Coaches Report Archive

January 2010: The Global Resource Team Looks toward a New Year, A New Decade
February 2010: Retaining the “Glocal” Dimension of the “I” to “We” to “They” Paradigm
March 2010: Introduction to Primary Functions of Stewardship in Detail Chart

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 learning 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.