Written by: gfesadmin on May 15, 2013

The StandOut strengths assessment is one among many ways to assess one’s strengths. This one specifically focuses on leadership. These kinds of assessments have always been a struggle for me. One on my strengths is not quick decision making. However it was insightful. The results for me is that out of the 9 roles , I came out on top as Pioneer and Advisor. I think the reason I tested high in the Pioneer category is because of my present role at Neighborhood Church. I do not think that this is my highest category by nature. A Pioneer “sees the world as a friendly place, where around every corner, good things will happen. A Pioneer’s distinctive power starts with optimism in the face of opportunity.”

This fits in that fact that I have been working with a team of people to turn our church around. Survival brings out fresh skills. Working for creative and innovative ways to be the mission of Jesus brings out the attributes of the Pioneer in me. I find starting almost from scratch and a sense of discovery a stimulating environment. This risk-taking part of being a Pioneer is not one I am completely comfortable with. I tend more to analysis for the best solutions. The second strength was more in align with the way I see myself. An Advisor is a “practical, concrete thinker who is most powerful when reacting to and solving other people’s problems”. I do love improvement. Give me an immediate problem and I am all over working for solutions. I also do not give up. Resiliency has definitely been a life long trait. An Advisor loves experts and wants to be seen as one. I do love expertise. These two roles together revealed something I had not imagined. I have seen my strength as the role of Teacher. Which, I think, has been missed in this assessment. But I can see how my present responsibilities as the lead pastor have reshaped these roles.

What I will do is commit myself to a schedule of disciplined inquisitiveness. I am so easily distracted by innovation that it interferes with developing expertise. From my learnings I need to quickly apply the implications and be proactive in creating something with them.  But this needs to be tempered with discernment about which innovations need attention now, and which ones are to be delayed or even ignored. It is so natural for me to be the expert about others, to be inquisitive about what’s going on with them, that it stalls my leadership from time to time. I need to be clear about what I think and become the expert and create focus on my calling.

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