Taken from a WayForward training in 2024.
Here at WayForward, we are constantly sharing what we are reading in the Bible. More than podcasts, the latest Harvard Business Reviews, and best selling leadership books, we have found that the time-tested wisdom found in one of the oldest books known to man, the Bible, provides more timeless truths that can be used for multi-housing investors down to the multi-housing tenants. While the Bible is made up of thousands of verses, 31,102 to be specific, there is one that WayForward loves to talk about on a regular basis.
Proverbs 27: 17 – “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
This verse is almost as classic as John 3:16, and it’s probably because it makes so such sense. A dull blade is difficult to cut with but a sharp blade makes it a much easier tool to use. Multi-housing ministry is a team sport. As an example, take a common 200-unit multi-housing property WayForward serves. There is typically a Resident Support Team of 2 people living on site, an RST Coach dedicated to training and equipping the RSTs, as well as a Regional Supervisor working alongside them. WayForward also has peer-to-peer check-ins which add to the thesis that fellow peers can sharpen you just as effectively as a mentor or Coach. We implement quarterly Iron-On-Iron meetings (I-O-Is), yes that is their name, which act as a time for 30-60-90 day goal setting as well as quarterly reviews to make sure we are on the right course. All of these meetings are an invaluable use of time for effective multi-housing ministry.
Multi-housing ministry is a team sport and this biblical principle is a reminder to remain open to correction, sharpening, and growing in excellence in everything we do. WayForward has quarterly Iron-On-Irons down to weekly touch points and we have learned that these meetings are typically most productive when we listen for more than 80% of the time and speak less than 20%. As iron sharpens iron, we seek to sharpen one another’s skills, disciple-making, and decision-making ability on a daily basis by relying on the many team members whom we are grateful to work with.
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