How do you see yourself? We all have a vision of how we look, who we are. You might call this our self-vision. I was recently reading something from Stephen Covey. Actually, reviewing a book I had read years ago. Covey was writing about this subject, vision or how we see our self. Covey wrote, “We all have some vision of ourselves and our future. And that vision creates consequences. More than any other factor, vision affects the choices we make and the how we spend our time.”

Perhaps today more than any time in history the social mirror is clamoring for more and more reflected identity. People whose vision is based on the social mirror make choices and decisions based on what others think. Choices are made based on the expectations of others. A person whose self-vision is only a reflection of the social mirror, cannot have a personal connection to the true self, his unique abilities to develop and contribute to family and society.

The Baby-boomer generation (of which I am one), wrote its own script. Sometimes that was good, sometimes perhaps not. Even in the coming of age, Baby-boomers created its own social mirrors. Many of the social mirrors of the Baby-boomers were to reflect anything but what “the establishment” stood for. Baby-boomers have carried some of those social mirrors for 50 years.

Yet, as I look around today, I see a social mirror that is very different and extreme. And it is being cast on younger generations much by the Baby-boomer leaders in various sectors of our society.

Whether in America or any other culture, a social mirror reflection of self is always pulling people away from his/her true God-given individuality. When we are living out scripts handed to us by others we cannot honor God through our uniqueness created by Him.

With a passion to unearth your true self, the reflection in your mirror can be a prevailing motivating force to propel you beyond anything you can imagine or dream. It happened for me first, when I stopped watching the news, in 1980. I realized newscasts were negative. Of a typical thirty-minute newscast, seldom is there more than thirty seconds of anything not negative. No wonder people have such a negative perspective on life. It was not only turning off newscasts. I made a concerted effort to change my self-vision, my mirror of me.

Last week my wife and I saw a photo of a young woman whom we knew when she was a teenager. As a teenager, she saw herself as an outcast, someone who was different, unliked, undesireable. Because this is who she felt she was in society, this was her mirror, she always tried to reflect this image, and she did it well. However, the photo we saw last week revealed a beautiful young lady with a positive attitude and a drive to accomplish, even in spite of society if society tried to push back on her.

God created you a unique individual with positive qualities to accomplish that which is beyond your comprehension. Whose mirror are you reflecting, society’s, or God’s?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.

Believe it or not ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) were introduced to us in the late 1960’s. When they were first introduced most of the nation was skeptical of them. In fact, most citizens refused to use ATMs. After all, this was a far cry from the normal banking experience. Fast forward to today and many people in American society would not know how to exist without ATMs. Finding and using ATMs is now as common as walking down the street.

The introduction of ATMs was foreign to our custom of banking. Yet over time it has become part of the very fabric of banking in the United States. Acceptance of the ATM was gradual. This was change. Change is not easily accepted, is it?

Contrary to what we’ve been told, people are not opposed to change. However, people do not like forced change. We do not like someone else telling us we must change. Banks did not tell us we must use ATMs. ATMs were introduced alongside traditional banking practices.

Before ATMs were ever introduced, bank employees were trained to encourage customers to use ATMs. They were trained in the benefits and advantages of using ATMs.  Advertisements and promotions were published promoting the safety, security, and ease of use of ATMs. Slowly ATMs were acclimated into our lives. Banks were preparing us for ATMs before the first ATM hit the market. And they continued preparing us for several years.

The way we watch TV has changed. From black & white to color. From small 9 inch to 100 inch screens. From analog to HG, to 4K resolution. From using dials on the TV to remotes to smart TVs. All of these are changes that have happened in our lifetime. Change is inevitable, and people have adapted and accepted these changes without recourse.

People have adapted to change their entire lives. It is not change that people fear or are opposed to. It is forced change. As leaders, we are to guide and to, well, lead people into change. Too often organizational change is forced change. When leaders take the time to educate and bring people along, change can move much smoother than it often does.

We need to take a lesson from the banking industry. We need to slowly educate – long before the coming change. Educate, equip, and train our workers, employees, customers, members in a slow methodical process. Take your time; investigate, explore, train, equip, and implement in due time. Don’t rush change. Guide people bringing them along with openness and honesty.  

Change will come and the ease of change will be like money from an ATM.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.

As a boy growing up in a small cape cod style house, my three brothers and I slept upstairs in our home. Our upstairs consisted of two open-air rooms. My oldest brother slept in the smaller room at the left of the staircase. My next older brother and I shared the larger of the two rooms at the right side of the stairs.  My youngest brother slept at the top of the stairs on a small bed. I remember at least one night after the lights were out, my two older brothers (I of course would not be involved) would slip out of their beds and crawl across the floor quietly sneaking up to my younger brother’s bed and pop up suddenly and scare him.

To hide from his fears my younger brother would pull the covers up over his head until he would stop shaking and felt it was safe to pull the covers down. Of course, it would only be a few minutes until one of the older ones was there at his bed again.

I remember thinking, “How is that going to save you?” But in my brother’s mind, his bed was his safe haven. Pulling his cover over his head provided his safety zone – his comfort zone. As long as he was in his bed with his cover he felt safe and comfortable.

Pulling your covers over your head may keep you from facing your fears. It will not help you out of your comfort zone. It will never take you where God wants to lead you!

Most professed Christians never truly experience being on-mission with God because they will not pull the covers down from over their head. No growth ever takes place in your comfort zone. God stretches you. He wants you to get out of your comfort zone so He can bless you with all the blessings of heaven (Ephesians 1:3-4).

We have got to not only pull the covers down to see where God is at work, we need to get out of that nice, warm, comfortable bed and join God in His work.

After all, what is the purpose of the church? The purpose of the church (God’s people) always has been and always will be to be “On Mission” with God to the unchurched.

Our marching orders are stated in Matthew 28:19-20. “GO” it says. That word means as you are going, As you go through life, you are to do the following… Who are we to go with? JESUS. He said at the end of those verses that He will always be with us even to the end of the earth.

To be On-Mission with God means that we are to be about God’s business. Not the business we think would please God. To do this we must be willing to get out of our comfort zone – out of that nice warm comfortable bed (or pew) and join God in the work He is doing around us. Therein comes the joy and the blessings of heaven.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life

In all areas of life and ministry, we confront adversarial situations. As I read about and study the great heroes of faith, successful organizations, and entrepreneurs, I see a common thread. This common bond or thread as I see it is a twofold character trait. While each of these two facets are great qualities and can stand alone, together they solidify a man’s temperament and resolve. These two character traits are a stalwart belief and a steadfast faith.

Standing stalwart in your beliefs and steadfast in yourfaith will carry a man farther than skill, ability, or fortune. Those finding themselves in an adversarial position may not be able to rely on fortune, skill, or ability. The two elements that can be relied upon are belief in a successful outcome and a faith to carry on through the difficulty. One thought that may come to mind here is that the outcome might not be the “successful” outcome we perceive or desire. However, God’s ways are much greater than our ways and His thoughts higher than ours. Therefore, it is worthy to always look at the outcome and see it from God’s kingdom perspective.

One of the great men of faith from the first century is the apostle Paul. Reading some of the words of the apostle Paul from the New Testament gives us insight into a man who was both stalwart in belief and steadfast in his faith.

Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.

Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night

and a day in the depths of the sea. On frequent journeys,

[I faced] dangers from rivers, dangers

from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers

from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers

in the open country, dangers on the sea,

and dangers among false brothers; labor and hardship,

many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without

food, cold, and lacking clothing. Not to mention other

things, there is the daily pressure on me: my care for all

the churches (2 Corinthians 11:24–28).

The apostle Paul suffered all these things, yet he always had words to share of his love and devotion to the God he served. Paul was stalwart in his journey, always pressing on, no matter what hardships he faced. He never stopped, suffering through all these things. Even after all this torture, pain, and hardship, Paul was found singing and praising God in prison, witnessing to the guards and writing letters of encouragement and training to the churches he had helped to start. He didn’t complain. Instead, in his own words Paul said, “I press on” (Philippians 3:14 NIV). Paul was stalwart in his belief and steadfast in his faith, never wavering.

God has promised He will never leave nor forsake you. He is with you every day, all day. Jesus, in the last words of the Great Commission, said, “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (KJV). You have what it takes to build a stalwart belief and steadfast faith. Stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before so that you will be strengthened for the victory and your shoulders will be broadened for those who come after you.

This article is adapted from Reaching the Summit:, Essence Publishing, chapter 13, Stalwart & Steadfast and first appeared on this blog in 2014.

For more information on this topic or to purchase your copy of Reaching the Summit contact George Yates and visit soncare.

“I know you love fishing and you’ve been fishing all your lives. I realize this is how you support your family. It is your family business. But I have something else I want you to consider. You know me and have seen me around the last few weeks. I want you to leave all this behind. Stop what you are doing, leave all this behind, and join my team. Follow me around for a few years and learn. You know how to catch fish. Follow me and you’ll learn how to catch men.”

While the above paragraph is in parentheses, it is not an actual monologue. But if Jesus had used the business acumen of many of today’s leaders, this might be how He would have recruited His Disciples. Instead, Jesus simply said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

“Come, Follow Me.” Simple, straight forward. This is a directive of Jesus Christ to His Disciples. Simple does not always mean easy. Simple is uncomplicated. Jesus’ directives for His followers were usually simple, uncomplicated. Jesus used three words or less in some situations. To some of His Disciples, He said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” In this scenario, His directive was accompanied with a promise. “Follow me,” was the directive. The promise was “and I will make you fishers of men.”

As leaders in church and the corporate world today, we often think we are giving easy to follow directives, yet our delivery or the comprehension of others complicates the directive. These complications often lead to failed attempts or a mistaken application. Either of these will end in frustration for both parties. How can we avoid these frustrations? Here are three suggestions.

1.      Simplify your directives for others by using as few words as possible. Use enough words to get the objective across without being wordy.

2.      Write out your directive. Writing out your directive allows you the opportunity to see and examine it word for word to ensure it is concise and direct enough to be understood.

3.      Be positive in wording and delivery. As stated in earlier posts, not one of us communicates as clearly as we believe ourselves. Record your directive just as if your charges were standing in front of you. Then play it back. How did you sound? Forceful, lackadaisical, accusatory, encouraging? Now play it back for some other person who can evaluate objectively.

The easiest directive for anyone to follow is a simple, uncomplicated one. What steps will you take today to ensure your directives are simple and uncomplicated for all to follow?

All of Jesus’ directives were accompanied by a promise, spoken or implied. The promise was something better than the current state. Are your directives accompanied by a promise? If so, will your promise have a positive impact on the lives of those following your directive?

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.

Pastor Will, speaking with one of his staff members stated, “Joseph, your team is falling behind every week. The other teams seem to be doing fine and keeping the pace. I need you and your team to step it up.”

Did you notice a glaring omission in Pastor Will’s statement? There is no clarity. His statement to Joseph is very vague. There is no clarity in what the goal or objective is, what Joseph’s team is falling behind in, or what Joseph needs to accomplish. Whether you hold a leadership position in the church or a corporate organization, clarity is key.

I read somewhere that leadership begins with clarity. While I agree, I believe we need to clarify something (pardon the pun). Great leadership begins and ends with clarity. In fact, clarity is a character trait of great leadership.

Clarity is defined as; the quality of being clear. The quality of coherence and intelligibility. easy to see or hear; sharpness of image or sound.

Recently my wife and I were having a great start to our weekend. Then I messed it up. I wanted to show her how to check the air in her tires and how to use our compressor to add air if needed when I was not around. The mistake I made and one that many leaders make is, I was using terminology that I learned and have used since I was a child.  I assumed she knew what I was talking about. She did not. This was all foreign to her.

I never raised my voice, I did not get angry or upset with my wife. However, because she did not know the language, she interpreted my reactions and verbiage as condescending and hurtful.

I have said for years that there is not one person on earth (in every walk of life) who communicates as clearly as we think we do. And I proved that fact on this particular Saturday. Having clarity as a leader is more than understanding yourself but insuring every person you are communicating with is as clear as you are on the subject.

To be clear, to have clarity as a leader, when you think you have shared your thoughts enough, share them again – and again. Share in simple terms (simple means uncomplicated, not necessarily easy). Always ask questions to ascertain if your employees/volunteers have an adequate understanding of the task ahead and how to accomplish said task. Clarity is key in communication and leadership!

Sidenote: My wife and I recovered fine from our miscommunication that morning and had a very peaceful and nice weekend together.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.

One consideration people everywhere in our culture today have in common is, People want to be heard. Unfortunately, there are two barriers in most organizations. One is, there is no apparent structure for the average worker or member to share his/her viewpoints and suggestions. Some organizations and leaders go to extremes to make sure workers do have a communication avenue like this. Poor leaders do not want any input from others. Great, successful leaders on the other hand, welcome input and provide avenues of communication.

The second barrier is most people have difficulty expressing his/her viewpoints and suggestions. Few people have been trained or know how to deliver a suggestion without attached emotional baggage. Therefore, what could be a great suggestion, becomes a complaining point. You cannot (and should not) totally separate emotional attachment from a suggestion, especially if your belief is that this suggestion will benefit organizational quality. As leaders we need to be able to assist others in sharing his/her ideas in a congruent manner.

As a coach, I have found one of the best ways to do this is by asking a “tell me more” question. “That’s interesting. Can you tell me more?” A couple others would be, “Can you unpack that for me?” “Have you seen this happen before? If so, how was it handled?” Tell me more questions allow the speaker to process a little further his/her issue and reason for speaking. This approach may take a few more minutes, but it can produce great results for the entire organization.

These questions open the door for you, the leader to ask, “How do you think we could better handle this in the future?” or “Thank you for that insight. We’ll work on a better solution. If you have any thoughts, please submit them in writing, so I convey your thoughts correctly.” Having someone submit possible solutions in writing causes them to think about how you as the leader have to process information. It also shows that you are interested in listening to his/her viewpoint and suggestions.

Oftentimes, the answer to this individual’s personal issue will be revealed in his/her explanation. This will give the leader the information needed to help this person acheive greater effectiveness. Never underestimate the power of influence on others when they believe their voice is being heard.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.

This is a guest post. It is actually a 4 question survey that we ask all team members to complete about their experience through the Reaching the Summit process . This one was completed by the interim pastor of a church who recently completed a one year series of working with me in the Reaching the Summit (RTS) process.

1——Through the course of RTS I have realized…have realized several things through this process. I learned that change is a slow process. It comes form identifying strengths of the church and then using those strengths to meet the needs of the people around it. The best way to see if this is happening is another thing I learned that seemed so simple. Look at the church and see if it resembles the community that it is in. If it doesn’t then it is not meeting the needs and reaching the people. This process is not a one time process, but instead is an ongoing and never ending one. This is because people change, demographics change and times change. This is what makes it hard because it is so easy for us to get comfortable where we are and doing what we like, which leads to the church using its strengths to minister to themselves.

If we are not making an effort to keep this from happening then it will happen.

2——RTS has helped me——RTS has helped me first of all see the importance selecting the right people for the job. It has helped me see how to do this by looking at peoples strengths, how they have handled jobs in the past and where their interest are. Some people are good long term leaders and some are event people who are good at doing one time events. Both are needed.

It has most of all I think helped me realize, that as a Pastor, I need to be a stronger leader. This comes from going through processes like RTS and requires effort to grow the spiritual gifts that God has given me. I think RTS really helped me in this area.

3——-I believe that because of RTS our church will———As a result of going through RTS we not only identified some of the strengths of our church but we also identified some of the weaknesses. Those seemed to be doing things simply because we always have. By eliminating those because they were no longer effective, we will have more people to help in our areas of strength and better meet the needs of the community around us which will result in our growth.

4——-I was an interim pastor at Bethel but have applied the things that I have learned at the church where I am currently serving and have seen the difference that it has made. Thank you as well for your book “Coaching, A way of leadership a way of life. It too has helped me to be a better leader.

Bruce Coker, Associate Pastor, LifeLine Church

Why are we afraid of reality? It is true in business, in the church, and even in our everyday conversations with friends and family, we obscure the reality of life. In the church we often hear, “we’re doing fine.” Or “We’re running about the same as last year.” The interpretation of the reality of these is, “We’re losing ground. Not as many people coming, no new people joining our church, we keep cutting due to lack of finances.”

In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins speaks of facing the brutal facts of reality. In Reaching the Summit, I speak of having a Vigorous Face to Face Summit with Reality. In all situations of any relationship or organization, until you are truly ready to confront the true (often brutal) facts of reality, you will not be able to pull out of any downward spiral in the relationship or organization.

Unfortunately, many people (most people) would rather glaze over or totally ignore reality, rather than face the true and often brutal facts. We want to live in our fantasy world, believing everything will turn out alright – someday. And we want to believe that day is just around the corner with our next big event, or the next big wave or program sweeping the nation. Brutal fact: It just does not happen!

It is apparently human nature to hide the truth when there are potential consequences and possible risk. Many churches remain in decline because the members (and leaders) refuse to accept reality. It is often not until the church is in dire consequences they will call on someone from outside to help. In fact, the call for help is usually one of the final grasps for survival. Even then the church is looking for a savior. Reality is; the church already has a savior and does not need another savior.

If you want to find the realty of your situation, call on a trained, unbiased outsider – someone who has nothing to gain – to assist your organization in uncovering the reality of your situation and assisting in strategically planning a turnaround.

A couple of resources to help you get started: Reaching the Summit: Avoiding & Reversing Decline in the Church and Turnaround Journey.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life

Many years ago, I hired in, selling vacuum cleaners, in homes. Within four weeks our office management and owner asked me to take on the role of sales trainer. Within the next six months our office had more successful new sales people than any other office in our nationwide company. In fact, we captured the award of number one office in our division of a worldwide corporation. While at that time I still did not consider myself to be a “leader”, we had more people who came through our training classes who went on to successful sales and management careers than any other trainer in the organization. Was I an exceptionally great trainer? No, by no means. In my mind I paled in comparison to those who trained me.

As I look back on those days and many since, I believe it was not my ability as much as my vulnerability that made a difference in so many lives. Vulnerability is considered the openness to expose one’s own weaknesses and susceptibility. In leadership ministry positions to this day, I try not to see myself as better or higher than anyone else. Actually, I see everyone as how they contribute in areas where I am weak. Seeing other people’s strengths is a key to leadership. Helping others to see and realize their areas of strength is also key.

One of the best ways to help others understand and utilize his/her strengths is through the use of your own vulnerability. I know I am not God’s gift to leadership. However, after many years, I have come to realize that God has gifted me in some areas of leadership. Even this has not been an easy factor for me to grasp. Perhaps because I know I have shortcomings and failures in my leading. Realizing these factors is a first step. Sharing your shortcomings is the beginning of vulnerability.

It becomes very beneficial for a leader to share his/her vulnerabilities to those whom he/she leads. And the way you share is the key factor which will build up or tear down the confidence and morale of others. Always share to encourage, embolden, and strengthen those you are speaking to.

When sharing your own vulnerabilities, never share to build yourself up or show how “good” you are. Always share to show you too have weaknesses and shortcomings. Share to build others up, to show they too can overcome obstacles that they may be facing. A successful leader will share his/her vulnerabilities to help others overcome obstacles and mindsets keeping them from performing at their very best.

Show me a leader who refuses to show a chink in his own armor, his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and you will find low morale and high turnover in that leader’s employees/volunteers. Showing vulnerability actually builds integrity. What will you do this week to build integrity through vulnerability.

George Yates is an Organizational Health Strategist and coach, assisting churches, organizations, and individuals in pursuing God’s purpose for life.