One of the things I continue to learn in my professional life and personal life is the power of confrontation. Time and again I have ignored issues and performance that has hindered growth in my life and my ministry. Barriers sprout up that hinder growth and strangle potential. Frustration evolves into anger and ultimately develops into bitterness. Dreams begin to die. Ordinary replaces extraordinary as lofty goals are replaced by mundane tasks.
Why don’t we confront? The reality is that you will never change what you don’t confront. Jesus said in John 8:32…“you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Issues that are not brought out into the open become burdens that we carry. Regardless of how conflict and confrontation turn out, there is usually still a sense of relief that I am no longer carrying the burden inside.
As I already stated, confrontation is powerful. Handled improperly, it can wound and be destructive. Confrontation is a skill set that we should work to improve and grow. Many times I will call a wise friend to role play a conversation where I need to confront someone. Just the discipline of “practicing” my conversation has saved me and the other person lots of grief. As a leader I want to create and environment of honesty and candor. This comes by giving as well as receiving constructive feedback. I wish you could hear my team gang up on me in staff meetings from time to time.
What barriers are you ignoring in your life? What areas of poor performance are you settling for? Are you in denial about your relationship with a spouse, family member, friend or coworker? Maybe you have carried this burden so long that you have gotten “used to it”. Don’t settle for mediocrity in your personal or professional life. Keep growing and develop your communication skills. Don’t waste the potential for God to do amazing things.
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2 comments:
John,
You are one of the best I have seen at doing this well. Trust me; I have sat in that chair across from you enough times to know. You have a gift for communicating truth in love. I always leave those conversations feeling challenged, ticked off at times, but always loved. Thanks for being such a great leader and example of positive confrontation.
Ps You do take it pretty well too!
Ben Jones
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