Find good; help them see they matter

One of my favorite things to do is find good in people, since everyone has good in them. I particularly enjoy watching leaders do this effectively when they not only build on a present strength and make it stronger, but even take a weakness and make that a strength too. But doing the latter is a gift. If you are a leader, the key is to figure out how to do this well and then make it a habit where it eventually even becomes an extension of who you are.

I remember one time I was conducting a “You Matter No Matter What” presentation at a residential treatment center. As I entered the room I was told, “Watch your purse. Watch your equipment. The kids might steal it.”

Although I appreciated the warning, it was not what I wanted to hear before I began. But I continued to hear more warnings as the youth entered.

“Watch that one, he is in for… And that one over there, same thing.”

Yet all I saw were souls that wanted to be told they had value and worth. Once everyone was seated, I began.

“How many of you know you have value and worth? How many of you know you’re important, that you have a mission and purpose in life?” First looking around to see if others were raising their hands and perhaps reading their peers' faces, a few youths sheepishly raised their hands.

“How many of you know that you have great things to accomplish?” A few more hands went up.

“I don’t care what you are in here for. I am not saying that what you have done is right. I am just saying it’s none of my business and that you are not your crime or your sin or your wrongdoing. You are not a label. So work not to play that over and over in your head. But instead play over and over what you want to become. I am here today to tell you that you are going places. That people need you in this world. That each one of you is a gift and each one of you has gifts. Therefore, use your time in here wisely. And look at being here as an opportunity. Call it an internship and not residential treatment. Work to become the person you always wanted to be. Now’s your chance. It’s up to you.”

After that, there was complete silence. The spirit was incredibly strong. It was actually difficult to continue.