The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Mother Angelica's writings on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Today I notice a lot of people have lost hope. They've lost hope in government, in their leaders, in their churches. We are getting to the place where the first Christians were, a state of despair. I think we have a magnificent opportunity of participating in the coming of the Spirit in the same way the first Christians did. In the last supper discourse (John 16) Our Dear Lord said, "The Advocate, the Holy spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything." You see, the coming of the Spirit was the very reason Jesus Himself came. he came to redeem you -- and redemption is not just going to Heaven, it means a complete change in our life, so that you become something you were not. It is the work of the Spirit to transform you into the image of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The Lord did not take the first Christians out of their surroundings, He left them where they were and gave them a power to rise above themselves. You have that same power.

But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. John 16: 13

Executive Branch

Executive management is first charged with securing the chance to succeed.

The executive branch is charged with leading the organization toward achieving its goals.

Executive management is first charged with securing the chance to succeed. That chance starts with acquiring both the investment of capital and committed employees who share the vision. Both acquisitions have specific requirements. The investor must earn a greater return on the invested capital than could be achieved with alternative investments with similar risk. the employee seeks a return of personal growth opportunities, freedom to contribute, and a pleasing work environment. Once the requirements of investor and employee are met, the foundation is laid and the organization has the chance it needs to succeed. Then the team can together spread its wings and passionately pursue its purpose.

Second, the Executive branch must then develop and implement strategies that invest, structure, develop, challenge, and control both the corporate resources and talent. The responsibilities of People, Plan, Place, Performance and Process are areas that require particular attention because of the extreme importance of each to the success of the operation.

ACTION POINT: Secure the "chance to succeed" for your investors and your employees.

Balancing your Responsibilities

It is also important to keep in mind that your customers or clients will not wait and that you have to keep the daily "business as usual going"...

As you implement your strategy, it is important to ensure that you make enough time in your day-to-day work for guiding your team through what may be choppy waters. However, leading those who are implementing your strategy and delivering change can end up demanding a great deal of your time and energy, and it would be easy to focus all your attention on it. It is also important to keep in mind that your customers or clients will not wait and that you have to keep the daily "business as usual going or your business will suffer.

Plan how to balance these two equally important needs so that you do not neglect either. Look for ways in which you can manage your work flow to give you more time for your strategic leadership (building up stock, for example, to keep things going without your input for a period of time). If necessary, consider hiring extra help, such as temporary staff to deal with the day job, or look into appointing consultants who can help you manage the change.

ACTION POINT: Don't forget your day job.

Communicating Effectively II

Communicate the details of the plan clearly to your team.

Effective communication involves keeping your team in the loop and staying on track. Some steps in the process include:

• Determine what information each individual or group will need to know.
• Decide when they will need to know it.
• Choose the most effective means to communicate that information
• Choose the right person to deliver the information.
• Record these details in a communication plan.
• Communicate the details of the plan clearly to your team.

Some signs that you may be off track include:

• Thinking that you don't need a communication plan because you'll know what to do at the time
• Giving mixed messages about the reasons behind the change
• Adopting a "one size fits all" model of communicating

Staying on track with effective communication is best accomplished by:

• Planning how you will communicate different types of information to each party in advance
• Being consistent in the facts you give to different groups
• Changing your communication style to match the needs of the audience

ACTION POINT: Plan to communicate effectively and be both consistent and flexible.

Communicating Effectively

...it is important to spend time identifying the key information that you must communciate yourself.

One way to ease concern and guide your team is to have an effective communication plan. This is a set of "instructions" for exactly how you will disseminate information about your strategy and its implementation to all relevant parties. It can be difficult to keep everyone happy all of the time, but one thing that you must always bear in mind is that what your team members will object to most is hearing important news that affects them personally from others (and even worse through the media).

This doesn't mean you have to (or should) do all of the communicating personally, but it is important to spend time identifying the key information that you must communicate yourself. In addition identify the most important things to be communicated in person, by you or another member of the team. Other less important things can be communicated in other ways, such as by memo or email.

ACTION POINT: Communicate, over communicate when necessary.