PATH JournalPerforming on PurposeA Map for navigating the Journey Ahead

Welcome to an exciting journey of exploration and growth. We are delighted to have you on our team and look forward to learn-ing and working together.

The Shepherds PATH is a per-formance management program that seeks to assist you in fulfill-ing the purpose for which you were created. Our “On Purpose, For Purpose” philosophy applies not only to our clients, but to the people who serve them. As Shepherds staff it is of utmost

importance that you “perform on purpose.” To this end we have developed the Shepherds PATH. Following the steps outlined in this workbook will assist you in becoming all that God has cre-ated you to be. Your work and your ministry both hinge on suc-cessfully navigating the Shep-herds PATH. The journey is simple, but not easy. The steps you take will, at times, be diffi-cult, but the reward of a job well done will make the struggle worthwhile. There is an amazing

joy and contentment that comes when purpose is fulfilled and po-tential realized. The Shepherds PATH will facilitate this pursuit.

As we begin, there are two pre-liminary principles that must be addressed.

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WelcomeAs President of

Shepherds Ministries it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our ministry team. The fact that you are here is no accident. We believe God has placed you here on purpose, for a purpose. As you journey through the challenges ahead, may you find comfort in the knowledge that our sovereign God has a wonderful plan for your life. May I encourage you to use this journal and the PATH process to illuminate and define the impact God seeks for your service here at Shepherds. So take the key, start the engine and follow the PATH God maps out for you as we labor together for God’s glory.

- Dr. Bi" Amstutz

TWO ASSUMPTIONS

Learning is continualLife-long learning is a value con-sistent with the Shepherds Way philosophy of “Train for Life.” We believe that learning is an on-going

process that continues throughout life. As a re-sult, PATH encourages you to seize every oppor-tunity to learn new skills and to develop greater competencies. It is our hope that you will share this commitment and see your work here as an ongoing learning experience. The training we of-fer attempts to touch not only the head, but also the heart and the hands. Knowledge, attitude and skills all intertwine.

Development is your responsibil-ity.While Shepherds is firmly commit-ted to seeing staff grow in charac-ter and competence, the ultimate

responsibility for that growth rests with the em-ployee, not the organization. Managers will col-laborate and coach but the motivation to learn and grow must come from within. The PATH journey requires you to engage with your manager on your development plan. Together you will explore de-tails of your position and your performance. The performance plan that emerges will be a collabo-rative effort, but you, the employee, must own it. Motivation seldom flourishes when ideas and plans are forced upon us, however when we are able to choose the plan, follow-through is more likely. PATH is not another list of things to do assigned by a manager. Rather, PATH is a mutu-ally agreed upon course of action that has as its goal the enrichment and success of you, the em-ployee. To secure this aim, PATH expects every employee to assume responsibility for each step in

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their journey.

The PATH acronym guides both the creation of your personal development plan and the monthly coaching contacts with your manager. PATH stands for the following:

P Performing on Purpose

A Accountability through Assessment

T Targeted Training

H Healthy Harmony

These four components are addressed regularly in each monthly meeting with your manager. They guide the discussion and establish the core compe-tency issues to be addressed in the session.

The PATH meeting occurs monthly for approxi-mately 30 minutes. During that time you and your manager will walk through the PATH se-quence, addressing goals, accomplishments and training needs. Additionally, time will be set aside to address tensions that may have arisen in the workplace with other employees or with lead-ership. Questions are provided for each meeting that will guide the conversation and focus on is-sues crucial for workplace effectiveness. You will have had opportunity to answer these questions prior to the meeting so that the meeting itself will be more productive. This workbook will assist you by asking pertinent questions related to your vocational goals and ambitions. Pondering these questions will uncover concerns, stimulate new ideas, identify growth opportunities, and surface questions you may wish to address with your manager.

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Making a difference, having an impact, using our gifts, and successfully serving the Lord are outcomes every Shepherds staff member earnestly desires. The personal benefit you receive from working at Shepherds will, in many ways, be in direct proportion to the investment you make to the PATH process. Therefore, we would encourage you to make effective use of this journal.

PRELIMINARIES: PERSONAL AND POSITION PURPOSENew employees begin their journey by first identifying their personal and position purpose. Do you have a personal mission statement that guides your daily decisions and future direction? We believe such a purpose statement is critical for effective performance in the workplace. In fact, we are so committed to this component that we will invest several meet-ings to make sure you have a clear grasp of the purpose for which you have been created. If someone asked you, “what’s your purpose in life,” how would you respond? The first step in the PATH journey will assist you in designing a personal purpose statement. It will be the foundation of your ministry and serve as a vital guide for your future.

Following on the heels of this activity will be the formulation of a position purpose statement. Your specific job contributes to the effective operation of this ministry. Knowing the purpose of your position will allow you to invest your energies in purpose specific activities. Performing on purpose (personal and position) enhances the overall efficiency of the organization. It also creates a sense of contribution and teamwork among our staff. Your place here is important. The work you do is important. Knowing your position purpose is important. Once you have created your personal and position purpose statements, you will enter into the PATH cycle. Your monthly meetings will have a pre-dictable rhythm that touches each of the PATH components.

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PATH

STEP ONE: PURPOSEFUL PERFORMANCEPerforming on purpose in-volves “purposing” to accom-plish various goals between meetings. These goals are es-tablished during the PATH meeting and are mutually agreed upon objectives. The

PATH cycle will alternate between goals that you design and goals suggested by your manager. It is important that these goals be jointly decided. What you want to accomplish must align with the objectives your manager wants you to accomplish. It is in the PATH meeting that these objectives are determined.

Work objectives will focus on three areas: Char-acter, Competency and Community. As you iden-tify goals you will select from one or more of these areas.

Character

Character goals involve attitudes and beliefs that express themselves in behavior. Some would suggest that character must be “caught” not “taught.” While it is certainly true that we learn much from the example of others, we take the po-sition that character can be developed and learned. There is no question that character formation is an inside-out process. People may act the right way even when their hearts are not in concert with their behavior. In the workplace this is the mini-mal expectation. We would prefer, however, to see our staff acting in a manner consistent with their core beliefs and values. To encourage this we will ask you to go beyond right action and consider what attitudes and values would best support such behavior. Additionally, what charac-ter qualities would help you be more efficient and productive in their particular work setting? For example, your job may require great precision and accuracy. Attentiveness, thoroughness or cau-tiousness might be character qualities that would

support the requirements of such a position. Flexibility, on the other hand, while beneficial in some settings, would not be something to encour-age in a job that required things to be exact and precise.

To guide your development of character we ask you to focus on our core values. Shepherds has identified six core values that characterize the way we want to do ministry. As a Shepherds employee it is vital that you are familiar with these values. By integrating these qualities into the PATH jour-ney you will have a better understanding of the Shepherds Way of ministry.

Take a moment and read through these core val-ues.

“Honoring God and Valuing People”

• Excellence - Honoring God in our Work (superior, high quality work)

• Integrity - Honoring God in our Nature (uprightness in character)

• Servanthood - Honoring God in our Call-ing (committed to serving others)

• Love - Valuing people in our Choices (tenderhearted, unselfish interest in the welfare of others)

• Progress - Valuing people in our Motiva-tion (seeking to advance people to their capabilities)

• Respect - Valuing people in our Relation-ships (holding others in high regard)

When you choose character for your monthly “performing on purpose” objective, begin by se-lecting one of the values listed above. Take a moment and think creatively about ways in which you might develop this quality. Are there other character qualities that support this value? Who do you know who best exemplifies this quality?

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P

Is there a quotation that captures this theme? Are there any good books on the subject? What could you do this month that would build that quality into your life? What actions would demonstrate this quality? Could you purpose to engage in that action 10 times this month? Can you think of a Scripture verse that promotes this value? How about memorizing that verse for your goal?

These suggestions are provided to stimulate your thinking. It is up to you to decide what you will purpose to know/do/value this month in the area of character. Once you have an idea write it out in the form provided and share it with your manager during your next PATH meeting.

A list of additional character qualities has been provided for you in Appendix A. Take some time and explore these qualities. Ask yourself, “Would this quality enhance my work effectiveness?” Do any of these character qualities reinforce the Shepherds core values? If the character quality improves your competency or your relationships with co-workers, consider how you might develop and demonstrate that quality in your life. Identi-fying a quality to work on is just the beginning. Finding creative ways to develop the quality may be more difficult.

Competency

Competency goals involve specific job related skills that will enhance your work performance. While this category tends to skew towards behav-ior, it also involves attitudes and knowledge. Ask yourself, “What do I need to know, do or believe that would make me a more productive em-ployee?” Think of the specific tasks required of you in your position. Where do you struggle? Perhaps that might be an area to focus on. Is there an area in which you excel or which you at least find interesting? Perhaps you would like to fur-ther develop skills related to that area. Frankly,

while it is important to work on deficits, it is gen-erally more beneficial to capitalize on your strengths. A straightforward discussion of strengths and weaknesses takes great courage but can have tremendous benefit. PATH provides an avenue for such discussion.

Here are some examples of competency goals:• Filling out the electronic time card prop-

erly• Using a fire extinguisher• Accurately reporting a behavioral incident

using the Behavior Observation form• Improving telephone etiquette• Learning the characteristics of Williams

Syndrome

Competency goals will differ according to posi-tion. The goals selected by a nurse will unlikely be similar to those of a receptionist or LSI in this arena.

Community

Community goals involve your relationship with others. These are social goals that enhance your connection with the various communities with which you interface. Communities would include those you work with (team), another department within our organization, a local church, a client’s family, a business or local government. Ask your-self, “What could I do to improve my connection with this individual or group?” Examples of community goals would be:

• Joining Leadership Union Grove (LUG)• Reading a book on communication• Meeting with a pastor to discuss ministry

to adults with mental disabilities• Smiling at 10 people every day• Verbally praising a specific co-worker at

least three times per day• Writing a parent• Meeting with a mentor

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The fourth principle in our Ai philosophy articu-lates an action objective. Because of what we be-lieve about people, we will “Empower to Serve.” Approaching each community we touch with a servant’s heart will allow us to reflect Christ to a watching world. Sensitivity to the needs of the various communities around us will prompt op-portunities for service. As you think about pur-poseful performance in your social networks, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Je-sus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men….” Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)

STEP TWO: ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH ASSESSMENTOnce objectives are agreed upon, the next step is deter-mining how you will know if the goal has been accom-

plished. This step is critical because it provides an objective measure of success. If both you and your manager agree on what constitutes satisfac-tory performance you will then both know whether or not that goal has been accomplished. The less room there is for subjective opinion, the healthier and happier the relationship will be. De-ciding how to measure success must precede ef-fort. Otherwise, frustration and resentment will result when you and your manager disagree on the performance appraisal. By agreeing beforehand what constitutes success, both of you will avoid unnecessary confusion and conflict. This is where clear communication is vital. A thorough effort here will pay great dividends in the future.

Measuring performance is essential for success in the workplace. The feedback you receive regard-

ing your efforts will enable you to correct areas of weakness and capitalize on areas of strength. By meeting monthly you will have the opportunity to discuss your work performance with your man-ager, identify areas you wish to develop, remedy problems, and enhance skills. Self-assessment is foundational to this process. PATH encourages you to examine yourself, not for the purpose of exposure and condemnation, but rather for growth and development.

STEP THREE: TARGETED TRAINING Assessment tends to reveal deficits. While not always pleasant, it is a valuable and necessary part of the growth process. Assessment also helps you identify com-petencies. PATH is designed to assist you in both. Targeted Training can rectify areas of weakness or build on strengths. Step Three applies our train-ing resources to assist you in accomplishing your goals. Whether it is remedying a skill deficit or simply gaining new competencies, Targeted Train-ing will get you there. Targeted Training is the application of specific training experiences that will directly and precisely address your learning objectives. Most corporate training tends to be general in nature and extremely time consuming. PATH prefers brief, focused training that targets the specific need of the learner.

Once you and your manager have identified train-ing needs you will then need to design a training plan. Our TakeTen eLearning program may be one avenue of training that will fit your learning needs. Perhaps you will simply agree to read a chapter in a book or attend a workshop. There are a variety of learning options available. The key, however, is that you have access to learning sup-ports that will specifically target your educational goals.

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AT

STEP FOUR: HEALTHY HARMONYConflict is a necessary and inevitable part of human rela-tionships. The workplace, even a Christian workplace, is not immune. In order to

make conflict a constructive part of the vocational experience, PATH invests a portion of the coach-ing session in identifying and resolving tensions that may have developed between you and other staff.

It is our hope that you will feel free to appropri-ately share concerns or issues that may be bother-ing you. The PATH meeting encourages this dis-cussion and attempts to deal with conflicts as early as possible. If there is a lack of harmony between you and a co-worker, your manager or even the administration, we want it resolved. There will be opportunity in the PATH meeting to identify and find creative solutions to the conflicts you may be experiencing.

Summary:Performing on Purpose, Accountability through Assessment, Targeted Training and Healthy Har-mony - these are the four components of the PATH process. As your monthly sessions cycle through these PATH principles, we believe your contribution to this ministry will multiply and your sense of satisfaction flourish. You are a valuable part of the mission, and we are eager to walk with you on this journey of discovery and growth.

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H

Purpose

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PERSONAL PURPOSEIf you have already created a personal purpose (mission) statement write it below. Spend a few minutes pondering its relevance. Does it still apply? Does it still fit? Make any adjustments you feel are war-ranted.

If you have not written a personal purpose statement you will need to complete the Discovering Your Personal Purpose Exercise on the following page. Once you have completed the exercise write your personal purpose statement below.

My Personal Purpose Statement

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

POSITION PURPOSEIf you are a new employee you will need to complete the Position Purpose exercise that follows the Per-sonal Purpose exercise. Current employees should write their position purpose statement below. If your position has changed in this past year you will need to work through the Position Purpose exercise again.

Job Title: _______________________________________________________________

My Position Purpose Statement:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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DISCOVERING YOUR PERSONAL PURPOSE

Shepherds Ministries is firmly committed to the belief that God has designed each and every one of us, “On Purpose, For Purpose.” With this in mind we want to encourage all of our staff to identify the pur-pose for which they were created and then, “Perform on Purpose.”

The following exercise will assist you in developing a personal purpose statement. The exercise is a tool to prompt you to think about the values and priorities of your life. The questions are presented to stimu-late your thinking; there are no wrong answers. What you write on this worksheet is private and we would encourage you to honestly and freely engage with the issue of personal purpose. You will be ex-pected to share you final purpose statement. It doesn’t have to be perfect, eloquent or profound. It just has to fit you. It just has to be, to the best of your current knowledge, a statement that captures the prior-ity purpose of your life. It is likely that you will revise and adjust you personal purpose statement dur-ing your time at Shepherds, particularly if you have never established a mission statement for you life. The PATH is a process, a growing, changing journey of self-exploration and insight that will align you life with the purpose God has designed for you.

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What one characteristic would you like you children to possess?

(1)

Who are the two most important people in your life? Choose one word to describe each of them.

Person #1 (2)

Person #2 (3)

What are two qualities you look for in a life partner?

(4) (5)

If there were two rules everyone should follow what would they be?

Rule #1 Rule #2

(6) (7)

Think of the person you admire the most. In one word, why? (8)

You now have 8 words/ideas that reflect your values. Use each of these words/ ideas in an action statement describing how you will use it to guide your life.

1.I will …

2.I will …

3.I will …

4.I will …

5.I will …

6.I will …

7.I will …

8.I will …

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VALUESRead through the list of values and circle any that stand out to you. Then go through your list and pick one that best represents your priority value. Feel free to add values not listed below.

ANALYTICAL

AUTHENTICITY

BEAUTY

BOLDNESS

CHARITY

COMPASSION

COMMUNITY

CONTEMPLATION

COURAGE

CREATIVITY

DECISIVENESS

DIGNITY

DILIGENCE

DISCERNMENT

ENCOURAGEMENT

ENTHUSIASM

EQUALITY

FAIRNESS

FAITH

FAME

FAMILY

FREEDOM

FRIENDSHIP

FULFILLMENT

GENTLENESS

GODLINESS

GOODNESS

HAPPINESS

HARD-WORKING

HEALTH

HOLINESS

HONESTY

HONOR

HOPE

INDUSTRIOUS

INFLUENCE

INTEGRITY

INTELLIGENT

JOY

JUSTICE

KINDNESS

KNOWLEDGE

LEARNING

LOVE

NOBILITY

NURTURING

OUTGOING

OVERCOMING

PASSION

PATIENCE

PEACE

POSITIVE

POWER

PROBLEM-SOLVING

PURITY

REALISM

RECOGNITION

RESPECT

SECURITY

SERVANTHOOD

SIMPLICITY

SPIRITUAL

STATUS

SUCCESS

SUPPORTIVE

TEAMWORK

TRUST

TRUTH

VIRTUOUS

VISION

WEALTH

WISDOM

WONDER

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

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What three things would you do if you knew you could not fail?

1.

2.

3.

Think about the last time you were really excited about life. Briefly describe what were you doing, who was there and how you felt.

If you asked the person who knows you best what your greatest strengths would be, what would they say? How could you utilize these strengths with family, work and friends?

1.

2.

3.

Think of the major events, challenges accomplishments and successes of your life. If you had the power to change back time what would you change?

As you reflect over your life what are you most proud of?

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If you were given a million dollars to be given to the charity of your choice, which one would you choose?

What most excites you in or about the world?

What most angers you in and about the world?

If you could teach three things to others about what excites you about this world what would they be?

1.

2.

3.

If you could convey to others three things about what angers you most about the world what would you convey?

1.

2.

3.

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How can you use what most excites you to affect or change what most angers you? List 5 ways:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Imagine you are 150 years old and all your descendants have gathered around you. What would you tell them about what is important in life?

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READ THE LIST OF VERBS AND CIRCLE ANY THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO YOU. NARROW THEM DOWN TO TEN, THEN SELECT YOUR TOP THREE.

accomplish

acquireadoptadvanceaffectaffirm

alleviateamplifyannounceappreciateascend

associatebelievebestowbrightenbuild

callcausechallengechampionchoose

claimcollectcombinecommandcommunicate

compelcompetecompletecomplimentcompose

conceive

confirmconfrontconnectconsiderconstruct

contactcontinuecounselcreatedecide

declaredefenddelightdeliverdemonstrate

desiredevisedirectdiscoverdiscuss

distributedraftdreamdriveeducate

electembraceencourageendowengage

engineer

enhanceenlightenenlistenlivenentertain

enthuseenvisionequipevaluateexcite

exploreexpressextendfacilitatefinance

forgivefosterfranchisefurthergather

generategivegrantgrowheal

holdhostidentifyilluminateimplement

improve

improviseinforminspireintegrateintroduce

involvejourneykeep knowlabor

launchleadlightlivelove

makemanifestmastermaturemeasure

mediatementormodelmoldmotivate

movemusternegotiatenurtureopen

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organize

participatepassperceiveperformpersuade

playpossesspracticepraiseprepare

presentproclaimproduceprofesspromise

promoteprotectprovidepursue

realize

receivereclaimrecognizereducerefine

reflectreformregardrelaterelax

releaserelyrememberrenewresonate

respectrestorereturnrevise

sacrifice

safeguardsatisfysavesearchseek

sellservesharespeakstand

summonsupportsurrendersustaintake care

teamtouchtradetrain

transform

translatetravelunderstandunleashurge

useutilizevalidateventureverbalize

voicevolunteerworkworkworship

writeyield

List your top three:1. _____________________ 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________

Integrate these three verbs into a sentence coupled with your priority value: (more space on next page)

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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Use the space above to rewrite your sentence until you have crafted a personal purpose statement that you feel captures your unique design and purpose. Sample sentences are provided on the next page.

My Personal Purpose is:

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

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SOME SAMPLE PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENTS:

To be a loving teacher of simple truths to help myself and others to awaken the presence of God in their lives. - Ken Blanchard

My passion is to take ideas that are of tremendous value and deliver them to a mass number of people in an impact-ful way. By utilizing new technology (software) and existing resources (motivational quotes) we can touch more

people and help them experience an increase in the quality of life. - Scott Geisel, President, A New Life to Live

To teach, inspire, and empower myself and others to fu"y realize and actualize our God-given potential.- Michael Angier, founder of Success Networks

I wi" maintain a positive attitude and a sense of humor in everything I do. I want to be known by my family as a caring and loving husband and father; by my business associates as a fair and honest person; and by my )iends as

someone they can count on. To the people who work for me and with me, I pledge my respect and wi" strive every day to earn their respect. Contro"ing a" my actions is a strong sense of integrity which I believe to be the most im-

portant character trait.- unknown

To enhance the lives of those we touch by helping them to reach their goals. -Melaleuca

To inform, inspire and empower people to be their best—persona"y and professiona"y - Success Networks

My personal mission is to invite people to an abundant life by choosing God ’s best.

Be humble, considerate, honest, kind, loving, and most importantly forgiving, but wise.

Provide limitless love to my children and my other family members. A"ow them to grow and develop unhindered of what I think is best; but a"ow them to painfu"y discover what is best for themselves. Set wide boundaries

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WRITING A POSITION PURPOSE STATEMENTEvery position as Shepherds has a specified job description. If you do not have a copy of your job de-scription contact Human Resources. Write your job description below:

Position Title: __________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Take a moment and think about the key elements of your job. What is the essential mission of your po-sition? Who do you serve? How do you want to serve? Review the Values and Action Verbs provided in Appendix C. Select 3 values and 3 Action Verbs that you feel are crucial for this position.

VALUES: ACTION VERBS

1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

1. ___________________________

2. ___________________________

3. ___________________________

Try and write out a purpose statement for your position using some of the words above. You may need to write several drafts until you have a statement you feel best captures your position purpose.

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

Share your position purpose statement with your manager at the next PATH meeting

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Journal Worksheets

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DATE: Month____________, Year _________

PERSPECTIVE: LOOKING BACK

REFLECT• What has been the greatest challenge you faced this month?• Is there a part of your job that doesn’t make sense?• Do you need more instruction or clearer communication of expectations in any particular area?• Are there resources you lack?• Can you think of something you did this week that really felt consistent with your purpose, really

fulfilled you in some way?• Any areas of discouragement?• What character quality would you like to develop?• What competencies do you need to acquire?• How is your community connection doing? What do you need to work on interpersonally?• What roadblocks do you anticipate encountering? How might you overcome them?• Who do I know in the organization that could help me improve a skill, answer a question, solve a

problem? How will I engage them?

REVIEW• What did you purpose to accomplish this month?• Were you successful and how do you know?• If not successful, what would have helped?• What specific training would help you accomplish your goal?

LOOKING FORWARD

This month I want to discuss…

1. _____________________________________________________________

2. _____________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________

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Performing on Purpose:The following worksheets are provided to structure your thinking and planning related to job perform-ance. Each month select a purpose objective from one of three areas: character, competency or com-munity. You only need to select one, however, you may choose to set two or more objectives if you wish. By the end of the year you should have selected evenly from each area. Use the chart below to keep track of your selections. Resist the tendency to select only from the competency category. This is the area from which most goals and objectives are typically chosen. PATH seeks a better balance and encourages you to also consider goals in the area of character and community. Flexibility allows you to emphasize those areas you and your manager believe are most important.

The completed worksheet on Purposeful Performance will be shared with your manager during the PATH meeting.

CHARACTER COMPETENCY COMMUNITY

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

total

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COMPETENCY WORKSHEET

What do I need to KNOW/VALUE/DO that will improve my performance?

This month I purpose to… (specific steps I will take)

So that…(outcome)

This competency objective touches the: Head Heart Hands

How will I know I have accomplished this purpose?

What Targeted Training would help me accomplish my goal?

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CHARACTER WORKSHEET

What core value would I like to focus on this month?

Excellence

Integrity

Servanthood

Love

Progress

Respect

What do I need to KNOW/VALUE/DO that will develop this quality in my life?

This month I purpose to… (specific steps I will take)

So that…(outcome)

This character objective touches the: Head Heart Hands

How will I know I have accomplished this purpose?

What Targeted Training would help me accomplish my goal?

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COMMUNITY WORKSHEET

What community would I like to focus on this month?

Work Team

Another Department

Family

Business

Shepherds

Church

Government

Other: _____________

What do I need to KNOW/VALUE/DO that will enhance my connection with this community?

This month I purpose to… (specific steps I will take)

So that…(outcome)

This community objective touches the: Head Heart Hands

How will I know I have accomplished this purpose?

What Targeted Training would help me accomplish my goal?

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Healthy HarmonyOur commitment to a healthy organization requires attention to the interpersonal bumps and bruises that inevitably occur in the workplace. The following worksheet assists you in exploring conflicts that may have erupted in the past month.

Complete the worksheet and be ready to share it with your manager at your PATH meeting.

Once a year, prior to your annual performance review (usually in December), we ask you to evaluate your satisfaction with your current position. The worksheet entitled Healthy Harmony: Position Focus will assist you in processing this issue. Should issues with your position surface before the end of the year, feel free to use the worksheet and bring it up at your next PATH meeting.

At the end of the year we also ask you to evaluate your relationship with Shepherds as an organization. The Organization Focus worksheet will assist you with this assessment.

January Personal

February Personal

March Personal

April Personal

May Personal

June Personal

July Personal

August Personal

September Personal

October Personal

November Position

December Organization

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Healthy Harmony Worksheet:In the last month how harmonious has my relationship been with the following people? Rate the level of harmony on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 representing “poor” and 5 representing “excellent.”

Poor………………………..........................…………………Excellent

Administration/Leadership 1…..…..........….2….....…......…….3….....….......….4……............….5

Manager 1…..…..........….2….....…......…….3….....….......….4……............….5

Co-Worker 1…..…..........….2….....…......…….3….....….......….4……............….5

Client 1…..…..........….2….....…......…….3….....….......….4……............….5

Customer 1…..…..........….2….....…......…….3….....….......….4……............….5

In the chart below write the name of anyone who scored below 3 and briefly describe your concerns. If there is more than one name, extra worksheets are available at the back of your Journal. Record specifics and then spend some time processing the issue. This information will guide you in your conversation with your manager (particularly if the issue is with the manager). By spending some time putting your concerns down on paper, you will be able to determine if there really is an issue and if so, what it is specifically. Ask yourself…What is the most important thing? What is the real issue in my opinion? What are some possible solutions? Is it a misunderstanding? What do I know for sure? What am I feeling and why? What outcome would I like to see?

Name:

Issue:

Desired

Outcome:

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In your session complete the following with your manager:

My PLAN to improve harmony with:

ACTION I will do…

DESIRED

OUTCOME

So that…

ACTUAL

OUTCOME

(competed prior to next session and reviewed in that session)

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Healthy Harmony: Position Focus

Near the end of each year we ask you to evaluate your sense of “fit” with the organization. Two areas make up this focus: your position and the ministry itself. Use this worksheet to organize your thoughts on how well you are placed in your current position. Remember, what you write is for your own ex-amination and analysis; you will not be handing this worksheet in for review. Your manager will, how-ever, ask you to indicate how you feel about your position during the PATH session. This worksheet will help you prepare your answer.

Regarding your POSITION: Yes ??? No

Are you happy with your job?

Are your gifts being used?

Is your position a good fit with your personal purpose?

Do you find your job rewarding?

Are your job responsibilities challenging but not overwhelming?

Are you convinced that this job is God’s will for you?

Take a moment and fill in the blanks with the first thing that comes to your mind. This can be a good way of getting at your true feelings on an issue.

At times, work can be…

My job really…

The greatest challenge I face at work is…

It drives me crazy when…

There is too much…

I can never…

The best thing about work…

I wish I could change…

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Now, look back at the first chart you filled out at the top of this page. Did you answer any of the questions with “No” or “Uncertain?” If so, take that question(s) and write out your thoughts about why you feel that way.

What would fix or at least improve the problem? What can your manager do that might help?

Do you have a better sense of your “fit” with your position? We value you and your contribution to this ministry, but we also realize that sometimes people find themselves improperly placed in an organization. Our desire is to find the right place for you so that you can use your gifts and fulfill your purpose as God intended. In your PATH meeting you will have an opportunity to discuss this issue with your manager. Take a few more moments and write down any questions you might want to ask or issues you want to make sure are addressed in your meeting. By preparing beforehand and writing down your questions and issues you will find your meeting to be far more productive.

1.

2.

3.

4.

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Healthy Harmony: Organization Focus

In addition to having a good fit in your job, it is also important that you are aligned with the direction of the organization you work for. The following questions attempt to assess your general feelings about this ministry.

Regarding the ORGANIZATION: Yes ??? No

Are you in agreement with the general direction of this ministry?

Do you believe that the leadership cares about you and your role in the organization?

Is there integrity in leadership?

Is God being honored by the policies and procedures of this organization?

Do you have confidence in leadership?

Are the values of the organization being expressed consistently?

Are you proud to be associated with this ministry and glad you are a part of this team?

If you answered “No” or “???” to any of the questions jot down your thoughts about why you feel this way.

How do you think you can best bring your concerns to your manager? Many individuals are uneasy about sharing negative concerns for fear they will be punished in some way. Appropriate appeals, shared in the right way with the right attitude should never be viewed as wrong. We want to make sure you are able to present your concerns in the right manner. Having thought through your concerns, talk with your manager about how best to address the matter. It may be a matter best left to prayer, or per-haps there is something you can do to make a difference for the good of the organization. On the other hand, the direction of the organization may just be different than what you thought or what you feel is best for you. Sometimes it isn’t a matter of right and wrong; it is just a matter of different styles or focus. We want you to feel you are in the right place not just in your position but with the or-ganization in which you serve. If that is not the case we want to help make sure you find the best ex-pression of the passion God has placed in your heart. If that is not here at Shepherds then we want to help make sure you find a better fit somewhere else. Such conversations may be difficult, but because as Christians we all serve the same God, we know that seeking His will can only result in what is best for all parties involved.

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APPENDIX A: CHARACTER CHECKLIST: Examine the character qualities listed below. Circle any you think might help you be successful in your work. Ask your manager to identify character qualities that might be helpful and explain why.

AlertnessAttentivenessAvailabilityBoldnessCautiousnessCompassionateContentmentCreativityDecisivenessDeferenceDependabilityDetermination

DiligenceDiscernmentDiscretionEnduranceEnthusiasmFlexibilityForgivenessGenerosityGentlenessGratefulnessHospitalityHumility

InitiativeJoyfulnessJusticeLoyaltyMeeknessObedienceOrderlinessPatiencePersuasivenessPunctualityResourcefulnessResponsibility

Reverence SecureSelf-ControlSensitivitySincerityThriftinessThoroughnessToleranceTruthfulnessVirtueWisdom

Look up a definition for each character quality you have identified. Try to write the definition in your own words. Make it relevant to your job.

Character Quality: _______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Character Quality: _______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Character Quality: _______________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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APPENDIX B: EXTRA WORKSHEETS GO HERE…

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