MakingMentoringWork:DevelopingaCultureand

PracticeforDevelopingLeadersDr.BobbyHill

Mentoringisabiblicalprinciple.

1. TheCaseofMosesandJoshua2. TheCaseofChristandhisDisciples3. TheCaseofPaulandTimothy

2Timothy2:2and whatyouhaveheardfrommeinthepresenceofmanywitnesses entrusttofaithfulmen, whowillbeabletoteachothersalso.

Whatismentoring?

•MentoringisarelationalexperiencethroughwhichonepersonempowersanotherbysharingGod-givenresources.RobertClinton•Theresourcesvary.•Mentoringisapositivedynamicthatenablespeopletodeveloppotential.•Mentoringisaformofadiscipleshiprelationship.ButaspeoplegrowinChristianmaturityandministryresponsibilitiesmanyformsofrelationshipsareneeded.

Whydoesorganizationalcultureaffectyourmentoringefforts?

WhatisOrganizationalCulture?Organizationalcultureincludestangiblesandintangibles.Thethingswecanseearethewaypeopledressandbehave,thelookofthecorporateoffices,andthemessagesofpostersonthewalls.Theintangiblesmaybehardertograsp,buttheygiveabetterreadontheorganization’struepersonality.Theorganization’svalues(statedandunstated),beliefs,andassumptions;whatandhowsuccessiscelebrated;howproblemsareaddressed;themanifestationsoftrustandrespectatalllevelsoftheorganization—thesearetheintangibleelementsofculture.Everygroupinsociety—family,town,state,nation,company,church,civicgroup,team,andanyothergatheringofpeople—hasaculture,sometimesclearlyidentifiedbutoftencamouflaged.

FiveLessonsforMentoring

1.Puttherelationshipbeforethementorship.

•Goddidnotcreatepeopletobeself-sufficient.Thereisaswellingcryformeaningfulrelationships.•Empowermentistheincreasedcapacityofthementeegeneratedbythementoringrelationshipandtheresourcesshared.•Don’tjust“check-the-box”•Findcommongroundanddevelopchemistry.

2.Focusoncharacterratherthancompetency

•Thebestleadersgobeyondskillsanddealwithvalues,heartandcharacterissues.•MakeChrist-centeredlifestyleanaim.•Choosecharacterovercharisma

Titus2:7;“Ineverythingsetthemanexamplebydoingwhatisgood.Inyourteachingshowintegrity,seriousness,”

3.Makementoringanintentionalprocess.

•Onlythingsthatareintentionalbearsustainablefruit.•Thisrequiresdisciplineandfaithfulnessfromthementorandmentee.•One-on-oneandface-to-faceconnections•Developingamentoringgroupisahelpfulstrategy

4.Shoutloudlywithyourencouragement…keepquietwithyour

criticism.•Youcanneverover-encourageothers.•Learnthewisdomofchoosingtherightsettingforyourwords.•Don’tavoidconfrontationandfeedback,butdoitright.•TheexampleofBarnabas(Acts4:37,“Sonofencouragement”)

Nehemiah2:17-20Hebrews10:25“encourageoneanother”

5.Createopportunitiesforotherstodeveloptheirskillsandexperience.

•Manyneverdevelopcompetenciesandconfidenceduetothelackofopportunity.•Delegateandempower•Acts6– Apostlesdelegatingtodeacons