Want to empower others? Provoke them. Provoke them to reflect.

How does reflection empower? Here are responses from members of Connect2Empower, a professional development network for missionaries in Tokyo:

• Reflection gets me thinking.
  
• It’s easy for life to just roll along, for us not to effectively use our energy. Reflection helps us make decisions about how to use our energy effectively.
  
• Reflection reinforces learning. It helps me think at a deeper level.
  
• Reflection helps me see more clearly. It helps me identify the issues I’m facing.
  
• Reflection helps us see an issue from a variety of perspectives.

How can you provoke reflection? Ask open-ended questions, instead of giving suggestions or advice.

Ask open-ended questions like:

1. What’s your goal?
   
2. What’s going on?
   
3. What are your options?
   
4. What will you do?

Ask open-ended questions like:

1. What is God calling you to be?
   
2. What dreams do you want to make real?
   
3. What’s your ideal?
   
4. If you could accomplish 1 thing this year/month/week, what would it be?
   
5. How is God using this in your life?
   
6. How is this problem an opportunity?
   
7. What changes would honor God?
   
8. How can you address this situation?
   
9. What can you do or be in order to close the gap?

Remember:

• Ask open-ended questions to provoke reflection.
  
• Ask, don’t tell.
  
• Ask, don’t suggest.
  
• Ask, don’t advise.
  
• Ask—then listen. (Effective inquiry means the person talks at least 80% of the time.)

Provoke someone to reflect. Today.