Multiple Uses for the Grip/Birkman Blueprint ...Or, my Five Great Questions on NEED
By Ron Ward

I live in Central Asia, but in many parts of the world Grip-Birkman has seen an organic progression of development.    By “organic” I mean that in almost every circumstance, the use of GBB has spread by verbal or written endorsement rather than top-down directive in organizations.   In a number of overseas fields GBB has been most effective in team training and team building, but also in coaching individuals and couples.  My area of focus is pastoral care, so I have seen GBB serve as an effective tool with relationship development, conflict resolution, and team unity.  This article will focus on the ways I personally use the GBB tool.

I really appreciate the flexibility of GBB, because I use GBB in a variety of settings and groupings.  Being in an overseas context, meeting times and venues have to flex with what works, sometimes with no projector or flip chart paper available.  Whether a large or small group, a tiny room, few props, or limited timeframe, I arrange the time so that each individual can interact and engage with the tool and with one another in group settings.

My most significant training is with a team that has an integral purpose for being together.  Integral teams have the most to gain from the full breadth of GBB resources and follow-up tools.  But there are also very effective ways to engage individuals, couples, and people who don’t team together. I just have to tailor GBB to that person or group. Tailoring becomes much more natural with experience.  My purpose is to help each person develop, through the lenses of their unique gifting, personality and behaviors, a picture of their life and ministry that says:  “This is what God has made me for in this season.”

While there are many pieces to helping individuals, couples and teams discover their “sweet spot” in life and ministry, there is one consistent and practical tool I use to help them verbalize it.  I call it the five questions of NEED, and introduce it when we discuss Need (the Circle) in the Birkman LifeStyle Grid:

1. What is my best working environment? (alone, lots of people around, some people but need to concentrate, accessibility to colleagues/superior(s)

2. How much guidance/feedback do I need? (give me clear rules, give me the general boundaries and trust me with the result, invite me to engage in check-backs to help make sure I’m on track)

3. How do I best refresh/recharge (alone with a book, a walk/run/gym session, visit with a few close friends or some/lots of people)

4. What is the form of genuine affirmation that motivates me to do my best? (a simple word of thanks/encouragement, a personal card/email/call, role development, public recognition)

5. When someone needs to give me a word of correction, how do I best receive it? (straight-forward, tempered with sensitivity, tell me straight but explain why, affirm me heavily if the correction is particularly difficult)

Answering these questions verbally helps the participant/s (individual, their spouse, teammates and/or associates) understand several crucial elements about what they most need to operate in their sweet spot.  The format can be formal or informal.  Sometimes I write them on the whiteboard.  Sometimes I prompt the individual with each question.  Regardless of the approach, very helpful things are usually shared that others in the group did not know... or would not have guessed... about that person’s needs.  I tie this time of sharing to the biblical instruction we are given to encourage, exhort, speak truth and love one another. 

But there is also a connection to powerful spiritual gifting, as each individual looks more deeply at the way He uniquely works in and through that gift combination.  It encourages a mindset that whatever role or function a person/couple/team serve, and the purpose for which they exist, both the person/couple/team and its fruit are deeply affected by how the persons involved choose to relate to one another.

Of course, the five questions of Need can be useful in any context, not just overseas.  I hope you find it helpful to you.

Feed your ideas to us if you have a response for me or one of the team member’s comments: