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In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions podcast Todd Adkins and Barnabas Piper are joined by Faith Whatley, Lifeway’s Director of Adult Ministries, to discuss how women and men can work well together and relate well in the workplace. Faith has trained church and business leaders in this area and brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. She shares things that drive women crazy in the workplace, things that drive men crazy, and some helpful advice for both sides to honor and respect the other better.
- Why is the issue of women and men having healthy working relationships so pressing and important?
- What are some of the most common points of conflict, blind spots, or evidences of friction?
- When you speak and train teams on this issue, what are some of the keys you share for them to develop a healthy working relationship?
- It seems much of the friction and conflict centers on a lack of honor or respect – what are ways men and women can show those to one other better?
- What are other practical steps leaders and leadership teams can take to both gauge where they are and move forward to improve?
- How have you seen churches and organizations responding as you speak and train on this issue? How have things changed over the last several years?
Best Quotes
“Churches are putting more an more women in leadership roles on their staffs, and for many churches this is very new.”
“God made men and women very different, and He made us in His image.”
“It’s critical for men and women who work together in ministry to be friends.”
“I encourage single women to have friendships with men outside their family.”
“It’s important to have healthy relationships with the spouses of people of the opposite sex you work with.”
“We have to let our egos go.”
“A lot of honoring each other is knowing what drives the opposite gender crazy.”
“If you’re working with men get to the point. If they want to know more they will ask.”
“Guys don’t know what to do with women when they over react.”
“Women don’t like it when guys talk down to them.”
“No mansplaining.”
“Guys, don’t joke too hard.”
“Women really are frustrated that men they work with don’t acknowledge their contribution.”
“At the leadership level insecurity is completely gender neutral.”
“If you see a lot of ego in a person they are trying to mask insecurity.”
“There can be some real misunderstandings that are really innocent.”
“You have to draw really good boundaries.”
“Rules are in place so we can honor and respect each other better.”
“Men totally separate work and personal life. Women aren’t like that; it’s all tangled up for us.”
“When someone jokes or is direct or honest it’s not personal.”
“When men are working with women some magic words are ‘what do you think about this?’”
“Set the stage early and talk frankly about these issues.”
“If a guy is distracted by whatever you’re wearing from the neck down he is not going to respect you or listen to you.”
“Having conversations up front forestalls a lot of awkwardness later.”
“In a lot of traditional power structures women don’t feel free to speak.”
Recommended Resources
3 Female Ghosts That Haunt the Church by Jen Wilkin
Contact Faith About Staff or Team Training
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