 Good morning, once again, and welcome to PC315, the course on life skills. Can I request one of us to lead us in prayer? Before we could begin with our session. Can I request Louis, if you can lead us in prayer? Or Arisa, would you like to lead us in prayer? Is it possible that you could pray for the place where you are? Or anyone from the class? Anyone like Prabhakar, Mangi, you can just unmute and pray. So we can start the session. Yes, Prabhakar, please come out. Dear heavenly father, we praise you. We acknowledge your holy name at this moment. We come on Jaya Throna of Grace. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity to learn and grow together, father. We are submitting ourselves and each and every member of our class. And then Jaya Throna as the father on Jaya Throna of Grace. Lead us, father, guide us so that we can have a wonderful session, which will enhance our skills to be equipped as the kingdom builders and to fulfill your wish and your responsibility is given by you. Thank you so much for everything I honor. And I will give you a name for everyone. Thank you so much. I ask this prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Prabhakar, for leading us in prayer. Okay, so we are considering on people management skills. We continue to discuss and study further on this particular topic of people management. Because I feel this is one of the skills that is very important. It is important to our ministry and as well as professional development, which will enable us to be a good or a great people manager, despite the sector that each of us are in. So I feel these skills are very vital or very important to be developed in us. So let's discuss further. Why do you think people management skill is important? We are ministry leaders. Yes, we are business people at the same time. We are working in different sectors. Why do you think people management skill is important for us? Anyone from the class, you can unmute and speak or you can post your answer on the chat. Why do you think people management skill is important? First up, can I try? Yes, thank you. Go ahead. No, thank you first. In the other class, you said that the biggest asset is people. And for us to get most out of them and for them to do work properly, they have to be managed in a way that is profitable for both sides, for them and also for the church or for business. Thank you. As you said, yes, people are in a set. Even if it's a different sector, it can be ministry, it can be business, it can be workplace, people are in a set. So we need to handle people. We need to value people and we need to know how to manage them. It can be ministry, business or work. Any sector, you see, it is made up of people of different ages. They come from different backgrounds and each of them has different ideas how to do certain tasks. This means that different groups within a ministry, within a business, within, it can be any sector, will be motivated by different things and will work. It would work best in a particular way. So we need to ensure that everyone on the team reaches a maximum potential. So as a leader or as a people manager, we must build up a toolkit or we need to know how to manage people. What are the skills that we need to develop within us to manage people despite the sphere that we are ministering to are working with. So there is a need not only to motivate each other in a team or in a ministry, but we need to improve it. If it is a ministry, we need to improve our ministry. We need to see how we can reach out people in different areas. How we can expand our ministry to different places. If it's a workplace or it's in a business, we need to see how we can improve our productivity and boost the morale overall of all the staff. And at the same time, we need to be there to offer support and reduce the stress in time of change. So we need to be there to motivate and also see how we can develop the people for us to get a good productivity. So this must all be done with a good motivation. So holding, having a vision in place, having a bigger vision in place so that we can also communicate that vision to the team so that all of us in the team, in the ministry have that big picture in mind for us to understand why we are doing what we are doing. So that is one of the people management skills that we need to develop within ourselves. So as a leader, there are certain skills that we need to develop within ourselves so that we can manage the team, we can manage the ministry and support them and motivate them to perform, develop better. So what are those? I have just listed out nine people management skills which could help us to thrive as a ministry leader or as a manager, as a business owner, whichever sector that we are in, but it will only help us to develop these skills or sharper skills which can help us to perform better in our ministry, in our workplace, in our business. So let me share the PowerPoint before we begin with the session. So all of us are on the same page. We are able to see what I am saying. So first we can discuss about trust. The one of the skill in a manager or in a leader which is very vital. So when I say ministry leader, you can be in any of the aspects like as per efficiency for 11, you may be in a fossil, profit, banfields, pastoral teacher, ministry leader, whichever area that you are. One of the skill that we need to develop within ourselves is trust. Trust is very important for many relationships. So as a leader, we need to look into this because it is very vital. We need to show the staff, we need to show our members in the ministry that we trust them. This can be displayed in many ways, in many ways on a daily basis. So one of the sorts for the staff or for the members in the ministry to get frustrated is with something very small things to manage. So with years of experience that we would carry with each of us, we should be able to spot ways of working that could improve our efficiency. How? We need to be as an example. Even before we could bring that change into another person, I think we need to put that in ourselves, showed as an example and then share it. I feel the impact may be more. But constantly watching over the staff, watching over the team, how they perform, we may lose track of the bigger picture that we have. So instead of doing that, we need to trust our team, we need to trust our staff. So how do we do that? By assigning small things to them and trusting them with the job. Even before you could get the job done, when you assign, brief them what is expected. We need to brief them what is expected and also help them how this task will impact the big picture. How this small task will help you achieve the big picture because it's not always that the person may understand why you are asking them to do what you are doing. So when the task is assigned and when we explain it and trust them with that. Now, we are giving the person, we are giving the staff, the employee certain ownership of their own work. And they only look and they only can reach us for any kind of advice that they need. So in this process, we are making or we are developing that person to be a leader and to be more efficient in decision making and taking the task down. So they will also be able to work without any kind of interference. This not only develops the team or motivates the team but they grow to be more confident in what they are doing. So we are enabling, eventually we are building the leadership skill for the team members. As a leader, one thing we need to remember not all the tasks that has been assigned and trusted with, you may get a expected outcome. When your team member fails, don't give up. See how you can encourage them. See what went wrong. We need to analyze. And then see if they need help. Assign the help that is needed and see how better we can do the next time. So even before we couldn't give up, you see what are the different ways that we could handle the task better. See if this is something that is motivating the team. This is helping the team to develop a leadership skill within them. See if the team is growing with this assignment that has been given. So we need to analyze a different aspect to check what is the outcome of this. And then we can decide. So at the end of the day, what I mean to say is don't give up. Trust the leaders. Try different ways. See how each one can handle the task because not all are the same. But then some takes time, but we can definitely work with them. Second skill here is good communication skill. Communication is something very vital and it is very important for any leader manager. It can be different from being trust or uncertainty within the time of change. So here we see that communication skill is very important for every management task, every ministry task. So great leaders need to be able to present the ideas, their vision, the goal to inspire others. I like the importance of the task. Share the impact what would have on a larger scale. And then next they can discuss the next step within team to see how as a team that they could achieve the task. By sharpening the skills so that the staff will have great clarity about the task that each one are assigned to. And also we need to try to maintain a transparency within the team so that each of us know what we are doing and what is expected out of each of us. So for a leader this leads a great efficiency and also it needs to have when we maintain this transparency and clarity within the team you see the team retention in that company in that ministry will be for a longer time. Why? Because the team is driven with a purpose. They are not there for the sake of having a job or sake of being in a ministry. No, there is a purpose. When a member knows the purpose that he or she is there in the ministry in the job that is assigned it drives that individual to carry out the task with a passion, with an endurance despite the challenge what that task could have. So minute as a leader you are enabling the person to recognize the purpose of him or her and the team and the task been given to them and what are the personal benefit of them. It is going to be a win-win. Individually you have been benefitting by improving your skills and trying to achieve certain tasks by learning and performing. And overall the ministry the company has been benefitted people have been impacted. So if you see the bigger picture the individual is being encouraged with a greater passion to drive himself around herself despite the challenges that they will face in the process. So that will move on to the next step that is the motivation. Population is very important it can be in any sphere. We all know that every task at work will be very exciting or thrilling for everyone to be part of it but everyone has a task and they need to look further. So that is one of the reasons why good communication was important. At the very first place when we communicate the greater vision the bigger picture so it will motivate the team individually. As a leader yes you are encouraging the team members but then there is something that is within themselves to motivate and encourage them to know that I am called to do this there is a purpose within me God has called me to serve him there is a call there is a purpose in each of us when we realize the call and the purpose of God in our own life and that is related to the tasks that we are doing you see there is a self-motivation that is within an individual. Despite the difficulty despite the challenges that one may face the ministry the workplace the tasks that they are doing there will be an attitude of giving up very easily. Each time when they face a challenge I am sure the individual and the team leader will look up to God saying God strengthen me strengthen our team strengthen each of us to do what we could do in a better way and whenever there is a task that may not be very exciting or it may be challenging as a team it is always good for us to come together and discuss we need to reason out we need to check what we could do to get a better result how we could do this better what are the important things needs to be corrected how we can perform better so when we discuss as a team and see who may be interested to take up the task so what are we doing here we are not assigning the task to any individual with the pressure but then we are discussing giving out ideas receiving ideas of everyone and applying the things that may be applicable and accepted by the team and also giving a free will among the team members to check who can take up the task so always when they give that free will among the team you see there is a self motivation even leaders always come forward to take up certain task they stand up though they may not have certain experience they may be doing it for the very first time but it is always good for a leader if you feel that you are a leader if you know that there is a leadership call upon your life it is always good to step up step out and say that I would like to take up the guidance I am sure your manager will be there, your ministry leader will be there to help support guide and back you up by just one step you see you are stepping into something new area with the help of God and the help of your team and your leader and here you will explore a new task this will definitely help you to develop a skill and achieve certain goals in your life where you will definitely be successful if not so you will learn lessons so we should work out of any kind of certain emotions but then we need to identify what is a call, what is a purpose how we can do it better when we step into a new sector we are sharpening our skill or we are developing a new skill we are adding talents, abilities we are exploring our ability and strength that sometimes we ourselves may not know that we are good at certain tasks only by putting our hands on to our task is when we will eventually learn that we were good at it we have crossed the door we have overcome this we have led in successfully now as we find that ability within us you see we have been self-motivated and this self-motivation will help us to perform better and take up several new tasks in our project and I think the next is patience patience do you think patience is very important for any manager why do you think patience should be one of the important skill that we need to develop within us team you can unmute and share yours please so that we can keep the session interactive and not be going on when patience gives a chance to rethink improve, get better, communicate patience can be a catalyst in making things better in every situation yes thanks Abhay you are right, very true I think patience is very important somebody who is patient you see he achieved much more than what an impatient person can do so managing a ministry a team or a business is definitely not something very easy most often we feel like nothing is going the right in the ministry or any sector that we may be in while this might get frustrating so it is more important for a leader to maintain patience although some may be you know born with this more patience within them but for others it is a skill that we need to develop eventually in time when a difficult situation arises or we make some mistake keep a level head control we need to learn how to control our emotions and act very calm though because in general we try to act immediately when things are not right we try to act out of our emotion out of our feeling but then when we try to you know later because of this very act later we may regret the very act of our the way we behave the way we spoke the way we handled we may regret of it but if you handle it with patience if you have to take any kind of major decision because of a wrong action or because of some situation that will not right when you handle it in a much calmer patient way do you think we think ponder what could have been done better or how it can be done there will be some kind of solution that you may get to put it across to your team to the staff, to the ministry members that are there in your team so how we can do it step out take a deep breath take a few seconds even you respond sometimes even if you have to take few days take it and then answer in a very cool mindset so that you won't react in the way that would break the trust damage the relationship or you may have to repent regret later so the ability to respond in a well manner in a proper way and not in a fueled emotion the person may help us manage the relationship or even for the other person to work with us to serve with us in the ministry to give them the comfort to share their problem with us we are giving them an option when we handle things in a patient we won't take the decision immediately but then we will discuss with the team how the individual what happened what actually happened we will hear out their point of view and see what can be done and how this problem can be handled better and also as a leader you will see how to bring comfort among the team members it is very important for the leader to be patient patient with himself, patient with others so being patient is one of the key skills that we need to develop fifth point is ability to give credit when credit is given very important most of the time the leaders try to give credit to the staff members this is something that we need to learn to give the credit to this team to the staff to whom it is to because at some point during our ministry or our work it's like that we will have been in the position where someone above us have taken credit for the task that we actually would have toiled and worked hard so that would have frustrated each of us isn't it but under our leadership we need to see to it that we need to give the credit to the person actually we share that idea actually we did the task so as a leader knowing when to give credit gives praise to the right people is very important it helps to build and motivate the team and makes the individual to trust the leader where they can share the ideas they can infer at times it is also good as a leader to motivate the individual if in case you want to motivate a member in your team even if it is your idea but the team member has put in all the effort to bring that out we can always give credit to your team member and say wow so and so individually you brought it you worked this task very well we appreciate you because this is what Jesus thought after the death of Jesus after the death of Jesus it says in one of the gospel I think it is in John and it is also recorded in the Gospel of Luke after the ascension Jesus meets his disciples so where the disciples have gone back to fishing and they toiled whole night they are unable to get any fish you see Jesus advises Peter cast your neck on the right side and when they cast it they got a huge number of fishes and they catch them they come so what Jesus tells the disciple he says get the fish that you have caught he is not taking the credit for himself he is giving the credit to the disciples what you have caught so as a leader he is showing us do not give the credit to another person that is why you are the leader so as a leader we need to encourage, motivate and give the credit to another person not take it all to ourselves it is my idea I shared my idea so instead of being that way it is always good to give the credit to the team even if it was your idea so in that way the team is motivated the person, the staff is been personally encouraged you see how they can actually walk an extra mile to achieve the task that is assigned to them now sixth is problem solving skill what would a ministry if problems didn't ever arise what would a business or a workplace be if problems didn't ever arise anyone from the team so there is no problem in a ministry there is no problem in your workplace how is it what would be your first thought, first question are we moving in the right direction is the question are we actually doing something are we actually working if we are working if you are actually doing something definitely there would be a problem definitely you will come across certain things that you have been challenged with so problem solving is a key part for a manager, for a leader is it being able to schedule when your staff are working or finding why there is no turnover why there is no impact in the ministry why there is no growth in the area that we are serving there is always a problem that we need to look into to be solved so a great leader can identify and overcome the various problems even before they could become a big issue to do this so we need to understand we need to pay attention to the minor detail as well because something that is very small may be overlooked may be the outcome of a bigger problem so we need to check the root cause of the problem and see how we can sort it out as a leader if you get that problem sorted you see the progress you see the growth you see the ministry is going to be without the seventh one is accountability at the end of the day we all are accountable to each other you may be the head of the organization still you are accountable you may be the head of the ministry we are accountable to God because every action of us have been watched by God especially those of us in the ministry a God is a God who sees us there is nothing hidden we may think that no one is watching we may think no one is watching but then God is a God who watches over things he is concerned about everything there was an act in Joshua chapter 7 we read about a person named Akkar the team was instructed by God after the battle not to take certain things and keep it but then leave it but then what happened with Akkar anyone who knows the story in the class would you like to share what happened why was God upset with him Akkar and all the Israelites who were fighting against Jericho they were ordered not to touch anything from that place that is the reason why God was upset with Akkar thank you anyone else? he was not the right place he was not the right place he will be the right place I don't think Akkar is in the right place because if he was not the right place they had a wrong chance But since there's no one to account him, so I guess it's that. OK, thank you, Arsha. OK, so Akkad, even after the instruction, he saw the gold, he saw the cloth that was very pleasing and attractive. And he hid them in his tent. He thought Joshua and the other leaders are not watching. He did it in his private. But then God was watching. Akkad disobeyed and took off the spoils, certain spoils for himself, and he hid. But God was watching him. And God, you know, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel at the very app of Akkad. So we need to be sure enough that God is watching over us. Every area, the way we handle each member, the way we handle people in the church, the way we handle the whole ministry that has been assigned to us, the way we handle the money, the way we handle our time. Accountability for a ministry leader is very different from the people who are out in the world. We need to be accountable to God because we are accountable to God. And God is watching over us. We need to make sure that everything that we do pleases God because God is watching over us. So good leaders hold themselves accountable when things go wrong. It may not be them. It may not be their mistake. But they are responsible for them too. So we see in the story that Joshua takes their responsibility and he goes and prays and asks God, and here things happen through we. And then very active Akkad, he was punished for his very own act. The same way as a leader, we need to take accountability. We need to look at things. Even when a team member mess up, we need to see to it how it can be corrected and said things right. But the leader takes the accountability when things go wrong and take very little credit for themselves but see to it that the credit is given to the team. And when both the staff and the leader are taking accountability for their own actions, the process that they run smoothly and work is completed with efficiency. So moreover, if the staff know that the manager is backing up, the leader is backing up, they don't want to let them down. They will try their best to achieve the task that they are assigned for, they are comfortable for. If that will move on to the eighth one that is possible. So this is very important. As a leader, the attitude is contagious. So what are the attitudes we carry is contagious? So why to carry a negative when they can carry a positive attitude? So as a leader, try to carry a positive attitude despite their situation and circumstances. We know that your attitude is contagious. So if a leader has a positive attitude, this attitude will be contagious with the team members. So this positive attitude will change every member in the team because they would in fact carry the same attitude within them. So as a leader, we need to make sure that the team has a good attitude. Even if one member in the team, the attitude or the mannerism is not good. Please call and check with that person individually, privately to get that sorted. Because that one person's individual attitude will also impact the other people who are working alongside with them. So it is always good to get the attitude right from the leader to the team members. And as much as possible, we need to keep it fun, work through friendly competition. So they should not be having the attitude to compete with each other. But then we need to develop an attitude that they could compete with themselves where they can develop as a person each day better than what they were before. So when they have this attitude of growing and developing themselves to be a better person, you see slowly as the individual grows, the ministry grows, the business grows, the work is close. You see each one striving hard with a positive attitude. So this needs to be impacted. The ninth one is honest. As we expect the staff to be honest as a leader, we need to send that as an example. So we need to give them feedback that allows them to improve and grow. So the feedback when we give needs to be achievable. It needs to be something that is real, something that the person can change, something that the person can work hard to perform better. So the only way that the feedback can be give it the feedback should motivate a person, should help the person grow, develop. So in that way, the honest feedback can be given to the individual. And even the person will receive it in a positive manner because that will help him or her to grow and see themselves better in the workplace as they are. So this means that we are going to be truthful at both good times and bad times. So when we're giving feedback, we need to understand what happens when it is given. So we need to be mindful to give the feedback in a very positive way. It should not be in a crimpy, it should not be in the manner of criticizing a person which will break the person and demotivate the person. But then our feedback should only motivate, develop and make the person grow to be a better staff, to be a better ministry leader in the ministry. So it is very important to be mindful of the other person and give a honest feedback in a positive way. So with that, we have completed the task on today. People management, if there's anything that the team, the class would like to share that could help each of us to develop this people management scale, I would keep this time open next five minutes for any of us to share on your learning or if there's anything that may be an important skill that one could develop that would help in their ministry, in their workplace. Please go ahead. Ma'am, I just wanted to add a point when we are talking about accountability at a leadership level. Not only we are accountable to God, we are accountable to our own selves more than what other people think about it. In that place of where God has placed us, we need to be accountable to our own selves. Without that, I don't think we can do a pleasing job to God. Thank you, Ma'am. Thank you, sister Rupa for sharing that very important. Accountability plays a key role in each of our ministry, in our workplace, any sector where, yes, as we are accountable to God, we need to be accountable to our self as well. Only when we are accountable, we can have a check over ourselves. Are we doing the right thing at the right time? Are we doing the things that have been expected from us? Thank you. Anyone else would like to add to any of the points that we shared today? Thank you, Aansha, for sharing that on how you would like to develop a positive attitude and also to motivate others around you. Yes, thank you. Anyone else would like to share? Okay. If we aren't there, we can end the session. We can close the session with a word of prayer. Yeah. Okay, let's pray. Father, we thank you at who you are with us. Thank you, that Lord, you are developing the people management skill with us. But as you have raised each of us as a ministry leader, it's to do with the people. Lord, we pray that you will enlarge and develop the skills that is needed for each of us in the workplace, in the ministry area that we are assigned and Lord, I pray that you will help us to develop all the mind skills that we study today, Lord, that we may be trustworthy. We may be accountable, that we may be patient. We may handle each of them, Lord, knowing that we are accountable to you. Every task in every area. Father, we thank you that you are with us. You are leading us and guiding us. Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are leading us to develop new skills so that we can be a good leader in working. Thank you, Lord Jesus, may God be with you, amen. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for joining in today's session. God bless, thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.