What Color is your Birkman? - The Texas Annual Conference of the ...

What Color is your Birkman?Discovering your Personality and LeadershipStyle through Birkman AssessmentsWhat is the Birkman Method®?• A 298-question personality and leadership style assessment• Combines motivational, behavioral and interest evaluations into a single assessment• The questionnaire is completed on-line in about 30 to 45 minutes• Available in 11 languages in addition to English• The Birkman report sets are shared w ith groups by certified coaching teamsWhat can the Birkman Method do?• Helps clergy better understand themselves and the people w ith w hich they work• Facilitates team building, leadership development, and interpersonal conflict resolution• Identifies strengths, needs, interests and preferred work styles• Assists with stress management and balance betw een professional and personal needs• Provides diversity aw areness and appreciation to enhance ministry collaboration• Equips clergy to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the w orldWho can take advantage of the Birkman Method?• All Residency Covenant (RC) and Professional Disciplines ( PD) Groups• Covenant Discipleship (CD) Groups• Clergy Peer Groups• Church Staffs, District and Conference Leadership Teams, Ministry TeamsWho are the Birkman Coaching Teams?• All Birkman coaching teams have been trained and certified in the Birkman Method andapproved by the Center for Clergy Excellence• Our Birkman Coaches:Mr. Bob Bolling, Dr. Peter Cammarano, Rev. Lillie Ferrell, Ms. Janice Harris,Rev. Cy Helm, Dr. Kelton Ro-Trock, Rev. Cheryl Smith, and Rev. B.T. WilliamsonFor more information or to schedule a Birkman Assessment, contact:Barbara KilbyCenter for Clergy ExcellenceTexas Annual ConferenceThe United Methodist Church5215 Main Street Houston, TX 77002713-521-9383, ext. 322bkilby@txcumc.org

How can the Birkman help Clergy and Churches be more effective?Churches succeed when they align their resources to support their strategic goals. The most complex and the mostdifficult resource for a church to align is its people. Each church member brings distinctive strengths and capabilities tothe team. The Birkman Method® identifies these strengths and capabilities in a framework of four general MinistryStrengths.Like points on a compass, these ministry strengths represent four kinds of individual focus, all critical to successful churchministries. Each ministry strength, represented by a different color of The Birkman Method®, identifies the basicmotivational direction that drives us toward our interests, overall approach and predispositions. These styles, or colors,filter our world view and determine how we choose to approach ministry assignments, solve problems and relate to peoplearound us. Combinations of these styles provide diversity and significantly increase potential for optimal solutions.The Birkman Method uses these colors to easily convey meaning of personality characteristics while also calling attentionto the differences found within these characteristics. The four colors act as convenient descriptions to help each personunderstand the major differences in personality.Many behavioral assessment tools often trap individuals by confining them to one type. The Birkman Method understandsthe unique traits that any one person may have might not conform nicely to an assigned category and takes into accountthe God-given diversity in each person.Listed below are the Four Distinct Behav ioral Descriptions, which combine to create a unique personality profile foreach person:Blue – PlanningFocus• Ideas & Innovation• Creativity & Intuition• Subjectivity & ReflectionCharacteristics of Blue• Considers new or unusual approaches• Uses creativity to produce imaginative results• Connects the dots and maintains a broad focus• Focuses attention on the inner world of ideasGreen – CommunicationFocus• Selling & Persuading• Promoting & Motivating• Counseling & TeachingCharacteristics of Green• Operates comfortably in social interactions• Demonstrates flexible and supportive behavior• Focuses attention on the external world or others• Relates to others instinctivelyRed – ExpeditingFocus• Solving Real Problems• Achieving Tangible Results• Working With the Physical WorldCharacteristics of Red• Decisive about the actions necessary to achieve tasks• Applies energy in a practical, hands-on manner• Emphasizes speed and action• Manages crises and gets the job doneYellow – OrganizingFocus• Rules & Procedures• Scheduling & Details• Consistency & CautiousnessCharacteristics of Yellow• Works with numbers and systems• Creates processes for implementing a task• Handles details and navigates bureaucratic waters• Closely controls work to avoid mistakesBenefits of Using the Birkman Method in Ministry• Team Building • Conflict Resolution • Diversity Awareness• Stress Management • Strength Building • Proactive Problem Solving• Counseling/Mentoring • Needs/Interests Insight • Identifying Blind Spots