Since the World Race started, I was so against things like feedback and team time. I thought that team time was us spending our free time trying to form relationships with people that we would never be friends with in the real world. And feedback, I could say so many things, but mostly, I thought it was not relevant. If I were to sit my friends down and tell them to talk about their feelings and give each other feedback, they would laugh in my face. That was my reaction too. (And as I write this, I am laughing so hard because I never thought I would think any different.)
Well I am here to say, AIM might be on to something.
The other day, our team sat in with the team leaders of different ministry sights around India. One man stood up and talked about how there was a person on his team that was hard to work with. He said the person didn’t listen and was not a team player. In that moment, the first thing I thought of was, “he just needs some feedback”. I was shocked that I even thought that. I have been so against feedback for so long because I didn’t think it was realistic but here I am in a session with people in India and I am thinking that this might be the answer.
Feedback is hard. It is also very awkward in the beginning. The way we do it on the World Race is we will bring something to someone’s attention as constructive or affirming. We make sure that it is something we have prayed about and it is something that will help them grow in their relationship with the Lord. This is not a time to bring out things that annoy you but are irrelevant or a time to thank someone. It is specifically designed to help us grow with each other in our relationships with God and each other. After you are given feedback, you are only allowed to say thank you. You then have 24 hours to pray about the words that are given to you. Sometimes that 24 hour period is to find a gem or find what is important in what was given and sometimes the 24 hours is used to process words that are given to you. Either way, after the 24 hours has passed, you have the opportunity to go back to that person and open discussion if needed.
I never could think of a time where this would be used. I thought about my friends, I thought about my family, I even thought about past jobs and what if someone gave me feedback in this manner, what it would look like. I told myself that it was not realistic and that I didn’t care about it because it is only for a season.
The World Race is only for a season, but instead of brushing things away or people away, I am learning to accept God’s plan. God called me here for this season and he didn’t call me to sit back and wait for it to pass by. He called me here to learn something and I feel like I have learned so much. In this moment, as I think about that leader who is struggling with the person he has to work with and the communication that follows, I am thankful that I know somewhat how to handle this situation and I know that if I am faced with this in the future, I am prepared.
