Creating a Group Culture of Encouragement
Encouragement is one of the key ingredients to creating an environment in which leaders are developed and released.
When we use our words to encourage and cheer someone else on, they are more likely to fulfil their potential. They don’t feel crushed or exposed – instead they feel uplifted and released to have a go. They are more likely to step outside their comfort zones, try new things and grow in the process.
Pete Wynter, the founder of Onelife, defines leadership as ‘calling the best out of yourself and the best out of those around you.’ Taking this definition, encouragement is at the very heart of leadership!
So, how do we go about creating a culture of encouragement in the places where we lead?
Choose encouragement
The first step for building any kind of culture is to choose it, to intentionally build it into the rhythm and reality of the teams that we are a part of. A culture of encouragement is built by first choosing to pursue and live out encouragement in our leadership. If you see someone doing something good, choose to tell them! Why not challenge yourself to tell someone every time you see them doing something good?
All of us will have those grey Monday mornings when we don’t feel particularly encouraging, but our response in those moments is what makes the difference when we are looking to build a culture of encouragement in our teams and our youth groups. We can choose, even these moments, to name the things that we appreciate and see in the people around us. This isn’t about being fake, but it is about taking a step back and choosing to see and call out the best in people – even when you are not feeling at your best.
And we don’t have to be ‘in charge’ to build this kind of culture. Wherever we find ourselves, we can choose to encourage and build up the people around us.
Cultivate encouragement
It is often said that culture = values + practices.
If we say we want to build a culture of encouragement, but it isn’t built into the habits, the patterns and the behaviours of our teams, then it will just be a catchy phrase or an inspiring idea. We have to cultivate encouragement, building it into the DNA of our teams by regularly practicing it.
One of the best practices to build into your team, in order to develop a culture of encouragement, is giving really good feedback. Encouragement isn’t about just saying ‘you’re amazing’ all the time. To encourage someone well, we must be honest about their challenges and areas of growth, while ensuring that our feedback is given in the context of trust – and that we are specific about their gifts and strengths.
Regular feedback helps people to know that you are willing to be honest when something needs to be challenged, but also trust that you value and notice what they bring to the table.
How can you build patterns of encouragement into your team, your church, your family?
Be creative in encouragement
For some people, spoken words of affirmation are the best way to show encouragement. But others might receive encouragement in different ways - maybe they prefer written notes of affirmation as it feels more permanent, or perhaps actions that demonstrate confidence in their abilities will have more of an impact. We must remember that not everyone will feel encouraged in the same way – and so we must be creative.
As we become more creative in how we give encouragement, we’ll start to foster an environment where everyone feels truly seen and valued, and they in turn will be empowered to encourage others well.
Some more creative ideas include sending someone a card or a small, unexpected gift. Consider buying them an impromptu coffee, or even holding a party to celebrate what they bring to the team. But sometimes the smallest actions speak the loudest – simply choosing to spend quality time with someone will make them feel valued as an individual, and that their worth extends beyond their achievements.
It is often easier to fall back on methods of giving encouragement that don’t cost us much time or energy, but the easy way can prevent us from truly seeing the individual in front of us, and it even hinder them from trusting the encouragement you give and realising their potential.
How can you be creative in showing encouragement to those around you?
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