Influence: Speak Highly
Reinforcing the Lighthouse
INFLUENCE
1 Peter 2:13-14
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
Get Caught for Speaking Highly
“If you have a moment, will you please write a good review online for our school? You always say such kind things about our school to other people,” the principal asked me at the end of a school year.
I had to think where she could’ve heard me speaking kindly about the school. I still don’t know because it’s just what I do.
When we first looked into schools for our oldest, our neighborhood school had quite a few negative reviews. They were in the process of raising test scores. We were excited to find it was the most diverse school in town.
I had a few acquaintances say it was a “bad” school, and heard about parents taking their kids across town to different schools for various reasons.
My amazing husband is a truth speaker. If something is good, you can count on him to let you know. The longer we were at the school, the more good things he had to say about it. We both told people regularly what a good school our children attended.
Who, What, When, Where, Why, How
WHO
If your children have a fabulous teacher, talk them up. Talk them up to the principal, other administration, other parents, whoever will give them kudos.
If you meet parents who are looking for a school, let them know all the great things about your school. If you have concerns about anything happening at school, go directly to the administration or your children’s teachers, don’t waste time trash-talking. It doesn’t help and it just stirs up people instead of making a difference.
WHAT
If you know teachers and administrators are believers, encourage them with compliments about the way they represent Jesus. Make sure they get a Lighthouse Card set. Encourage them to do their job well by hyping them up when you see them doing something great.
WHERE and WHEN
If you get to be part of PTCO, keep the conversations positive. If trash-talking starts, change the conversation or leave it.
Wherever and whenever you can, talk up your school.
WHY
Just like venomous, mean-spirited words have power, kind, true words have power and influence. You can make a difference in how people view your school (including teachers, staff, and administrators) by thanking people for their hard work and telling others what you like about what happens at your school.
HOW
Thank you notes to staff make a huge difference, earn your children favor, and keep spirits up.
Speak highly about your teachers, administrators, and school whenever you can to them and to others about them.
Not everything about our school was perfect, but I’m so grateful for the 13 years we spent serving there as a family. It was such an honor to be asked to leave a good review because it was part of my M.O. and it was a unique way I could serve our community.
So, don’t waste your time trash-talking, make a difference, speak life, hope, and encouragement.
Things to Ponder and Pray About
· How can you encourage your children’s teachers, staff, and administrators in a unique way this year? (A good review is a great place to start.)
· Determine to speak words of life that would build up instead of words that would damage.
Speaking life always goes a long way; we know this because of words we receive that bring *us* life--or not. Though I have no children in school, your article gave me a great idea to share with my church--located right across the street from an elementary school. Why not write notes of encouragement to the staff and administration there, just cheering them on for showing up day after day to positively impact our community's future generation. We can also pray for them and even ask for prayer requests! This idea will be in my church's inbox this coming week! Thanks, Beth!