LESSON #5: DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES! Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” One of my greatest inquiries from Leaders is repetitively the same question “How do you deal with difficult personalities?” Unfortunately, we as Leaders have yet to accept the fact that the most difficult of personalities to work with is often times—THE LEADERS! And it’s because we as Leaders are under the impression that full time ministry is taking a group of people, telling them what to do, while we sit in the pretty plush chairs in the forefront. We’re under the impression that Leadership is working where there’s always praise music playing and co-laborers praying. With folks walking around reciting Scriptures and wearing crosses around every neck. We imagine such a place to be holy, always joyful and peaceful. We believe that in such a place one of our primary sources of stress—getting along with difficult people—will completely disappear. DON’T YOU BELIEVE IT! Listen: Paul and Barnabas, two Great Christian Leaders, fought so badly over John Mark that they had to split up! The early church experienced financial squabbles, moral scandals and doctrinal disputes. Understand that until the Lord comes back you’ll always experience difficulty relating to certain people. The mind is not new, it is constantly being renewed—even the minds of Christians. This doesn’t mean they’re not sincere, it just means they’re not as mature as they should be. Pettiness, greed, ambition and favoritism all creep in as the enemy fires his darts and hopes to create a flame that will ultimately destroy our fellowship. So if we are going to thrive even in hostile environments, we must increase our capacity to work with difficult personalities. Yes that means working with Sister Roll her eyes at you, Brother I’m telling Pastor, Deacon I can do that better then you, Missionary I’m more experienced then you, and Elder no-one is deeper then me! Yes! You have to mature enough to work with even them! And just in case you can’t identify them...uh...they just might be you, sorry. But there are 2 key Elements I want you, as Leaders, to keep in mind when dealing with difficult personalities. One, your prayer-life will keep the lines of communication open between you and Daddy when issues arise with you and your Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Daddy will intervene and quiet the sibling rivalry. But it takes Him speaking and you listening for that to happen. When the lines are down, no communication comes through! No dialogue, no direction. Secondly, the Word of God gives you every personality type there will ever be. And there is a grocery list long of Leaders who handled it right and wrong. Why not study them? Only a fool would watch someone touch a hot stove, scream ouch, then follow them by touching the same stove! Learn from the mistakes of others and you’ll better work with any personality type. Take a hard look at yourself, and think of what Jesus has to deal with in working with you, and let me know if it’s really that hard working with others! “Teamwork is no accident. It is the by-product of good leadership.” John Adair. Much Love, Dr.SYS #Lessons4Leadership
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:21:15 +0000
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