Blog
Moving from Incompetence to Competence
By Dr Scott Yorkovich
THE PROCESS OF MOVING FROM INCOMPETENCE TO COMPETENCE and the associated stages of self-awareness is fascinating. Reflecting on times past when I was ignorant of what I didn’t know, then became aware of something new to learn, then moved to competency, and eventually proficiency, I found the whole process exhilarating and motivating. That’s the best case scenario, though. I’m not always so willing to acquire a new skill. Nor are all our followers always so eager to learn and grow. It helps to think about cognitive states when guiding others from ignorance to proficiency. What’s going on in the mind at each stage of learning? Read More . . .
7 Tips for New Hires
By Dr. Scott Yorkovich
HUNTING FOR A NEW JOB? GOT A NEW JOB? It’s spring and many college grads are looking for and securing a new gig. People who have been in the work world for a time are changing jobs, too. Maybe it’s that first step in a life-long career. Maybe it’s a stepping stone to something else further out on the horizon. In either case, a new job is exciting, nerve-wracking, energizing, and scary all rolled together! Those first few days on the job are critical for you. They are for your employer, too. You’ve both got a lot on the line. There is a lot of advice out there on how to get started right in a new job. I’ve reviewed many of those resources and, frankly, very few resonate with me. So, having observed some people take new jobs recently, I thought I would offer some tips that I think are more helpful. (If you’re one of the folks who knows me and has taken a new job, no, this is not directed at you in particular!)
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3 Prerequisites to Listening
by Dr Scott Yorkovich
February 16, 2016
WE ALL KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO LISTEN. There are many books, blogs, and articles about listening. You can go to seminars that teach you how to listen. The issue of listening is addressed in every dimension of life: marriage, parenting, work, church life, community development, and so on. Somehow, while we all deeply yearn to be listened to, most of us need to get better at doing it. That’s why we have all the books, seminars, and other resources. There’s something that most of these tools do not address, though. They do not address the prerequisites to listening.
Before I talk about three prerequisites to listening, I want to clarify what kind of listening I have in mind. I’m talking about the kind of listening that makes others feel cared for and valued. This is listening that helps people open up with their real thoughts and concerns. This is the listening that helps followers feel an emotional connection and then openly share what is on their heart and mind.
Real listening facilitates the trust, openness, and communication that leaders and followers must have to work together in meaningful and significant ways. Real listening also facilitates coaching and development conversations. These are the conversations we need to have with one another to encourage leadership growth throughout the organization.
Keep in mind that listening should not be an event or limited to a conversation. It is a long-term process. The process does not start with “Tom, I’ve got something on my mind. Do you have a few minutes?” No. It starts much earlier than the face-to-face or telephone interaction.
Listening begins with the attitude and environment that you, the leader, establish long before a conversation or situation occurs. These three prerequisites will go a long way to helping you be an effective listener . . .
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Finding Your Pace in the New Year
December 20th, 2015
NASCAR is America’s premiere racing sport. There is a lot we can learn about self-leadership from looking at NASCAR. One parallel I want to draw from is the pace car. The pace car comes out at the beginning of the race and sets the “pace” for the other cars before the green flag drops and they take off at break neck speeds.
As the proverbial green flag is about to drop on a new year, have you stopped to consider the pace at which you are moving through life?Jesus definitely calls us to be active rather than passive.
In Matthew 4:19 he calls his disciples to be active fishers of men. In our present culture, the issue has slipped into an “overactive” pace that can set us up for trouble. Jesus many times found himself in a place where the crowds were demanding his presence. It is easy to get caught in the need to be needed and to be busy doing all the time. Our call to self-leadership and service in the Kingdom is not one that requires 100% of us 100% of the time. Even Jesus realized his limitations and reclined to a quite place. In Luke 5:16 it says he “often” withdrew to a quiet place. In Mark 1:35 it says that Jesus got up early and went to a “solitary” place and prayed. Then in Mark 6:31 Jesus encourage those with him to withdraw to a quiet place, literally because there was too much going on.
I think Jesus understands that we need time to ourselves and more importantly time to slow down and reconnect with God the father. He led by example and we should follow.
The other primary instance where the pace car comes out is when there is an accident. The pace car races out ahead of the drivers to slow them down so they can get the mess cleaned up. Lets take heed as we approach another year and keep on eye on our pace. Lets not find us in a situation where we crash and have to be rescued.
As you embark on a year of self-leading, consider the following:
1. Have you identified the things God wants you to be involved with?
2. Have you identified the things you need to say no to this coming year?
3. Look at your schedule. Is their alignment for the things you value?
4. Are you taking enough time for soul care? Do you have those “quiet times” built into your schedule?
5. Who can hold you accountable? Having a partner can keep you in check as the year progresses.