Discovering Gifts
February 26, 2009 • No comments
This past weekend I was privileged to present a seminar titled “Helping Teens Discover Their Gifts & Passions” at the Today’s Teens Conference. I didn’t realize what a strong need this was until youth leaders started coming in to get seats half an hour before the seminar started. Ten minutes before we started the room was packed out, and we had to turn people away (I hate turning people away!). The seats were full, any open floor space was used as seating and the doorway was even filled with people. Why was this so popular?
I wonder if perhaps adult leaders also feel like they don’t have a firm handle on their own gifts and passions, and see the need for direction not only for their students but for themselves!
In the 75 minutes we were allotted, we covered a lot of ground. We talked about personality types, life experiences, gifts, strengths, weaknesses, core values, mission statements and vision statements. It was definitely not content-light!
The process of discovery for me is ongoing - although I’ve worked through this material personally, and have developed a mission statement that really fits me and my giftings, just putting together the handouts was a great refresher - and a challenge to me! I was reminded of the statistics Marcus Buckingham revealed about Canadians last year - only 1 in 10 of us feels like our work utilizes our strengths most of the time. That potentially makes us a fairly miserable nation of bored, unengaged people! (And our American cousins are just slightly more engaged - 2 out of 10 of them feel like they use their strengths most of the time!)
For anyone at the seminar who didn’t get a handout - we’re working on posting the seminar notes, but until now just contact me and I’ll send them to you.
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