Leadership Tips & Training Oxygen for the Soul

At 6:00 a.m. on a cold Sunday morning in January, a pastor brought a devotional from Hebrews 12:1-2. He said, “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses today as we run our race.” Encouraging words flowed from his mouth as he spoke to the crowd of anxious runners and walkers. The participants who filled the make-shift chapel were a mixture of novice and elite runners, all with the same need for encouragement, as they prepared to leave the warm room for a long cold journey that would test their fortitude to the max. I was one of the novice runners, preparing to participate in my very first half marathon. Actually it was the first race I had ever participated in as an adult. The words the pastor spoke that morning would play over and over again in my mind as I walked and ran the streets of Houston. He said that the people along the route would be cheering us on and that we should draw strength from them, even reaching out to give some a “high-five” when we needed that extra dose of energy to press on. I did as he suggested and was amazed at how the people truly lifted me and at times pulled me along, just by their smiling faces and cheering voices. What a picture of the First Place encouragement commitment!

John Maxwell describes encouragement as, “oxygen for the soul.” I can truly say that on that unforgettable race day I received oxygen for my soul as I took in all the shouts of “Nancy, you can do it!” It would be hard for me to even imagine attempting to run 13.1 miles without at least one word of encouragement. As I trained for the half marathon, I would listen to praise music on my walkman or Ipod. The music was a form of encouragement that kept me going. The music helped, but the real live people looking me in the eye and calling out my name was what kept me in the race. Just a few yards from the finish line, I heard a very familiar voice. It was my mom, saying, “Nancy, you made it!” Now that really spurred me on to sprint to the finish line! The encouragement from the crowd of strangers did give me energy along the way, but the words from the one how has known me and loved me my entire life, gave me the energy to finish the race.

I learned some valuable lessons on that cold January day about encouragement that I am trying to apply to my First Place leadership.

• Personal encouragement means the most. Speak to your members using their name. I am making a point to speak to each person as they walk into our First Place room each week, calling them by name. Then as I ask for prayer requests, I again acknowledge them by name.
• A simple touch gives energy and brings healing.  I make it a point to either touch a member on the back, arm or give them a hug, whenever appropriate. As I ran the race, I did draw strength from those who reached out to slap my hand with a “high five.” A touch on the arm or a hug is nonverbal encouragement that reaches to the heart. Keep in mind your members learning styles when you give encouragement. Those who are auditory learners will remember what you tell them; those who are visual will be encouraged most by the written note or email, and those who are tactile kinesthetic will know you care by a simple touch. The touch you give will often ease the pain they may be going through, just as the hands of those race day cheerleaders acted as a healing balm to my tired body.
• Enthusiastic people give energy to those they encounter. As the leader, make it your goal to be the most enthusiastic person you know! It is amazing how our attitude influences those we lead. A well-known women’s Christian speaker and member of our church, Marge Caldwell recently went home to be with the Lord.  Her funeral was one of the most encouraging events I have ever attended. She was the most enthusiastic person I have ever known. She will be remembered for entering a room with a smile on her face, a twinkle in her eyes and with the words, “I am so excited!” on her lips. She lived her life with enthusiasm for 91 years and influenced thousands! Just by observing her life, I too, want to walk in a room with “I am so excited!” coming from my mouth. Enthusiasm is most definitely contagious!

I have more questions from leaders about how to motivate their members to keep the encouragement commitment than any of the other eight commitments. My answer would be to set the pace and be the leader in the area of encouragement. Call your members by name; reach out to them with a hug or a pat on the back and be enthusiastic about what you are leading them to do. Then before long, they too will be providing that life giving oxygen, called encouragement, to one another.

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I am so excited!

Nancy Taylor
Leadership Training Director


Nancy Taylor is the First Place Leadership Training Director and joined the First Place staff in 1997. Nancy teaches leadership principles to First Place Leaders throughout the country and at Houston's First Baptist Church where she coordinates all the First Place groups. Nancy also speaks at First Place workshops, rallies, retreats, and conferences, where she delights her audiences with humor and encourages them with boldness. She writes a monthly article, which includes helpful tips for leaders, for the First Place E-newsletter, and was a contributing writer to the Today is the First Day devotional book. Nancy is the resident First Place Bible Concordance because of her love for Scripture memory.