The Uncommon Life Daily Challenge from Tony DungySample

Influence--A Truthful Evaluation

We often hear that "the truth hurts." But we have to understand that the truth--spoken in love--helps! With our children, with our friends, with our coworkers.

We can see it happen a lot in Christian settings--churches, ministries, and other outreaches.
Many people have an inability to speak truthfully--in a loving way or frankly, any way. We see it particularly with people in supervisory positions; they don't want to write a negative evaluation of someone even if that person's performance is subpar. And so that person who thinks he or she is doing a good job stays in that position, and the ministry's or church's mission suffers. We do a great disservice to people who need to hear an honest critique.

But speaking the truth in love not only helps those around us to maximize their gifts and abilities, it requires that we help them to find the setting where that can be done. Before you speak the truth in love, consider where a person seems to shine, what gifts he or she can bring to the job. Be ready to present options that will maximize the individual's potential and expand God's Kingdom.