Intentionality: Predetermine Your Level of Engagement

[featured_image]A few years ago I attended a workshop here in Seattle on interactive training offered by Leif Hansen of Spark Interaction.

The day was fantastic and I learned a lot about helping participants to be fully engaged. Even the simplest of exercises including a debrief for shared learnings and awareness.

Ask Yourself: How Engaged Do I Intend to Be?

One of the best tools that impacted me personally was a profound reflection tool that was handed out near the start of the day. It was adapted from Flawless Consulting by Peter Block (amazon affiliate link).

I’ve modified it a little and used it in a training environment.

I have to admit that I was surprised by the results. The impact of this tool is in the way that it helps people to predetermine their level of engagement with the training process at the start of a training event.

I will share the reflection questions below. But first I want you to consider the ramifications of leading participants to predetermine their personal engagement. By asking them to reflect on their intention as the training begins, it automatically increases their awareness and expectation for the day. Rather than coasting into a workshop or seminar with their mind in neutral, these questions actually can move a person to a higher level of commitment to engage.

I’m not going to promise you instant positive results with every participant. Yet I found when I was asked to gauge my intention to engage at the start of Leif’s training, I consciously chose to notch it up a level. And when I’ve used a similar process in my training, participants have told me that they chose to put out more effort throughout the day than they had originally anticipated simply because they had been asked to determine their level of engagement.

Your Intention and Plan for this [Event Name]

Question 1– How valuable an experience do you plan to have in this event – not what kind of experience you want, but what kind you plan to have?

Not very valuable — Very Valuable

Question 2– How engaged and active do you plan to be?

Unengaged/inactive Very Engaged/Active

Question 3– How much risk are you willing to take as you engage in this event?

Little or no risk — High level of risk

Question 4– How invested are you in the quality of the experience of those around you? What is your level of concern about the well-being of the entire group?

Little or no concern — High concern

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So now I’d like you to consider your level of engagement with the mission of Jesus! How intentionally have you been engaged with Jesus’ mission of making disciples who make disciples?

Why not ask the questions above with regard to your intention and plan to be actively making disciples who make disciples?

Your Intention and Plan for Making Disciples

How valuable an experience do you plan to have as you make disciples?

How engaged and active do you plan to be in making disciples this week?

How much risk are you willing to take as you engage in making disciples?

How invested are you in the quality of the disciplemaking of those around you?

What is your level of concern about the well-being and engagement in Jesus’ mission of your entire group?

Maybe you could discuss these questions with your small group or Bible Study group this week.

Maybe you could incorporate these questions into your weekly small group gathering. Imagine the impact and intentionality that would result from asking each other every week: How engaged and active do you plan to be in making disciples this week?

I believe that one of the reasons many Christians don’t join in Jesus’ mission of making disciples is because they never intend to. They lack any intentionality or commitment to do so. They aren’t willing to risk or engage in making disciples.

So – what about you? Are you willing to make the main thing the main thing?

What’s your intention? How will you invest yourself in making disciples who make disciples this month?