My kindergarten teacher passes out giant sheets of paper with United States flags outlined for our eager, six-year-old imaginations to tackle with crayons. “We’re all going to color our own American flags to display on the hallway wall outside our classroom for parents night,” she says in teacher voice.
I color like a little Michelangelo with bold and crisp stars and stripes. Finally, it’s my turn to show Old Glory to the class. Expecting “Oohs” and “Aahs,” I pridefully hold my flag up for all to see. Complete silence. A few slow seconds pass before a snicker or two breaks into rolling laughter across the room.
The class laughed because my flag was red, white, and a big, bold PURPLE! That was the moment I discovered I’m colorblind. Traffic lights, color-coded charts, and matching clothes all cause problems. Like most people, I don’t enjoy being embarrassed, so I always ask for help if I’m unsure about a color.
Trying to read what your LifeGroup needs can feel equally scary because, like me at a stoplight, you don’t want to miss the mark. We say to ourselves, “I think I know what my group needs and wants from me as their leader, but what if I’m wrong? What if they’re secretly laughing at me because the way I’m leading the group is boring them to death?”
@jeffgalley
You don’t have to be a body language expert or a mind reader to know what your LifeGroup needs. All you have to do is ask! It’s a misconception that you should intuitively know precisely how to lead your group.
Ask a few questions like these the next time you meet:
- When you joined our LifeGroup, what did you hope to gain from it?
- How can our LifeGroup help you grow and mature over the next few months?
- What would make you feel like saying, “LifeGroup was awesome!” after each time we meet?
Listen and respond to your groups’ feedback, and you’ll be amazed at the deepened rapport and commitment between you and your group. Simply asking will also drain away your fear of missing the mark. Your group is looking for a leader who cares enough to ask for feedback, so put down your purple crayon and ask away!
