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Successful Missionaries are Teachable

Be Teachable

By David Armstrong

Are you teachable?

Being teachable has been identified as one of the top traits of successful missionaries.

But how do you discern if someone has that trait when looking for participants for your mission team? Or, more to the point, do you?

What does it look like, feel like, and sound like? Here are some questions to ask:

    1. Seeking input:

    How much do you value the input of others? Do you seek advice from people? If you don't seek out the perspectives of others, it implies you don't see a need for them or a value in them. If you don't value the opinions and perspectives of others, you won't receive instruction, input, or correction from them.

    2. Admitting faults:

    How easily do acknowledge that you were wrong? The more you're committed to being right, the less you can hear perspectives from others.

    3. Honoring others:

    How easily do you praise others? It seems to me that people who freely praise others easily receive comments and critiques from others.

    4. Receiving correction:

    How do you respond when someone corrects you, or corrects something you say? Is your first instinct defensive? Are you puzzled as to why they think another way is better? Or do you listen, make sure you understand, and thank them?

Do you recognize that you fall short in these areas?

Good news-- it's never too early or too late to grow! Everyone's life includes opportunities to practice these behaviors, and as you practice them, they will become more natural to you.