Organizational Gifts

The Gift of Organization

By Charles F. Stanley

Are you uncomfortable in a "leaderless" group? Do you feel restless or frustrated if things seem to be disorderly? You may be a person who has been given the motivational gift of organization.

This gift is sometimes called the gift of leading, ruling, or the gift of administration. The Greek word literally means "the one who stands out front."

The person who has the gift of organization is frequently misunderstood. Often, this gift is not perceived as being very spiritual, or it is perceived as being a matter solely of human will. We must never lose sight that God, our heavenly Father, created the universe, including us human beings, with a strong sense of order. God created in a very precise, sequential, and organized manner. The church was designed by God to function with order, with all gifts of the Holy Spirit exercised in an orderly way.

The person who has the gift of organization bears the following twelve characteristics:

1. He or she has an ability to see the "big picture." They have a capacity to dream big ad to believe that God desires to do "something more" than presently exists. Those with the gift of organization are very positive that God-given goals can be accomplished.

2. Those with the gift of organization have an ability to break down large projects into bite-sized pieces. They are able to break down long-range goals into a sequence of short-range goals.

3. Those with the gift of organization are self-starters. They are highly motivated to accomplish the goals that are before them. They take great joy in seeing the pieces of the larger puzzle fall into place one by one.

4. Those with the gift of organization are keenly aware of all the resources necessary for accomplishing a goal. The minute this person sees the goal that God sets before him, he begins to analyze all that is necessary for accomplishing the goal, and begins to envision ways that the necessary resources might be acquired.

5. Those with the gift of organization are very positive that God-given goals can be accomplished. They are can-do people, and they have very little tolerance for those with objections, unfounded concerns, and a negative or pessimistic outlook.

6. Those with the gift of organization know how to delegate. They know they can't do it all, and they are willing to relinquish both authority and responsibility so that others can be successful in undertaking and completing part of the larger goal. They know how to seek out the right people to undertake various parts of the task that lies ahead. Those with the gift of organization have a tendency to move into leadership role if no leader emerges.

7. Those with the gift of organization often have little tolerance for details. Too many details can bog down the person who has the gift of organization.

8. Those with the gift of organization have a capacity to receive criticism without crumbling. The literal meaning of the Greek word for ruling or leading is "the one who stands out front." The person who is out front is on the firing line - he is the one most likely to be criticized, questioned, blamed, misunderstood, and to face arguments. He has to have skin as thick as a rhinoceros. If he is to accomplish God's plan, he must not allow criticism to deter him or slow him down.

9. The person with the gift of organization has a need to know that those with whom he is working are loyal to him and committed to the task at hand. The person who leads expects loyalty, not only to himself, but to God. The person with this gift is so loyal to God and so committed to obeying God that he has little tolerance for any person who is disloyal or wavering in commitment.

10. Those with the gift of organization have a tendency to move into a leadership role if no leader emerges or if a situation becomes disorderly. They cannot sit idly on the sidelines if they perceive that nobody is moving into a leadership role. Because of this tendency the person with this gift can sometimes be misinterpreted as being egotistical or too aggressive. In fact, the person is simply moving to establish order where he perceives disorder.

11. Those with the gift of organization want to see a goal reached as quickly as possible, as well as possible, and with as few resources as possible. They abhor wasted time, wasted money, wasted talent, wasted resources, and wasted energy.

12. Those with the gift of organization delight in seeing projects accomplished. They are not motivated by making money, working with people, or receiving applause for the finished job - rather, they are motivated by seeing the task accomplished in a way they believe is pleasing to God. They need few rewards other than the deep satisfaction they feel that God is pleased and that good work has been done.

We each are to be orderly in the way we conduct our lives. The people with this ministry gift, however, find great satisfaction in being organized and in seeing work done, tasks accomplished, and projects completed. They enjoy work and are likely to be working every day of their lives.

Characteristics of someone with the gift of organization:

• Orderliness - every aspect of life is subject to order.
• Initiative - no delay in taking action.
• Responsibility - willing to take responsibility for all aspects of a project or group endeavor.
• Humility - a recognition that others must be part of the team if the job is to be done quickly and effectively; neither domineering or dictatorial.
• Decisiveness - able to make a decision quickly even in the face of criticism.
• Determination - knowing the goal is worthy of the price that must be paid for the job to get done.
• Loyalty - to God and to others in authority, as will as loyal to those who are following his leadership.