Principles of Leadership - Provide Feedback 2

 

This is Chuck Rapp with Multiply, a podcast to provide a word of encouragement for village church planters.

During 2022, my theme has been “10 Principles of Spiritual Leadership”.  In my previous podcast, I introduced principle #8 which is “Provide Feedback”.  We discussed positive feedback and how this affirms and encourages those who follow us.  

The other side of this principle is corrective or negative feedback.  As I mentioned last time, it is the responsibility of the leader to share both positive and negative feedback to those under their leadership.  

We defined feedback as “evaluative or corrective information about an action … ” One of my favorite Bible stories about corrective feedback is found in 2 Samuel 12:1-20.  God sends the prophet Nathan to confront King David about his sin with Bathsheba.  (Think of the courage this must have required on Nathan’s part.) 

 Nathan tells a story about a rich man and a poor man.

• (vs 3) – the poor man has nothing except one little ewe lamb

• (vs 4) – the rich man takes the poor man’s lamb to provide a meal for a visitor

• (vs 5) – David’s anger burns against the rich man

• (vs 7) – Nathan shares the corrective feedback.  “You are the man!”

• (vs 10-12) – Nathan shares with David some of the consequences of David’s sin

• (vs 13) – Nathan’s feedback results in the desired result.  David repents, saying “I have sinned against the Lord.”  David takes the desired corrective action.  

Here are some leadership principles that I see in this encounter.

1. Nathan approached David in the context of relationship.  They knew one another as seen in 2 Samuel 7.  As leaders, it’s vital that we have relationships with followers in the event that we need to bring correction to them.  King Solomon recognized this and wrote about it in Proverbs 27:6a. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted…”

2. 12:1 tells us that “The Lord sent Nathan to David.”  As leaders, we must always keep in mind that we are the Lord’s representatives.  When it is necessary to provide negative or corrective feedback, we must do so in a way that honors our Lord.

3. The goal of negative feedback is corrective action on the part of the feedback recipient.  Notice that Nathan did not berate David.  However, he did help David see his sin. As leaders, the goal of our feedback is redemptive; it is intended to correct or restore.

4. We cannot ignore the consequences of wrong behavior.  In our story, David’s and Bathsheba’s child died. Occasionally, there may need to be consequences that accompany our feedback.

Remember: The goal of our negative feedback is redemptive; it is intended to correct or restore.

This has been a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.