Leaders Outline

WRITE Week 6

Leaders Outline

Opening: Five-Fold Follow Up

What came up for them this week? Any new insights?

Exercise: Body of Christ [1 Corinthians 12v12-27]

Read the passage out loud and ask what stands out to them
Some points to be sure to make:
Paul emphasizes three things about the body:
The body is not one part but many
There are many parts, but one body
You all are the body, and each is a part of it
He also makes to points about our attitudes:
First we can’t exclude our own worth because we are not like another part
We can’t exclude another part because it is not like us
I like to use the example of either having a stress fracture, breaking a toe, hurting your back – we all know that small injuries throw the whole body out of whack – if your tooth hurts it is hard to be productive and simply ignore it
This transitions you into Gordon Smith’s Courage and Calling

Courage + Calling

Vocation is a call to serve God in the world – to do good in the world
McLaren calls this the Call of Commission: “First came the call of transformation – to yield ourselves to God’s transforming work in our lives. Now comes the vocation to transforming mission – to join with God in God’s work in the world. Having joined God in being together and seeing together, we now agree to join God in serving together – and, yes, to suffering and dying together.” [p.209]
Being stewards of our actual lives [not an ideal life]
“We are called to be the steward not of some ideal life or even the life we wish we had; rather we are called to be steward of the life that we have on our hands.” [p.24]
Actual life, with all its complications
Called to do good in the world – looking beyond ourselves
Taking our lives seriously means living congruent to who we are
In the mundane, ordinary, and routine
McLaren says our ‘YES’ must move from an event to a practice [p.210]
Becoming knowledgeable and informed participants
True self is created to respond to God [p.23]
This is how we can begin to trust our decisions, even when they may not make sense to others
When we are living out of our true selves we are able to be tuned into God’s movement in our lives
We flourish when we take responsibility for our lives
“If each person is of inestimable worth, and further, if we can ask how each person can flourish, it naturally follows that we recognize all of this requires intentionality; we need to ask, what can we do to be good stewards of our lives, of the gifts, talents and opportunities that God gives to us?...What does it mean to take responsibility for my life in response to the way God has made me and called me?” [p.23-24]
Vocation happens in the ordinary, mundane, and routine
Called to live faithfully in all spheres of life [not just paid work]
“Good work requires of us an appreciation of the value of routine, ordinary, mundane rhythms of doing what needs to be done, each day and each week, thoroughly and with care.” [p.41]

Exercise: Name on Card

Hand out index cards to each person
Have them write their name on one side of the card
Then have them flip it over and write it with their other hand
The reason we do this exercise is to explain the power of preferences – we might be physically able to write with our inferior hand, but we will always use our dominant hand
MBTI shows us our dominant preferences – the way we ideally operate in the world
But we are able to draw on the other functions as well, and there is a spectrum

MBTI Overview

Remember to frame all of these in terms of preferences – this is how we preferably move in the world – and that there is a spectrum – so you can be on the line for any of these
Make sure that at the end of each of these you stop and let people reflect on how this lines up with their experience
E/I = How we get energy – from the outer world or from our inner world
The point I make here is you know the difference between an Extravert and an Introvert after a party – the Extravert wants to play a board game because they are amped up from the energy, while an Introvert needs to go right to bed
This one tends to be the one most people are familiar with, so you shouldn’t have too many surprises
One thing to point out is that most Introverts do not start testing accurately until after college – since most of us are learned extraverts in school settings
Extraversion = Action oriented, need others, “Try, then consider”
They gain their energy through involvement in events and interaction with other people
They are primarily external processors and work through a problem when they can talk about it out loud
Typically enjoys working in groups
One point to make here is that to be Extraverted does not mean that you are also Outgoing – many extraverts are quite shy
A challenge for the extravert is that in verbal processing they can sometimes say things they don’t really mean – especially when their feelings are hurt
They need to find ways to process ahead of time when it comes to conflict
Know that they may need a trusted person they can work things through before they address a hurt or concern [this can feel like gossip – but when done well it is not]
They can jump into action before they think through why they are doing what they are doing
Introversion = Personal reflection, ideas more concrete, thought oriented, “Consider, then try.”
Get energy from ideas, pictures, memories – my inner world
Prefers to work alone or with 1-2 trusted people
Needs time to reflect and decide before they act
Ideas become more ‘solid’ for them, and sometimes they like the idea better than the real thing
They recharge by being alone
A challenge for introverts is they can construct ‘stories’ or ‘arguments’ in their minds that feel very real, but if they do not check in with someone in the outside world they may have built it all on a faulty premise [ideas do not always fit with reality]
They can get stuck thinking, reflecting, and analyzing and not move into action
Introverts are not necessarily shy – they can be very outgoing – but interactions with others takes energy from them

S/N = How you take in/sort information
This is about how we learn and take in information
I use two examples here – driving a car and using a camera
N’s need to understand the theory behind something before things start to click [what is an F-stop, shutter speed, ISO etc.] Only when they see the big picture do the details of the camera make sense
S’s just need to start tinkering with the camera in order to figure it out – explanations confuse them and make them feel overwhelmed
I argue that S’s tend to be better drivers at first because they learn through the physical mechanics of a car – N’s can get overwhelmed by being behind the wheel
Sensing = Five senses
Want tangible evidence and explanations, concrete examples
Learn through hands-on experience
Concerned with what is present, current, and real
Struggle with assumptions and theories
Starts with the facts and then builds the big picture
Sometimes can get so focused on the facts that they miss the larger picture
Tends to remember literal things that happened, see events as snapshots
Intuition = Sixth sense
Learning comes through ideas and impressions
See patterns between ideas and information that may not obviously connect on the outside
Like abstract theories, symbols, and metaphors
Tends to dwell on the future, what could be
Starts with the big picture and then works towards the facts
Can get so caught up in a big picture that never see how to make it a reality
Some important things to note:
The majority of the population are Sensate learners, yet most leaders and teachers are intuitives – which leaves many S’s feeling like they are stupid when in fact they learn through concrete examples and hands-on experiences
S’s need to ask teachers to give them a specific example to help them picture or contextualize a theory

T/F = How you make decisions [how you act on information]
The first point to make here is not that Thinkers are smart and Feelers are emotional – this is about our preference on how we make decisions
Thinkers = concerned with fairness
Find the most basic standard to be applied to everyone, regardless of specific circumstances
Make decisions with their head – considers all the possibilities and nuances
Use logical analysis and is consistent when making a decision
Notices inconsistencies – very concerned with the nuances of a given situation and the various possibilities that could occur
Believes telling the truth is the most important thing
Value the content of the message
Thinkers can come off as unfeeling, calculated, and unconcerned when really how they try to care for others is through being fair and holding everyone to the same standard
The challenge for Thinkers is that they can miss the “people” part of making a decision
F = concerned with compassion
Feelers are primarily concerned with what makes others feel cared for, valued, and brings about harmony
Make decisions with their hearts – looking for what is important to others
They take into account the various circumstances, points-of-view and needs of all who are involved or impacted
Seeks to find common ground where possible in order to establish harmony – finds commonality between varying view points
Value the impact of the message
Feelers believe being tactful is more important than telling the hard truth
The challenge for Feelers is that they can avoid communicating what needs to be said – avoid conflict and skirt issues
They can be indirect, mushy, or idealistic
The example I give here is how Steve + I approach tipping: When I get a pedicure I tip the same no matter how good or bad the experience was, because they spent all that time working on my feet. To me, as a Feeler, this feels compassionate. This really bothers Steve because he argues how will they person know if they need to improve or of they did a good job if I give everyone the same amount. To him this seems unfair. Both of us are concerned for people – we simply express it in different ways.

J/P = How you live your outer life [what others see] – your perceived ‘Life-style’
A point to make right away is that Judging does not mean judgmental and Perceiving does not mean perceptive
This is about how you prefer to order your outer-world
I talk about this as closed and opened loops – J’s feel less stress when they close a loop and make a decision, while P’s like to keep their options opened
The example I use between J’s + P’s is going into the city for dinner – J’s want to go into the city and have the restaurant picked out ahead of time so they know they will have a good meal [research menu options, get directions etc.] P’s go into the city and think “there are so many options – if we pick a place now then we may miss a better one! We’ll find one when we get there.”
J = Enjoys making decisions
Stress reduced by planning ahead
Goal-oriented, likes to make to-do lists and check them off
Work first, play second
Like discipline, organization, develop regular routines
Plan out projects and work to avoid rushing at the last minutes
Record progress and accomplishments
Struggle if time is too flexible, others are not prepared, stated goals are not accomplished
Don’t invite a J to a meeting without an agenda
J’s can get so focused on a planned outcome that they miss new information
P = Enjoys gathering information
Stress reduced by identifying contingencyplans [always a backup option]
Discovery-oriented, enjoys gathering information
Wants an environment that is flexible, full of options, access to many resources, adaptable
Would rather adapt to the world than organize it
Prefers to keep plans loose and casual – planning at a minimum
Like to mix work with play or make work playful
Struggle with systematic approaches that require regular discipline
P’s can stay so open to new information that they miss making a decision when needed
J’s + P’s struggle the most with one another
Example – Drew + I at Trinity [moving targets] – one of my bosses was a P – he liked the possibility of new ideas. I am a J, I like to make a plan and make it happen. Drew kept changing the target, and I would get very frustrated with him because he never closed a loop

Dominant Function [S, N, T, F]

You will use the Dominant Function Handout at this part
Dominant Function comes from how to take in information and act on that information
It shows your preferred approach to situations [the most used when it comes to sorting out information and making decisions]
It is what you trust and rely on the most
We use our dominant function in the realm where we are most energized [E/I]
If you are extraverted you use your dominant function in the outside world – it is what people see
If you are introverted you use your dominant function in your interior world – people do not necessarily see it
The importance of Dominant Function is that it helps us understand that not all people are alike – our various preferences make us complex and different from one another

MBTI + Second Half of Life

As we enter the second half of life we need to incorporate our inferior functions and non-preferences
Introverted Feelers [IF] incorporate intellectual and philosophical insights into spiritual questions, apply logical reasoning to decisions and values, ask critical questions and seek new understandings [Extraverted Thinking]
Extraverted Feelers [EF] begin to examine life through more objective lens, rely on doubts more, search for universal principles [Introverted Thinking]
Introverted Thinkers [IT] begin to look for the common good, joining in community to accomplish tasks that are helpful for individuals and society, finding what is positive and worthy of gratitude [Extraverted Feeling]
Extraverted Thinkers [ET] become more in touch with their emotional life, find personal meaning in spiritual practices, spend solitary time paying attention to longings and joys, cultivate close personal relationships [Introverted Feeling]
Introverted Intuitives [IN] seek to experience the sacred in what is immediate and real rather than what is possible or ideal, grow and appreciation for beauty and experience, seek to apply spiritual teaching and theories to daily and practical purposes [Extraverted Sensing]
Extraverted Intuitives [EN] desire structured time and regular spiritual disciplines to focus in depth and understanding, begin to incorporate the five senses to enrich spiritual life, apply spirituality to practical and personal needs [Introverted Sensing]
Introverted Sensing [IS] become attracted to new possibilities and untried practices, ponder and imagine larger possibilities or bigger meanings [Extraverted Intuition]
Extraverted Sensing [ES] concentrate on what is unseen, inexplicable, and mystical about spirituality, begin to accept the reality of the impossible and bigger purposes than we can comprehend [Introverted Intuition]

For Next week remind them to take the Enneagram and have them email you their results!

Homework

Read: “Chapter 11: The Shadowlands,” Falling Upward, “About the Enneagram” + “How The Enneagram and Jungian Types Fit Together,” The Enneagram Made Easy

Reflect: Enneagram, Life Values [Looking ahead to week 8 – short + long term steps]