Believe, Encourage, Share, Trust
Believe in them
Encourage them
Share with them
Trust them
This is a John C. Maxwell acronym that I picked up somewhere along the way. I wrote this down a couple of years ago but I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t feel like I’ve gotten much better at it. I think I tend to underestimate how valuable it is to my team to articulate my belief in them, to cheer them on, to share information and to show that I trust them. Too often I assume they know.
I think “encourage them” is the one that I have to work hardest at. I think “believe in them” is the one that I do most naturally (although I don’t tell them enough).
How about you?
Which one of the four comes easily to you?
Which one is the most challenging?
What one thing can you do to believe, encourage, share or trust today?
I am a relational leader. I actually think most of these are fairly easy for me, but “Trust them” has been harder for me lately. It’s not an issue of trust to get a job done but in a more personal sense. I don’t want to any more hurt! I am trying to push through and overcome this.
“Encourage them” is by far the thing I do best and most naturally probably because “words of affirmation” is my primary love language and I understand the need for it. I am lost without it.
I think perhaps there is something that I’m lacking right now that I can’t put my finger on. It’s like my team has gotten used to me and I am too familiar so I feel like everything I say goes in one ear and out the other…….I feel like I do these things but with little impact anymore because we are so used to one another. When I don’t see it seeming to matter I tend to pull back because all of the above take some emotional and relational risk…….
as a mom, i see this acronym highly applicable too in parenting.
kota, my son, just confessed something to me last night. something that had been bothering him for a long time. he was afraid to tell me cuz he thought id be mad at him and wouldnt trust him anymore.
trust is SO valuable. to able to trust and to know you are trusted. the thought of me not trusting him was devastating!
he knows i believe in him.
i always encourage him.
we are very open to share thoughts and concerns with each other
but that trust part…in my mind…can jeopardize all the above.
anyhoo – i know this isnt a leadership comment – but this really impacted me on a parental level. so thanks!
I like this “BEST” acronym from Maxwell. I have never heard it before. It is simple enought to remember and that will help in keeping it on one’s mind (to remember to encourage). I think when we work in a church setting, we take it for granted that people know we love them, care for them and want the best for them; which, makes it harder to remember that they too need encouragement. And Tam, being a parent is the most important leadership position anyone will ever hold. That comment was a leadership one for sure! 🙂