Proverbs 27:17 will be the basis of our discussion..."As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." This simple statement has been a calling for centuries to understand that no one (man) is alone. In order to make yourself better, there is a mutual benefit of making others better through mentorship, community, and leading.
Here are 10 practical suggestions on how to sharpen men and bring the best out of them:
Show genuine care for people. “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – John Maxwell.
Provide clear expectations. People need to know where they stand at all times, what's good, and what needs improvement.
Engage in regular honest conversations. Accountability, truth-telling, crucial conversations, confronting difficult issues, being hard on issues, and soft on people.
Praise in public and correct in private. Brag publicly on the positive, but correct people behind closed doors so you don't speak shame and guilt into their future.
Discover and develop people's strengths and passions. When you do, you unlock their potential.
Build genuine relationships. Conversation creates relationships, and trust is built upon it.
Share the credit. Amazing what gets done when no one hogs the credit and how something so simple motivates everyone.
Speak vision and possibility into people. Believe that seeds of greatness are in every person on your team; use your influence to build others up.
Share leadership. Look for opportunities to stretch and advance others upward; be ambitious for the success of one another.
Have fun along the way. Fun, laughter, and humor are the shortest distance between two people. – Victor Borge
Please park at the Outreach Center at the SVDP building SOUTH of Bank Street unless you need special assistance.