Victory Leadership Podcast: Relational Unity

Summary

In the Victory Leadership Podcast, Pastor CJ Nunez interviews Pastor Gilbert Foliente, Executive Director of Every Nation Philippines, on the art of being a relational leader. Pastor Gilbert emphasizes the importance of building trust and unity through strong relationships, drawing on biblical principles and practical advice. He discusses the significance of valuing people, effective communication, and conflict resolution while highlighting the role of love and learning in becoming more Christ-like leaders. The conversation concludes with a prayer for leaders striving to improve their relational skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 CJ Nunez introduces the Victory Leadership Podcast, which aims to equip leaders in their calling to God and to make disciples.
• 👋 Pastor Gilbert Foley Entei, the executive director of Every Nation Philippines, is the guest speaker known for being a relational leader.
• 🔗 The importance of being relational is emphasized through a 2012 Gallup report, which highlights the significance of having a friend at work for job fulfillment.
• 🤝 Building relationships is crucial for trust in leadership, as trust is the currency of leadership, and relationships enhance it.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The concept of being relational is not about changing one's personality but valuing others, as exemplified by Jesus' treatment of people.
• 🌐 The phrase 'better together' is connected to relational intelligence, suggesting strength in unity and the ability to accomplish more collectively.
• 🤔 Being relational involves maintaining healthy relationships, which includes resolving conflicts and promoting unity within groups.
• 🙏 Forgiveness and overlooking offenses are the first steps in dealing with conflicts, as per biblical teachings in Proverbs.
• 🗣️ Communication is a vital skill for relational leaders, including the ability to confront and reconcile in a respectful and effective manner.
• ❤️ The two main aspects of being a relational leader are love and learn: love for God and people, and learning interpersonal skills to convey that love.
• 📚 Listening is a critical part of communication and is essential for avoiding miscommunication and understanding others' perspectives.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the Victory Leadership Podcast episode featuring Pastor Gilbert?

The main topic of the episode is being a relational leader and how it helps in leading Every Nation Philippines.

How does Pastor Gilbert define a relational leader?

Pastor Gilbert defines a relational leader as someone who values people, similar to the definition given by Akoni in his book 'Relational Intelligence'.

What does Pastor Gilbert believe is the currency of leadership?

Pastor Gilbert believes that the currency of leadership is trust, and building relationships with people is a way to increase trust.

How does Pastor Gilbert connect the concept of being relational with the teachings of Jesus?

Pastor Gilbert connects the concept of being relational with Jesus by pointing out that Jesus treated people with value and called his followers friends, as mentioned in the book of John.

What does Pastor Gilbert suggest as the first step in dealing with conflicts among leaders?

The first step in dealing with conflicts, according to Pastor Gilbert, is to forgive and let go of the offense.

What is the biblical reference Pastor Gilbert uses to emphasize the importance of unity?

Pastor Gilbert refers to Ephesians chapter 4, which speaks about keeping the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

What are the two main components Pastor Gilbert suggests for becoming a relational leader?

The two main components Pastor Gilbert suggests are to love (God and people) and to learn (interpersonal skills).

How does Pastor Gilbert view the importance of communication in being a relational leader?

Pastor Gilbert views communication as a vital skill for relational leaders, emphasizing the need to avoid miscommunication and to express thoughts and feelings honestly and openly.

What does Pastor Gilbert believe is essential in maintaining a healthy relationship with people?

Pastor Gilbert believes that being humble, gentle, and patient with one another, as well as resolving conflicts, is essential in maintaining healthy relationships.

What is the prayer request Pastor Gilbert makes at the end of the podcast?

Pastor Gilbert prays for the leaders to pursue a relationship with God, to become more like Christ, and to see every person they lead as immeasurably valuable to God.

What does the phrase 'Better Together' signify in the context of the podcast?

The phrase 'Better Together' signifies the strength in numbers and the ability to accomplish greater things when working together, as supported by Ecclesiastes chapter 4 in the Bible.

Outlines

00:00

🎙️ Podcast Introduction and Importance of Relational Leadership

The transcript starts with an introduction to the Victory Leadership Podcast hosted by CJ Nunez, a pastor at Victory. The podcast's goal is to equip leaders in their calling to God. The episode features Pastor Gilbert Foley Entei, the executive director of Every Nation Philippines, discussing the significance of being a relational leader. It emphasizes a 2012 Gallup report highlighting the importance of having a friend at work for job fulfillment. Pastor Gilbert shares how being relational helps in building trust and a sense of family within the organization, which is crucial for personal and collective fulfillment.

05:01

🤝 The Essence of Relational Leadership and Biblical Insights

This paragraph delves into the importance of relational leadership, drawing parallels with trust as the currency of leadership. It references biblical teachings from 1st Thessalonians and the Gospel of John to illustrate the relational terms used by Jesus and Paul. The discussion explores the misconception that being relational requires a particular personality, emphasizing that it's about valuing people, much like Jesus did. The concept of 'better together' is introduced, linking unity and relational intelligence for greater productivity and efficiency.

10:01

🔗 Maintaining Healthy Relationships and Dealing with Conflicts

The conversation shifts to maintaining healthy relationships and the importance of unity amidst differences. A Peanuts strip analogy is used to illustrate the power of unity. The Bible's teachings from Ephesians chapter 4 are cited to emphasize humility, gentleness, and patience in maintaining unity. Conflict resolution strategies are discussed, including forgiveness as the first step, followed by direct confrontation with the aim of reconciliation. The importance of being both relational and confrontational in a healthy manner is highlighted.

15:02

🛠️ Tips for Becoming a Relational Leader and Skills to Develop

Pastor Gilbert offers advice on becoming a relational leader, simplifying it to two key components: love and learn. Loving God and people is essential, as is learning interpersonal skills to effectively communicate that love. He suggests that communication skills, handling offense, and working with different personalities are vital to develop. Listening is particularly emphasized as a crucial part of communication to prevent misunderstandings. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that striving to be like Christ is the ultimate goal in becoming a relational leader.

🙏 Closing Prayer and Final Thoughts

The final paragraph of the script concludes with a prayer led by Pastor Gilbert, asking for God's grace to pursue a more Christ-like character and to value every person in leadership. The prayer serves as a blessing for those striving to become better leaders and to resolve conflicts. CJ Nunez expresses gratitude to Pastor Gilbert for his contribution to the podcast and reiterates the aim of the Victory Leadership Podcast to inspire leaders to grow in their roles.

Keywords

💡Relational Leadership

Relational leadership is a leadership style that emphasizes building strong, positive relationships with team members. In the video, Pastor Gilbert Foley Entei discusses the importance of relational leadership in leading Every Nation Philippines and how it contributes to a sense of belonging and fulfillment among members. Relational leaders value people and prioritize trust, which is seen as the 'currency of leadership'.

💡Fulfillment

Fulfillment in the context of the video refers to the sense of satisfaction and purpose that individuals derive from their work. Pastor Gilbert cites a Gallup report indicating that having a friend at work contributes significantly to one's fulfillment. This concept is integral to the theme of the video, as it underscores the value of relational leadership in creating a positive work environment.

💡Trust

Trust is highlighted as a fundamental aspect of leadership and is closely tied to being relational. In the video, it is mentioned that building trust is essential for effective leadership, and relational leaders are described as those who are rich in trust. Trust is built and increased through relationships, which is a key component of relational leadership.

💡Unity

Unity is the concept of being united or together, especially for a common purpose. Pastor Gilbert speaks about the power of unity and how it is crucial to avoid division despite differences. The video emphasizes that unity is a strength that enables leaders to achieve more together, aligning with the relational leadership theme.

💡Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is the process of addressing and resolving disagreements or conflicts. In the video, Pastor Gilbert discusses the biblical approach to conflict resolution, which includes forgiveness, confronting the issue directly, and seeking reconciliation. This concept is important as it shows how relational leaders can maintain healthy relationships even in the face of conflict.

💡Communication

Communication is the act of conveying information or ideas. In the script, it is identified as a vital interpersonal skill for relational leaders. Effective communication is essential for expressing thoughts and feelings honestly and openly, which is crucial for building and maintaining relationships within a leadership context.

💡Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the act of pardoning or ceasing to hold a grudge against someone. In the video, forgiveness is presented as the first step in dealing with conflicts, as it allows leaders to let go of offenses and move towards reconciliation. It is a key attribute of a relational leader who seeks to maintain unity and harmony.

💡Humility

Humility is the quality of being modest and not overly proud. Pastor Gilbert mentions that being humble, gentle, and patient with one another helps in maintaining unity, which is a reflection of humility in leadership. Humility allows leaders to approach others with respect and openness, fostering better relationships.

💡Personality

Personality, in the context of the video, refers to an individual's character and attributes. Pastor Gilbert clarifies that being relational is not about changing one's personality but valuing people and building relationships. It challenges the misconception that relational leaders must be outgoing, emphasizing that it's about valuing others regardless of one's natural disposition.

💡Christ-like

Christ-like refers to the qualities and behaviors that are similar to those of Jesus Christ. In the video, Pastor Gilbert encourages leaders to strive to be more like Christ, which includes being relational, loving, and forgiving. The concept of being Christ-like is presented as the ultimate goal for leaders, guiding them to embody the principles of love and unity.

💡Learning

Learning, in the video, is about acquiring new skills and knowledge to improve as a leader. Pastor Gilbert emphasizes the importance of learning interpersonal skills to effectively communicate love and value to others. It is a continuous process that helps leaders grow and become more effective in their relational approach.

Highlights

CJ Nunez introduces the Victory Leadership Podcast and its aim to equip leaders.

Pastor Gilbert Foley Entei, Executive Director of Every Nation Philippines, is the guest.

The importance of being a relational leader in leading Every Nation Philippines is discussed.

A 2012 Gallup report is cited, emphasizing the value of having a friend at work for job fulfillment.

Relational leadership is linked to trust-building and fulfilling roles within an organization.

The concept of relational leadership is distinguished from personality traits.

Relational intelligence is defined as valuing people, as per Akoni's book.

Jesus is presented as the ultimate example of a relational leader.

The phrase 'better together' is explored in the context of relational intelligence.

Ecclesiastes 4 is referenced to highlight the strength in unity and numbers.

Maintaining healthy relationships involves believing in the power of unity.

Ephesians 4 is cited to discuss the importance of unity and peace in resolving conflicts.

Forgiveness and overlooking offenses are presented as the first steps in conflict resolution.

The importance of confronting issues directly for reconciliation is emphasized.

Tips for becoming a more relational leader include loving God, people, and learning interpersonal skills.

Communication skills are highlighted as vital for effective relational leadership.

The ability to handle offense and work with different personalities is discussed as key interpersonal skills.

Listening is underscored as a crucial part of the communication process in leadership.

A closing prayer is offered for leaders striving to become more relational and to resolve conflicts.

The final thoughts encourage leaders to pursue becoming more Christ-like for effective relational leadership.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi everyone I'm CJ Nunez one of the

pastors in victory and you're watching

the victory leadership podcast this

podcast aims to equip leaders like you

in light of the calling that God has for

you as we honor him and make disciples

today's episode is a very special one

because we have with us pastor Gilbert

Foley Entei

the executive director of every nation

Philippines pastor Gilbert welcome hey

CJ thanks for inviting me here well it's

such an honor for me to interview you

today what we're going to talk about

today is a very important topic which

are very much known for it's going to be

being a relational leader Cox and pastor

Gilbert I know that you're known to be a

relational leader how does that help you

in leading every nation Philippines how

this being relational helped me in my

role well I remember a 2012 Gallup

report where it says that in the

workplace 50 percent of those people who

feel like they have a very strong

connection at work they do so because

they have a friend at work and there are

many more studies that says having a

fail at work is more important for their

fulfillment in their job than the actual

work itself so even in every nation as

we continue to build the organization

work together

I believe it plays a major role for

people to feel like they're part of a

great group of people they're part of

family they find people there that they

would consider not just work mates right

but really friends I really think that

helps me first for me personally to find

fulfilment in my job and second for the

people to also find fulfillment in their

job as we build together relationally

how important is being relational in

light of leading people oh very

important I would say because the

currency of leadership is trust every

great leader is rich in trust and other

ways we build trust and not only build

trust but increases trust is when we

build relationship with people the more

we build with people the more we connect

with people the more they trust us in

1st Thessalonians when Paul was

addressing the church he would use

relational terms like mother father

sister brother even a nursing mother he

used that term Jesus in the book of John

said I no longer call you servants I

call you friends now not a lot of people

would say I am very relational I would

say by may you what would you say for

those people what does it take to be a

relational leader does that mean to say

I had to change my personality that's a

good question though a lot of people

have this miss nomer about what it is to

be relational some people think I need

to be outgoing yes I need to be

talkative I need to be like a politician

I entered the room and I see someone

here I see someone there I like the most

famous person in the group but I would

say that being relational is far from

being just an outgoing person it's not

about personality it's not about your

outlook in life right I really feel like

being relational is what things Akoni in

his book relational intelligence defined

it as a person who values people so

being relational means I value you I

value the people who goes in my victory

group I value the people I work with I

value the people I interact with and if

we look at Jesus and how he treated

people he always treated people with

value and that's why I believe Jesus is

the most relational leader that we can

we can emulate it's great to understand

that we don't have to change

personalities it starts internally being

able to build relate

Cinelli also has got to do with how

whole you are inside how God has crafted

you right and how God has made you into

this wonderful creation it's very common

that we hear the phrase better together

in our movement how does that better

yeah hashtag better together how does

that relate to relational intelligence

there a connection between the two in

the Bible in Ecclesiastes chapter 4 when

the Bible talks about meaningless it

says there's another meaningless thing I

saw under the Sun there was a man all

alone mm-hmm but then it says two are

better than one so if I'm going to

paraphrase what the Bible is saying and

what we're always saying hashtag better

together that's like what brother Steph

would say there's strength in numbers

and that's very important very important

to know that we can be more productive

when we're together we can be more

efficient when we're together we can do

greater things when we're together

that's what we always say if I can do

this this much accomplish this much when

we do things together we can accomplish

this much so I really believe that with

all my heart we are better together

thank you for that

after Gilbert and I personally believe

that as well

seeing what our leaders would do for us

the next generation as we all function

together on in that sense creates a

better result for all of our movements

now as you've mentioned the value of

being a relational leader pastor Gilbert

how can we then maintain a healthy

relationship with people that's a great

question I remember uh I'm going to go

deep now okay go ahead

a peanut stripped Carson strip where

Lionel's and Charlie Brown and talking

about

he said Charlie Brown said - can you

give me the remote control - said no I

won't and he said give it to me and he

said give me one reason why I said this

and said Five Fingers what does it seem

as if these five fingers they don't mean

anything okay but when I start curling

them together it becomes a very strong

weapon that's a power of unity and I

think it starts with us believing that

there's power in unity we can do greater

things together and as long as we think

that then I believe we will avoid being

divided because of differences because

of a friends because the fact is all of

us will be offended by someone we have

been offended even by people close to us

yeah but that's the whole point of

making sure that no matter what happens

we fix it we resolve it because we're

committed to unity the Bible says in

Ephesians chapter 4 to keep the unity of

the Spirit through the bond peace yeah

but then previous to that there was a

verse that says be humble be gentle be

patient with one another so I guess all

those things will really help us keep

the unity amid conflicts and

disagreements and passionate discussions

and debates so my next question is how

should we deal with conflicts with other

leaders in the church or even within our

victory groups if you look at the

biblical way of how to respond to

conflict the first step really is to be

able to forgive and let go of the

offense that's the first posture the

Bible says in Proverbs that it is to a

man's glory to overlook an offense so if

by the grace of God and by the power of

the Holy Spirit you're able to overcome

and overlook that's really the first

step now if you really feel like is too

much I can sleep I can eat it's really

affecting me then you go to what the

Bible says you confront immediately

the fun front means to talk about it and

with the end goal in mind of fixing it

to reconcile please pause their passage

Ober - it means to say that you could

actually be relational in

confrontational at the same time yes in

fact that's one part of being relational

to be able to talk freely

be honest be open and express to you

what I feel in what I think and yet also

being open to what you think and what

you feel about me and amidst that we're

able to fix this reconcile and still

walk together can I be honest with you

then I'm having a little nervous now I

can if I could be honest to you I think

both guys look great right I am

absolutely certain no agenda

now going back to the topic if we are we

are to promote being a relational leader

what are some of the tips that you could

give our victory group leaders in light

of becoming more relational I'm sure all

of them are making some attempts out

there and how they could become better

leaders and this is one of those factors

so how could you encourage them to

become one so I want to make it simple

I'm sure there are a lot of things you

can say about how to be a relational

leader but if I would simplify it it's

two things love and learn mm-hmm first

it's love love God if we love God we

would forgive if we would if we love God

we will humble ourselves if we would it

will of God we would be patient and I

love people value people because the

more you value people the more you treat

them right so that's the first love

second is learn because even us we love

our spouse's we love our kids and at our

times that what we communicate to them

is something different

that's why we have to go to even as

pastors do couples retreats

parenting seminars so that we could

learn some skills to be able to

communicate our kids in our spouse that

we love them so it's the same way I

might value you and I might love you but

if I don't have the skills to be able to

communicate and convey that love to you

you will never appreciate it and you

will never know and you will never feel

like I am a relational leader so love

love God love people and learn learn

interpersonal skills there's a lot to

learn and I am certainly not very good

at so far away you've said awhile ago

known to be a relational either as I

said not sure about that I'm as much on

this journey as you and everybody else

to becoming the relational leader that

Jesus was now talking about learning as

you've mentioned what are some of the

you've alluded to some of them already

but what are some of the skills that you

think are vital for us to learn so that

we could become again one major is

communications communication okay and we

were married people we know that

communication is not easy right even

though the person you love the most the

person you're closest with the person

who who knows you best

and the person whom you know Beth

there's still miscommunication through

so communication skills I always would

say if you're gonna confront someone

don't do it to text oh yeah because when

you text then you forget to put smiley

and they get offended why because they

put pone

they put a facial expression and before

you know it the relational connection

that you built for months or years as

you get cut off just like that so

communication skills is big

the ability to handle an offense the

ability to work with different

personalities all those are very

important interpersonal skills that we

can all learn right

how important is listening in this

entire process listening is very

important because it's part of

communication through a lot of

miscommunication happens when you don't

listen and and again I am as guilty as

anyone else in leadership position can

be because sometimes when people start

telling things or start giving out

opinions or giving out suggestions my

mind's racing right away to how I'm

going to answer that and I have to

constantly catch myself and say I have

to listen why again I go back because

this person is valuable to God because

this person's opinion is valuable so I

have to rein in what I think and what I

feel and I have to give my undivided

attention and listen to what he says

thank you so much for that Pastor

Gilbert any final thoughts for those who

might be feeling that you know it's hard

for me to learn right now or maybe my

situation it doesn't look like there's a

way for me to resolve this kind of

conflict any thoughts for them yes I

really still believe that we can all be

relational leaders Jesus is the example

and being more christ-like makes you

become a better relation a leader so

don't just try to be relational right

now I just try to be outgoing strive to

be like Christ and a more christ-like

you become the more effective of a

relational leader you become totally by

the grace of God totally by the power of

the Holy Spirit just continue to push

through him and I believe all of us can

become more christ-like thank you so

much from that and it's always great to

hear from you after Gilbert thank you

you're always a blessing thank you what

we could do now for the sake of our

viewers is if we could take some time to

pray for them I would like to ask you if

you could pray for them some of them are

striving and desiring to become better

leaders and this could be like a more of

a setback for them it's hard for them to

become relational if you could just

speak a word of blessing towards them

right now and for those conflicts that

may need to be resolved if you could

address them I would love to could we

pray yes lord thank you that you are a

relational God

it took time to get out of your throne

come here on earth and become like one

of us so that you can connect to us and

you can save us and redeem us Lord I

pray for all our Victor group leaders

all our infants and everyone else would

hear this podcast I pray Lord that you'd

give us the grace to pursue you we're

not pursuing relational leadership we're

pursuing you give us the grace to be

more like you give us the grace to see

every person we meet and every person we

lead in the same way that you see them a

person who is immeasurably valuable to

God Lord thank you that by your grace

nothing is impossible so here we are

Lord make us the kind of leaders that

you desire and that you designed us to

be speak a blessing to each one of them

in Jesus name Amen amen amen

Pastor Gilbert thank you once again for

being a part of today's podcast and I

just want to say this that when I grow

up I want to become just like you thank

you to our viewers thank you again I'm

TJ nuna and this is victory leadership

podcast

[Music]