Over a year ago, stew's exagorazo posted a list of things he has learned from his mentors. As I read through this slightly edited list (it is rather long), I am drawn to these values and characteristics. I want to receive this kind of mentoring in my own life, and BE this kind of mentor to my fellow co-laborers.
- Don’t be afraid of a good fight; healthy conflict can have good results
- Tell the truth no matter how much it hurts
- Live life sacrificially for others; if it doesn’t hurt it’s not a sacrifice
- Busy can be good at times
- Be tenacious and diligent
- Even small mentoring deposits can have long-lasting rewards and dividends
- You’re not done until God calls you home
- Make disciples wherever you are
- Give away whatever you have and have learned
- Go, go, go
- Model for others a life worth living
- Use your platform of influence to challenge others towards Christ-like living
- Love you wife openly and affectionately; talk highly about her
- Leaders can have a lasting influence for generations
- You can be intelligent and passionate about Christ
- Write – it is a great way to leave a legacy that lasts for generations
- Be a friend
- Listen well
- Encourage when you can
- Dig deep into God’s word for guidance, insight, direction, and inspiration
- Quantity time equals quality time; the more time you spend with a mentoree the better
- Challenge mentorees to use their God-given talents for the Kingdom and they will
- Ask for help, you never know how it might empower a young leader
- Model a missional life and others will follow
- Seek to empower, not to control
- Release young leaders into ministry
- Give away responsibilities in a way that empowers
- Strive to get loyalty first and you will neither get loyalty nor empower others; strive to empower others first and you will both get loyalty and empower others
- Be authentic and transparent about struggles
- Bring people into the mess with you and they will help you
- Build teams, not structure first; structure follows team
- Believe in younger leaders
- Look for the faithful, available and teachable
- Share your life with your mentorees
- Try new things
- Don’t get caught up in the details, unless you need to get caught up in the details
- Challenge the status quo
- Equip and develop, don’t just do events
- Make big asks of high-potential leaders
- Be patient with young leaders – they might actually do some good some day
- Keep your cool under pressure
- You can take current motion and use it to your advantage
- In developing others, you can’t steer a parked car
- Balance ministry and family – err on the side of spending time with your family
- Equip and resource, in that order
- Submit to authority
- Every organization has a culture. Know it and use it to your advantage.
- Choose your battles carefully – you don’t have 9 lives in ministry.
- Don’t take ministry too seriously sometimes
- Strategic planning is just that – strategic
- Give credit to others where credit is due
- Just listen. That alone can be therapeutic for the other person.
- Give timely advice when necessary
- Have friends that you trust when you’re in a high-octane and performance-oriented environment
- If you spot an emerging leader, do something about it. Give them something to do. Invite them into your circle. Increase their platform.
- Give yourself to an emerging leader and they will give themselves to you.
- A little enthusiasm goes a long way.
- Encourage a vision and you will reap a dream
- Use your platform to give others a platform of leadership
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