who knew her thought it was
really her usual behavior. It amplified the benefit of following instruction
from James 1;19 to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I have no way of
knowing where the outcome of these discoveries will lead.
I do know that those in attendance discovered new ways of seeing themselves
and had plans for positive change. That in itself continues to be the
driving motivation for pressing forward in using this valuable resource.
February 14, 2006
Greetings Coaches & Trainers,
It is a new season for the Grip/Birkman Blueprint! My publisher and partner
in the Blueprint process, ChurchSmart Resources, had their ten year
anniversary conference, The Gathering. in Tampa, Florida January 10-12.
ChurchSmart used this venue to announce the Grand Opening nationally for the
Grip/Birkman Blueprint, and over half of the 400 attendees attended one of
my three "taste and see" workshops, two focused on the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint. Each of the participants had been given a gratis "Base Level"
report and, with Coach Bob Rummel's strong support from the ChurchSmart
staff, the majority had that report in hand for the workshop. It was
AWESOME!
Joining me in this were four of our Trainers, "the best in the world" is how
I introduced them! Brad Sprague, Debbie Scroggin, Tim Roehl, and Hal Burke
were alongside me the workshops. Hal and Debbie give you some perspective
and COACHING TIPS below on what we did. God gave us great favor as the
response was overwhelmingly positive. We are seeing fruit born actively
already from the event. Brad, Debbie, Hal, and Tim are also doing follow-up
phone calls with many of the 140 denominational leaders and pastors who
participated. Thanks you four for standing with me in introducing our
resource to North America in a public forum for the first time! Pray for
depth of insight and for God's favor as the calls are made....
NEWEST TRAINER. Tim Roehl is our newest Trainer, officially
validated in a training he and I did together in Minneapolis in January. The
coaches we trained were ALL from Tim's tribe, the Evangelical Church, so the
event really became a kick-off for introducing the Blueprint resource as an
assessing resource denomination-wide for them! Congratulations and welcome
Tim!
UPDATED COACHES TRAINING OUTLINE. From that event, Tim and I
made some changes in our Coaches Training outline --
click
here to see the newly updated "Grip/Birkman Blueprint Coaches
Training" outline. Please note changes in the presentations in #2 and #6, as
we have changed the order of how the Birkman Foursome pieces are presented.
Some of you will find value in this new order as you coach individuals or do
teambuilding events.
Thanks for being a part of our team....God's hand is on this process as we
continue to be good stewards of the new relationships God gives us with whom
to utilize the Grip/Birkman Blueprint.
For the Kingdom,
Paul
November 1, 2005
 Greetings
Coaches. There is much going on right now, and important time for the
Grip/Birkman Blueprint!
Three major events are coming for your awareness, prayer and, with #3, your
welcomed attendance...
(Webmaster
note...the two pictures above send shivers up my spine. Who would have
thought Paul would have a body double? Uncanny, huh? On with the show...)
1. Three of our Blueprint Coaches are going
through Birkman Certification in Houston next week, November 7-10.
God continues to give increase in the number among us who are taking the
steps to become full-fledged Grip/Birkman Trainers!
Gail Davis (featured below)
Director of Missionary Training, OMS International, Greenwood, IN
Mike Johnson
President of "Ascending Leaders" training organization, Houston, TX
Rick Tansey
CRM trainer and author/Director of "MaxHealth" leadership training, San Pedro, CA
2. Grip/Birkman Blueprint Seminar
outline "4MAT"ing process in San Bernardino, CA December 12-14...
We are taking our current training outline and strengthening its quality and
breadth of presentation or, we are further untying the outline from the
pioneer Ford guy and making it more user friendly to all Blueprint
trainers!!
4MAT process? Check out
www.aboutlearning.com/what_is_4mat.htm.
Buck Rogers, a CRM teammate and expert 4MAT trainer, is leading Ford, Hoke,
Roehl, Scroggin, Sprague, and Tansey through this two day process.
And now, your invitation to the formal "Coming Out" of the Grip/Birkman
Blueprint resource at ChurchSmart Publisher's 10 year anniversary
Conference....
3. The Gathering, January 10-12,
near Tampa, Florida
(click
here to see the brochure)
Six intro workshops spread out over the first two days - sign-up numbers so
far have been fantastic! At least five coaches or trainers are already
coming....
This Month's TRAINING FOCUS:
the GIFTS TRIANGLE portion of the Grip/Birkman Blueprint
Sub-titled: How this Blueprint coach
keeps learning about her own teammates with Post It poster paper!
Gail Davis Reports...
We just completed a Team Building workshop where we were training OMS
in-house teambuilding facilitators. I learned something valuable about each
of my co-workers that has changed the way that I interact with them. I will
focus on just the gifts half of the Grip/Birkman Blueprint for my purposes
here.
I am a visual learner and was helped so much by putting all the data from
the workbook (i.e.. the gifts triangle, who we need, etc.) on large Post-It
poster size paper on the wall.
We now have a
self-help tool for doing this (click here).
Our
team could immediately compare the posted ”data” to the behavior of our
co-workers. This led to many expressed “Umms” and “Aha’s” as we understood a
little better about the motivation behind actions.
The most significant learning for me came when I realized that a co-worker
of mine is not likely to initiate action but will happily join me in
ventures that I initiate. Seeing her gifts triangle on the poster and
working side-by-side with her helped me to see and understand that for the
first time. Understanding her gifting mix helps me not to expect her to act
in ways that are unnatural for her but second nature for me. It gives her
the opportunity to be the alongside helper that she is and helps us work
together more harmoniously. I appreciated the opportunity during the
break-out session to share with her what I was seeing. She was really
appreciative that I had seen her correctly and it was a turning point in our
relationship.
HOW we gather the information about the people we coach is indispensable to
this process. Insight comes through:
- carefully phrased questions that
confirm the results of the process
- allowing them to describe moments when they felt God was at work through
them
- putting the data carefully on the Post It paper or newsprint on the wall
There is a powerful moment when we connect with who that person really is,
when they feel validated and understood, maybe for the first time in their
lives. It is such events that make coaching such a wonderful experience.
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