Everyone is in a position of either giving or receiving correction; whether you are a parent, teacher, student, church volunteer, business owner or a new employee. Each of us can easily remember times of harsh or unfair correction. Hopefully you also have people in your life who build you up with encouragement and careful correction. These people are true gifts because they see your strengths, weaknesses and have your best interest in mind.
Priscilla and Aquila were a husband/wife team who gave correct correcting to a friend named Apollos.
Acts 18:24-26 (NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
They realized two things about Apollos. One, he was sharp and smart with God’s word. Two, he was missing some key truths that should be part of his life and his teachings. With courtesy and respect, they corrected him in the privacy of their home.
Seven keys to giving correction:
1. Publicly praise, privately correct.
2. Begin by sharing strengths and positive points.
3. Be truthful, factual, and respectful.
4. Suggest brief strategies for improvement or change.
5. Offer a time-frame for accomplishing the improvement and ask if it is a fair expectation.
6. Schedule a follow-up meeting. (Step #4 and #5 are for a work review setting.)
7. Finish with encouragement, review the strengths and share confidence in their abilities.
Wise leaders and people value honesty.
Proverbs 16: 13 (NIV)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
You may not always receive correct correction, but can still benefit from incorrect correction.
Six keys to receiving correction:
1. Listen well.
2. Do not defend or argue.
3. Embrace what is accurate.
4. Ignore caustic criticism.
5. Ask if there is anything else the person wishes to include.
6. Thank them for their comments.
Proverbs 16:23-25 (NIV)
23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
What have you found helpful giving or receiving correction?
Comment here:
Priscilla and Aquila were a husband/wife team who gave correct correcting to a friend named Apollos.
Acts 18:24-26 (NIV)
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
They realized two things about Apollos. One, he was sharp and smart with God’s word. Two, he was missing some key truths that should be part of his life and his teachings. With courtesy and respect, they corrected him in the privacy of their home.
Seven keys to giving correction:
1. Publicly praise, privately correct.
2. Begin by sharing strengths and positive points.
3. Be truthful, factual, and respectful.
4. Suggest brief strategies for improvement or change.
5. Offer a time-frame for accomplishing the improvement and ask if it is a fair expectation.
6. Schedule a follow-up meeting. (Step #4 and #5 are for a work review setting.)
7. Finish with encouragement, review the strengths and share confidence in their abilities.
Wise leaders and people value honesty.
Proverbs 16: 13 (NIV)
13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.
You may not always receive correct correction, but can still benefit from incorrect correction.
Six keys to receiving correction:
1. Listen well.
2. Do not defend or argue.
3. Embrace what is accurate.
4. Ignore caustic criticism.
5. Ask if there is anything else the person wishes to include.
6. Thank them for their comments.
Proverbs 16:23-25 (NIV)
23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
What have you found helpful giving or receiving correction?
Comment here:
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