Presentation Women's Retreat June 5, 2010: Success in interpersonal relationships - Part 1

(Audio: Spanish)

SUMMARY: Dr. Olga Martinez speaks about the importance of interpersonal relationships in leadership. She defines leadership as influence and relationships as the mutual sharing of a life. She emphasizes the need for reciprocity in relationships and for both parties to contribute in order for the relationship to develop. She also notes that a significant relationship goes beyond behavior and actions and involves touching the spirit of the other person. A leader can keep their spirit open by having a good relationship with God and being honest and sincere. Forgiveness is also important in keeping the spirit open. Martinez explains that in a relationship, a third entity is created, and the focus should be on changing the relationship rather than trying to change the person. She gives an example of how even a simple interaction with a stranger can involve touching their spirit.

In leadership, there are different types of relationships, including cooperative, consummatory, and a combination of both. It is important to define the limits of intimacy and the areas of a person's life that need to be covered. Love, respect, trust, generosity, and understanding are crucial elements in any interpersonal relationship. Love in leadership means focusing on others and being concerned, kind, sympathetic, and forgiving. Relational principles such as perspective and exchange are also important in leadership. Nabal was an example of what leadership should not be, while Abigail was an example of a leader who was kind and had a broader perspective.

The passage discusses the principles of leadership, including the importance of caring for people and supporting their growth, recognizing their intrinsic value, and showing respect, recognition, acceptance, and trust. The author emphasizes the need for leaders to focus on others rather than themselves, and to earn respect through their actions, including performing well, being punctual, and maintaining consistency in their beliefs and actions. The passage also urges leaders to promote respect and trust in their teams and to balance their responsibilities across all areas of life.

Trust and generosity are important qualities for leaders to possess in order to build strong teams. Trust is developed through reliability, responsibility, loyalty, fidelity, credibility, seriousness, and predictable responses. Leaders can build trust by being approachable, creating the best in people, investing time and information, giving affection and support, and cultivating relationships. The principles of generosity include the garden principle of cultivating relationships, the one hundred and one percent principle of finding common ground, celebrating the triumphs of others, and adding value to relationships. Healthy relationships add value to individuals and make them effective.

The key to healthy relationships is adding value to the other person, having a clear vision and understanding of responsibilities, and following relational principles such as listening and association. Conflict arises when these elements are not worked on, and it can be resolved by identifying the problem area, seeking God's revelation, and prioritizing reconciliation. The initiative can be taken by anyone, and asking for forgiveness and extending grace can bring about genuine reconciliation.

The speaker discusses the process of confrontation and forgiveness in a biblical context. They emphasize the importance of prayer and separating the person from the action during a confrontation. They also suggest being specific, avoiding sarcasm, and focusing on the positive when criticizing a person. The speaker suggests calling mediators if a conflict cannot be resolved through confrontation and discusses the qualities of a good mediator. They provide steps for mediation, including identifying points of conflict, clarifying, and closing areas of agreement. The presentation includes a bibliography for further reading.

I once read that all of us should aspire and seek to have someone who is further behind our own path, whom we mentor. That we should have someone by our side who is on the same path as us, more like on a level of friendship and sharing, and that we should also aspire to have someone who is further along our path to receive mentoring from that person. So I have the privilege this morning to introduce someone who is in that place for me, someone I consider a spiritual mother, a mentor, even though we are so many miles away because she lives in Guatemala, and I am here, but in the same way with Carolina, the same thing too, Olguita is very close to her and is also her mentor.

So it's a privilege to have people who have taken more steps than one, not only because of age but also because of experience, depth, which is worth clarifying, right? That it is not only because of that, but because of spiritual authority, to go deeper, for example, so that is the person that Dr. Olga Martínez is for me and I know that through... we also receive mentoring through what we read from what we hear. Sometimes one thinks that the mentor has to be there next to one, but it is not like that. One can have a mentor even from a distance and in this case, today, she is also going to mentor all of us in what God has taught her to share. Olguita travels internationally teaching both in the secular sphere, between quotes, and the ecclesiastical. She is an active member of her congregation.