Zig Ziglar would tell the story of a woman, Gerry Arrowwood, he hired to help him in demonstrating the pots and pans he was selling. At that time Ziglar would go into a home and demonstrate his wares by preparing meal for his hosts and up to six other couples. Miss Arrowwood agreed to accept the position on one condition, she was never to be called on lead any part of the demonstrations. She was there to help prepare the food, clean up and support Ziglar.

A few months into their working relationship, Ziglar overbooked himself. He asked Arrowwood to deliver some of the pots and pans he had sold at one party. Doing so meant delivering the pots and pans and showing the homeowners how to use the wares by preparing an actual meal for the family. Arrowwood said no. She could not do it.

Fortunately for Ziglar, she had a change of heart. Knowing his character and integrity would suffer if the deliveries were not made, Arrowwood reluctantly agreed to make the deliveries and spend time with the families. The next day, the phone call she made to Ziglar was unexpected. She was so excited that she could not stop speaking of the great and fun time she had. “I don’t know when I’ve had so much fun.” She said.

That night changed Gerry Arrowwood’s life forever. She became a new person – actually a new, improved version of the same person. Why? Because she wanted to? No. because she thought it would be fun? Absolutely not. She was terrified. The reason Ms. Arrowwood agreed to the assignment is that she wanted to help someone out. She did it because she cared. Don’t miss this, one of life’s greatest lessons. Our desire to care for others will lead us to places beyond our own imagination.

The experience of that one night opened her eyes and heart revealing hidden skills and abilities beyond her previous recognition. And the doors of opportunity began to open as well. A few short years later, Gerry Arrowwood became the international vice president of sales training for a leading multi-million-dollar cosmetics company.

Not only is it important that we not overlook the hidden skill and abilities in our own lives, but we must never underestimate that which lies within those persons in our circle of influence. As a leader our number one objective should always be to help unearth and build on the skillsets of others. Who knows, you be assisting the next vice president of an international leading company.

Beginning today, what will you change in your life to be more observant of the qualities that rest beneath the surface of those you associate with? How will you help him/her uncover and develop those attributes? You can be the catalyst for the Gerry Arrowwood’s in your life.

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

While serving a church in Ohio I had an idea. (I have since learned not to copy models, but to capture principles.) Driving along, positive Christian music playing on the radio, I thought that sounds like workout music. Why not Christian workout/aerobics? Not that I’ve ever been one to consistently workout and I’ve never been part of an aerobics class. But why not offer it for others. I knew we had a young lady in our church who was helping lead aerobics and women’s workout classes at the local community center. I approached her with the idea and asked her to pray about it.

Nothing came of that conversation. Quite the opposite, within a few months God led that family out of state with her husband’s career. I accepted the non-response and their move as God’s way of saying it was not a ministry for our church – at least not at that time.

Two years later a young lady in our church called requesting an appointment to speak with me. At the meeting she shared that she had been praying about a ministry opportunity and wanted to know if it would be possible in our church and if I would pray about it with her. The ministry in question: a women’s aerobics class for the women of the church and the community. She had seven personal trainer, workout, and aerobics certifications, as well as first responders first aid (in case of an emergency in a class).

I could hardly believe what was happening. I had let the idea die two years earlier. Now, sitting in front of me was a woman with passion to not only help women get in shape, but to share the love and gift of Jesus at every class. She had it worked out, Christian music, scripture, personal testimonies, a complete ministry package. At the conclusion of our meeting and prayer time together, I asked her to go home and write it as a ministry proposal.

We began the ministry, ladies only. Her first class had more than twenty ladies attend. By the third session 29 were in attendance. Some were members of our church. And those members brought some of their friends as well. Out of the first class we had women not only getting in physical shape and improving their outlook on life, we also had some committing their life to Christ and attending church for the first time in their lives.

God’s timing is always right. I have no doubt God placed that ministry on my mind two years prior to our meeting that morning. If for no other reason, to prepare me for when the timing was right, when His plan was to unfold. He brought to me the person He had Called to lead that ministry. I did not have to go looking. She had the passion, desire and the certifications to make this God’s ministry.

I have never tried to look for someone to start an aerobics ministry in any churches since then. It was right for that church, at that time. The gifting, the timing, the ministry was not within the prevue of the other churches. However, the principles remain the same for the right ministries in every church. Don’t copy models, capture principles.

For more on capturing principles, contact George Yates.

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

“Oh no. What has she done now?” Jane and Belinda have been working side by side for almost six years. Belinda’s question was about Jane. It seemed, at least in Belinda’s mind, that Jane was always falling short, causing Belinda’s workload to grow. If she wasn’t falling behind, Belinda and her co-workers thought that Jane was always trying to get out of work. Always volunteering for meetings and running in office errands, suggesting that parts of her workload would be better suited on someone else’s desk.

Because of Belinda’s preconceived perceptions of Jane, when she (Belinda) walked into the office this morning and saw her supervisor standing at Jane’s desk, she thought the worst; “Oh no. What has she done now.” Belinda’s blood pressure jumped several notches and continued to climb as she crossed the room to her desk. I’m sure she’s complaining about her workload and I’ll end up with more to do. After all I am faster and probably the best worker in this office. No one gets as much done as I do. Why wouldn’t they come to me to help those slower. I always get the extra work.”

In the meantime, Belinda’s disdain for Jane grows. “Jane is a lazy, complaining, selfish, brownnoser.” In Belinda’s mind all the issues are Jane’s. The relationship is like one between a rebellious teenager and his/her parents. The parents believe the teen to be going through a rebellious phase – against whatever his parents say and believe. The teen believes his/her parents to be legalists, controlling, and judgmental. The more the parents react the more the teen acts out and pushes the envelope causing the parents then to react stronger anddraw stronger negative conclusions. It is a vicious escalating circle. There is a feeding off each other that escalates the bitterness and antagonism toward each other.

This is an infection that besets us all. This phenomenon is rooted in self-deception. In Leadership and Self-Deception, The Arbinger Institute says it begins with self-betrayal. We betray ourselves by recognizing those around us as objects not people. Our self-betrayal leads to escalating false assessments of others while justifying our thoughts and actions, both the negative against others and the exaggerated bolstering of our own attributes. This self-deception builds in us and those we interact with as it always carries negative attitudes and connotations. Like a virus, this infection festers and grows in us and can compromise or ruin relationships at work, home, family, and all other areas of life.

Whether as a leader, family member, or friend, we must work to avoid allowing this infection to multiply its bacterial infest and destroy our relationships. The number one thing that you can do is ask yourself this question: Am I viewing the person/people in my relationships as objects or people like me? Do you view the people you work with as objects to get the job done or as people with families, trials, and hardships just as you and your family experience? Do you view your spouse as an object of your affection obligated to fulfill your thoughts and desires, or a loving person with a busy schedule, and a compassionate heart to provide through his/her role in the family?

What first steps can you take this week to turn your self-deception into a others focused orientation?

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

Much has been written over the years about leadership styles. Many times, the author tries to push his one favorite comfort leading style. The one in which he/she is most comfortable and uses 80-90 percent of the time. Perhaps it is good to look at various leadership styles and particular situations where each will work best and where they will not.

Military – This is a commanding role. The leader barks orders as if he or she is building new army recruits. In the workplace this seldom is effective. It goes against people’s desire to achieve and accomplish. While it may work well in the military, in the workplace it rips motivation from employees/volunteers. I’ve known of former military leaders attempting this in the social sector (hospitals, churches, etc.). Military leadership in this sector and others is anti-effective.

Gripped Fanatic – This person wants to continually up the pace and raise the bar, raise the goals, usually stretching the limits of the workers beyond reasonability. Some of these leaders have a fast-paced mentality and operating mode themselves and believe others to only be lazy in not keeping up the pace. Turnover is usually high and morale low in such organizations. People can and should be stretched in certain situations. But take caution to know your people and their limits.

Visionary – This is where the leader sets the vision (concept & foresight) for the near and perhaps distant future for the organization. Vision is vital in the success of any organizations and should be updated annually, celebrating all the milestone victories along the way. Celebrate all the victories, big and small. Even small victories are milestones for some of your people.

A vision, however, is a roadmap for the organization. When looking at a road map, you do not see every building and landmark along the journey you will be traveling. The visionary leader sets the roadmap, allowing the employees/volunteers to help articulate how that vision is carried out. This requires some freedom of “how to arrive” at the vision and builds morale and buy-in.

Coaching – The coaching leader’s emphasis is on assisting in the self-improvement of other persons. A coaching leader helps that person (team or organization) reach inside him/herself and unearth his/her potential with a desire to build upon that potential and skillset. Coaching should never be used to manipulate or micro-manage people. This will destroy confidence and morale within an organization. Proper coaching will build on both confidence and morale as well as motivation.

Relational – The relational leader encourages building relationships among co-workers/volunteers and is best seen and use in building teams that work together. Relational leading can be very productive when used correctly and – as is said about eating – in moderation. Relational leading can have its downsides. When tough times come within the organization, be those personal or company driven, will the strong relational ties be to work together through those for the organization or the individual relationships?

This represents a glimpse of five leadership styles. You can read of others such as Autocratic, Democratic, Authoritative, Participative, Delegative, Positional, on and on they go. Several of these are simply different names for similar leader traits. The key is understanding them and settle on which is best for each particular situation you find yourself in. In some situations, relational leadership may be best, for building a team to accomplish a task. In another situation you may find your employees or volunteers need coaching leadership to build on their natural abilities.

The question is, What will you do this week to improve your leadership abilities and not rely on just one leadership style? Or perhaps, what leadership style do you need to eradicate from your repertoire?

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

I am disappointed and sometimes even disturbed when leaders speak disparagingly of other leaders. Now, let me set the record straight, I too have been guilty of this culpability. Leadership requires growth. Great leaders want and strive to grow, constantly reading, attending improvement workshops, surrounding themselves with mentors and other leaders who have complementary gifts and traits. We all have our weak spots and our comfort areas of leading. Some need a little more prodding or nurturing than others for growth.

As a leader it is my obligation and responsibility to assist other leaders in striving for improved leadership skills. If they are within my area of influence, I can and should offer (formally or informally) assistance. In my particular role I am privileged to coach leaders. Included in the coaching role you will find some mentoring and leading by example. As I coach, I should be demonstrating quality leadership traits. Some leaders that enter a coaching relationship with me catch it. Perhaps one of the greatest compliments received in this type relationship is, though you have never talked about the coachee improving his leadership, he states, “He changed my style of leadership for life.”

Regardless of our position in life, one objective should be to have something similar said of us. There are people watching us at all times. If we are in an official position of leadership or not, part of our daily living should be to aid in the betterment of everyone in our influence. A good question to ask ourselves is, “How can I offer encouragement to this person in personal leadership skills growth?”

Not all persons in leadership have the desire to grow, but all leaders do. There is a difference. Persons in leadership positions are not always leaders. A title does not make a leader. Willing, teachable persons can grow in their leadership skills, and it is my obligation to help him/her. Not only obligation, it should be my pleasure. I like to use the statement, “What God has given me, He gave it not for me to hoard, but to share, to give it away.”

I will never force my leadership training on anyone. Quality Leadership cannot be force fed. It must be delivered in a manner befitting of the learner’s appetite. Jesus taught His original Disciples by having them follow Him in His daily routines. They did life together. It is not necessarily yours to spend 24 hours a day with those you are training in leadership, but are you living life together? Little about effective leadership is taught in the classroom. We can read and be instructed of the principles and manners of leadership in a classroom type setting. Yet, the adaptation of leadership traits only takes place as we interact with others in real life situations.

As a leader what will you do to assist someone in growing in his/her leadership abilities? What will you do this week to redeem a struggling leader?

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

There once were two armies encamped on either side of a valley. They were to face off against one another, but the battle was postponed each day. On one side was an army of fighting men from a nation known historically for their victories in battle. Their victories had been credited to their God. On the other side was an army of strong fighting men, each one three and four feet taller than their opponents. From this camp each morning a lone warrior would walk into the valley and challenge the other army to send out its greatest warrior to do battle. But each day not one of the soldiers would go out to do battle with this giant.

Then one day a young teenage boy came to the camp, bringing provisions for his brothers. He was astounded to find that not one man in this camp would trust their God to deliver the giant into their hands, giving them victory over the other army. Trusting his God this young boy took on the giant himself, not with a sword and shield. Not with a bow and arrow, the weapons of the time. He was not practiced in the use of these weapons.

This young boy walked out of the camp to face the giant with nothing but a sling. Bending over he picked up five smooth stones (4 more than he needed). He placed a single stone in his sling, twirled it over his head a few times and let the stone fly. It struck the giant in the forehead and killed him instantly. After he had killed this giant his nation’s army were emboldened to chase after the army of remaining giants who fled in fear.

The moral of this story is not to kill someone, but that it only takes one man (or boy, woman, girl) with courage and belief to accomplish the desired task. Thomas Jefferson once said, “One man with courage makes a majority.” With his courage this young teenage boy saw victory where all the other soldiers and their king saw giants. Courage can overcome the giants in your life. When you add courage with a belief in the true God, all things are possible – according to His will.

Facing the giants in your life as a leader, housewife, student, factory worker or any other position, requires courage. The courage you display could also encourage and embolden others.

First, you must make the commitment to step out into the valley where the giant stands.

Second, go with the arsenal you are familiar with, the gifts and strengths with which God has blessed you.

Third, put to use, to the best of your ability, what God has given you.

What will you do this week to demonstrate courage against the giants in your life? And how will you embolden others to do the same? Remember, “One man with courage makes a majority.”

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

It’s been happening for ages. Perhaps since the beginning of mankind. Or at least since mankind has taken on responsibility. Even in scripture, John chapter 5, Jesus asks a simple, straight-forward question in verse six. “Do you want to get well?” The paralytic man of which the question is asked, does not answer the question. In fact, he does not even attempt to answer the question posed to him. Look at his response, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when it is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Where in this man’s response do you see an answer to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” It is not there, is it? Not even an attempt. If I am sick with a cold, or any minor ailment, much less a terminal disease, and someone asks me the same six word question, I know my response. It will always be an emphatic, “YES!”

It seems today, that no matter our life situation, we are much like the paralytic man in the story above. We are more prone to give excuses than we are to accept responsibility. In individual lives people pass the blame on their employer not paying enough, the government or other group holding us back, other races, cultural groups, on and on. In the church and other organizations it is similar. It is the economy, the big church that moved in down the street, the neighborhood has changed. These are all outside circumstances over which we have no influence.

You cannot change that over which you have no influence. Since you have no control over those outside circumstances, stop using them as excuses. Look around and inside yourself to find the greatness God has placed in you. These are the only items that you do have control over. These are the things you can act upon.

Passing the blame, will never advance you or your organization. It will only lead to more muck and mire. Accept who you are. Discover who God made you to be. Then strive to become that person whom God desires and declared you to be.

As a church or organization, you can do the same. Discover what God has placed within your employees/members. Learn how to effectively put those gifts and resources to use to be exactly who God created you to be. I can help if you will contact me.This is how God has gifted me, and who He created me to be! Also, pick up your copy of Reaching the Summit. The premise of this book is to help you do exactly that – become who God created you to be.

This year, will you make a commitment to stop making excuses of things out of your sphere of influence and control? Instead of passing the blame will you accept responsibility for your part in moving your organization, your life, forward? That’s who God created you to be. What is your first step?

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

Is my church healthy? Can the church in general in America today be considered healthy? What percentage of the population would need to contract a disease or infection before the Center for Disease Control (CDC) declares an epidemic? While it is not clear to find a specific number, the reality is in many cases less than one percent of a given portion of a localized population.

With 65- 85% of our churches plateaued or declining in North America today, we are well beyond epidemic proportions. Certainly we could find indicators of poor health in declining churches, but are there indicators of positive health in a church? Yes! The following are some of the indicators of a healthy, effective church.

Enthusiasm for Kingdom results – Many churches today have bought into the idea that action and busyness are evidence of kingdom work. Too often the focus is on what we are giving away; oil changes for single mothers, food and candy at fall festivals, bounce house fun, free water at a parade. These may be good intentions, yet they are not indicators of kingdom advancement or fulfilling the Great Commission.

Healthy churches focus on engagement in the community resulting in kingdom results. Rather than providing clean oil for a single mother’s car, healthy churches are making inroads with that mother to receive a clean heart from God. Instead of handing out free candy and hotdogs at block parties and fall festivals, the members of healthy churches are focused on feeding the starving souls of their neighbors and co-workers.

Outward Focus– As early as 6-8 years in a church’s existence, the natural tendency is to turn inward, focusing more on what ‘we’ can do for and with each other. Not realizing it, this often comes at the exclusion of the surrounding community. The farther a church falls into decline, the more in-turned the church becomes to the point of maintaining facilities and remaining members.

Healthy, effective churches focus on the outside world, reaching out to the community, seven days a week. The focus is being intentionally engaged with the daily struggles and trials of the people God places around them, with an intent to help those in need spiritually.

Jesus always met people at the point of need. He never told anyone to go clean yourself up and then come back to see me. Healthy churches move believers from spectator to engagement. Millions of people watch the Super Bowl each year, yet less than 100 are actually engaged in playing in the Super Bowl. Healthy, effective churches have learned to move people to be intentionally engaged in God’s kingdom work.

Starting New Units – It is said that the one common denominator of all healthy growing churches around the globe is starting new units, new Bible study classes and new churches. Healthy churches plan ahead for the next new units. You cannot wait until you need another class. You must continually pray, plan and prepare for the next new Bible study classes. In healthy churches this is part of their make-up. Every teacher and leader knows his/her responsibility is to train people to go out and be part of some new work, new class.

Capture Principles – In many of our churches we attempt to copy models. We see or hear of some good thing another church did, and we try to do it at our church expecting fantastic results. A copy is never as good as the original. Healthy churches understand the importance of capturing principles. Instead of focusing on what kind of food to give away or how many bounce houses to have at their next event, healthy churches focus on touching the heart and soul of those who will attend and how to engage them following the event.

Purposeful, renewed, compelling vision – The missed opportunity in most churches today is there either is no vision in front of the congregation or the vision has no compelling component. In other words there is no part of the vision that compels the church to get out of their seats and be the church God has called them to be. Healthy churches have a compelling image of an achievable future in front of their people at all times. Find out more about vision in Reaching the Summit: Avoiding and Reversing Decline in the Church.

This is only a brief descriptor of five indicators found in healthy churches and is not an all-inclusive list of healthy church indicators. However, these are critical for churches to become and remain healthy, fulfilling the God given purpose for each church.

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

Exchanging gifts, giving presents these are among the first thoughts we have when thinking of Christmas. Certainly, giving is at the heart of Christmas. The Christmas story is – God gave his only son, Jesus. Giving is a central theme of Christmas, both biblical Christmas and worldly Christmas as celebrated today.

For most of us Christmas reminds us of the joy of giving. Oftentimes springing from our childhood and the gifts we received, be it candy and fruit or the toys of our dreams, we were on the receiving end of someone else’s giving. From the good feelings of childhood receiving at Christmas we grew into wanting to be part of the giving. We began giving to our parents (usually with their money). Then we progressed giving to our siblings, closest friends, and later with our teen sweethearts.

As our giving continued to grow it also has taken on a different role than our childhood. The spirit of Christmas and the joy of giving, for many, has been replaced with the mentality of duty or obligation. Much of our giving today is done because we believe it is expected of us – and for many it is expected.

Regardless of our current role in life each of us has much we can give. A single, struggling mother may not have a lot of money or time, but she has love, compassion, and wisdom to share. The CEO has much more than money and power, he has the power of encouragement and influence, wisdom to share, and a listening ear. Church members, you have time, prayer, wisdom, and your obedience to God’s directives. Employees, you have dedication, commitment and wisdom to pass on to your peers and new hires.

Perhaps you noticed one common attribute in each of the above scenarios, wisdom. Regardless of who we are, where we’ve been, or the amount of education we have, God has granted us wisdom through our life’s experiences. When we do not learn and share from our life’s experiences, we are wasting the wisdom of God’s teaching. And wisdom is only one attribute that we each have to give.

Let us return to the joy of giving at Christmas time. Leaders, pastors, members, employees, volunteers, neighbors, slow down this week and think of all that you have to give that does not involve money or wrapping paper. This Christmas week remember, God gave His one and Only Son, Jesus Christ, for you. This is a lesson we ALL can learn from a Bethlehem stable.

Merry Christmas to one and ALL!

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

It matters not if we are cooking a special meal, decorating a new house, sculpting a hedge, or completing an assignment at work or church, wouldn’t you agree that it is a human trait to want people to take notice. If we never say a word out loud, we like to think that we deserve compliments and comments on our talented accomplishments. Let’s face it we want praise.

Yet the Bible teaches that praise belongs to the Lord and we should humble ourselves in all things. Desiring to receive credit is opposite of humility. At work, church, home, the clubs we join, the committees on which we serve, when we seek gratification for what we do, should we not ask ourselves about our motives behind what we do?

Our human nature tells us to seek gratification from others. Yet, we must be careful lest we cross the line of glory-seeker.

A physician and God admiring author, Luke, wrote in his gospel account of a virgin girl named Mary. This teenage girl, engaged to be married, was visited by an Angel of God and given the news that she would be the one to give birth to the long-awaited Messiah. When Mary received the news that she would give birth to and mother the Christ child, her response was almost opposite of our current day mindset. Hers was that of undeniable humility.

She could not believe that Almighty God would choose to use her in such a role. With a very low view of her own ability (humility) Mary accepted God’s call on her life, knowing He would have to carry her through this enormous assignment. She never boasted, never bragged, never wanted the attention of being “The One”. She stayed focused on loving and raising God’s Son. Her role was not in the spotlight, but to be the very best Mother possible, never casting a light on her or her special role in history.

In the home, workplace, church, or other venue, we should approach every task before us with the humility of Mary. Your assignment is not about you, your glory or giftedness. Your readiness to give your best without reserve, without self-centeredness is your first step to serving in humility. What will you begin to work on this week to become a more humble servant/leader as was Mary from her teen years until the death of her Son on a cross?

How will God use you this Christmas and holiday season to help others and bring focus to God Himself?

Merry Christmas!

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