SE District News

September

2007

Published monthly for the leadership of the United Methodist Churches in the SE District of MN

Make Disciples of

Jesus Christ

IQ and They Q

 

In the February issue of the Southeast District News I introduced a document developed by the Cabinet titled “Characteristics of Pastoral Leadership – Minnesota Annual Conference.” This month I continue to talk about another characteristic taken from the document:

 

Emotional and social intelligence: Demonstrates emotional intelligence specifically self-awareness, interpersonal skills, self-confidence, emotional self-control, authenticity and empathy for others.

 

1. Can you describe yourself?

2. Describe how you interact with people.

 

Being smart isn’t enough anymore.  It is not enough to be the top of the class or carry a 4.0 in college.  Organizations are looking for something more.  The extra something is an individual’s ability to interact with the world in which he or she lives.  Intellectual ability does not assume or assure that a person is capable of personal insights and social skills necessary to interact and even lead at a high level.

 

Self-awareness is the first step in sustaining a healthy leadership role.  Being aware of who you are and how your emotions create highways and roadblocks for personal interaction is vital insight for a good leader.  Knowing one’s own emotions, recognizing and understanding the emotional content of other people, and handling those interactive emotions are all a part of the expected skill set of today’s leaders.

 

In addition to all of the above, today’s church leaders are expected to have skills managing the wider field of interaction that occurs in our congregations.  Social intelligence allows us to identify and channel emotions so that we can create cohesive small groups, lively worship services, and build lasting relationships among the members of the congregation.

 

If social and emotional intelligence sound like some radical new concept to clergy, it’s not.  Self-awareness and social skills have been the norm for years.  We are just now starting to understand the concepts as a skill and usable tool as part of the ministry set a pastor has to draw from.

 

If a pastor does not have personal insight to their own emotions and awareness of the emotions of those around him or her, the success rate for ministry in the church drops dramatically.  We need to be aware of whom we are and of whom God has called us to serve.

 

Blessings,

Mike Wuehler

 

Stewartville UMC