Some words that describe valor are: noble, courageous, brave, heroic, fearless, and bold. You can be a woman of valor when you recognize your strengths and lead with your strengths. Strengths are those God-given talents you have developed and performed consistently so that now you are an expert in that area.
In your everyday dealings with family, friends, and business, I know you display these qualities of valor. You are a woman who picks up the phone to deal with difficult situations, you are a woman who tackles tasks that seem large and unbeatable, you are a woman who faces adversity in many situations, and you are a woman who has God on her side to give you the VALOR to do it all.
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Where does valor come from? It comes from your strengths, those God-given abilities that are innate to you. Do you know your strengths? Do you know how God has designed you to show up in a way that will build your reputation as a God-centered businesswoman & entrepreneur?
I want to chat about how you can build your business reputation by:
- Recognizing your strengths
- Using your strengths to lead your business and build that reputation
- Giving those strengths back to God, so He can use them to create the business that is perfect for you
We’ll also look at the biblical example of the Proverbs 31 woman to show us what it means to be a woman of valor and how can you lead with your strengths to build a reputation for your God-centered business.
A Woman of Strength and Valor
Let me start by explaining that the last chapter of Proverbs is an acrostic poem that PRAISES women, not prescribes their duties. It was intended for Jewish men to memorize in PRAISE of the women in their lives: mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, colleagues, and wives.
The Proverbs 31 Woman is an example of strength and valor. She is not an example of what you should do. She is an example of HOW you should do it. Whatever you do in your business and home, do it with valor.
We are each unique with different gifts, talents, abilities, values, and strengths. Yet, we each possess the exact qualities of the Proverbs 31 Woman by being just who we are. You are enough. You are a Woman of Valor.
Strength-based Approach
What is the connection between your strengths and the Proverbs 31 woman? How does this relate to your business reputation?
A strengths-based approach means you are working in your God-given design, so the reputation you are building is authentic to you. Then we can look to the proverbs 31 woman as an example of an excellent reputation by what she does.
But let’s look at these Strengths. Have you heard of the Clifton StrengthsFinder before? It is just another tool I use in my Calling Clarity program to help you begin the discovery of how God has equipped you to lead with your strengths in your business and build your reputation.
There are 34 of them, called themes, and they fall into four categories. As I go through them, look at the lists and identify with words most resonating with you. Then see which category(ies) most of your strengths fall.
Executing Themes
First, we have the executing themes. These are the hardest working of the bunch. They tend to get things done with speed, precision, and accuracy. They put in the hard work now to be ready when it’s time to move. Putting ideas into action is the strength of this domain.
Some of the characteristic words are:
- Achiever
- Arranger
- Belief
- Consistency
- Deliberative
- Discipline
- Focus
- Responsibility
- Restorative
Influencing Themes
Second, we see the influencing themes. These enable individuals or groups to sell their big ideas. They can take charge, speak up, and be heard. They are extremely helpful when you need to reach a broader audience or meet a bigger goal. This can happen both internally with the team and with external clients. They tend to influence forward.
Some of the characteristic words are:
- Activator
- Command
- Communication
- Competition
- Maximizer
- Self-Assurance
- Significance
- Woo (charismatic)
Relationship-building Themes
Third, we have the relationship-building themes. While not the only themes that deal with people (because they’re all about people), these themes have an innate ability to take the human component into the equation. They look at how individuals fit into the bigger picture and can create pathways for them to thrive. They make solid relational connections that bring a group together around a cause, idea, or other.
Some of the characteristic words are:
- Adaptability
- Developer
- Connectedness
- Empathy
- Harmony
- Includer
- Individualization
- Positivity
- Relator
Strategic Thinking Themes
Fourth are the strategic thinking themes. When a plan needs to be made or a new idea is created for solving a problem, these themes can help accomplish that. Whether it’s thinking about a current issue or dreaming about overcoming tomorrow’s, the strategic thinking themes can take a thought or idea and look for the best way to move forward on it.
Some of the characteristic words are:
- Analytical
- Context
- Futuristic
- Ideation
- Input
- Intellection
- Learner
- Strategic
Where did most of your ‘words’ fall? Are they in the executive, influencing, relationship building, or strategic? What did you discover about yourself with this exercise?
Lead With Your Strengths
Recognizing where you land is the first step to building your reputation. God wants you to do authentic things in the way He designed you. That means you must be aware of that design.
When you work in your design you approach your business with more valor. You are willing to take on more complex challenges, which builds your reputation as someone who can be trusted to deliver the transformation you are promising.
Each category of characteristics is unique, and your combination and degree of those characteristics are like no one who has ever existed or who will ever exist. (I love when God shows up in the social sciences to show us things He has told us in the Bible.)
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. –Psalm 139 verse 14
How To Use Your Strengths To Build A Great Reputation
Therefore, let’s look at how each theme approaches building a reputation. How can you use these characteristics to authentically lead with your strengths and make an excellent reputation for your God-centered business?
Executing Leaders Build a Reputation of Trustworthiness
Executing leaders know how to make things happen. They implement solutions and work tirelessly to get them done. Leading your business with this strength theme means you can “catch” an idea and make it a reality.
Did you have many words in this category/theme? Your reputation is built on your actions and what you get done. You show the world you can meet deadlines and be trusted to deliver on time.
Use this theme to build a reputation of trustworthiness.
Influencing Leaders Build a Reputation of Compassion
Influencing leaders can reach a broader audience. They are always selling their offer to those who need it. Leading your business with this strength means you take charge, speak up, and make sure others are heard.
Was this where most of your words landed? Your reputation is built on showing compassion for people and your belief in them. You look for ways to bring out the best in those around you, and that’s what people remember about you.
Use this theme to build a reputation of compassion.
Relationship Building Leaders Build a Reputation of Stability
Relationship Building leaders are the essential glue that holds people together. Leading your business with this strength means you have the unique ability to create groups and organizations that are much greater than the sum of their parts.
Do you find most of your characteristics in this theme? Your reputation is built on providing stability for those around you. You are a trusted advisor that can be counted on, and people remember how you made them feel.
Use this theme to build a reputation of stability.
Strategic Thinking leaders build a reputation for hope
Strategic Thinking leaders are the ones who keep focused on what could be. Leading your business with this strength means you are constantly absorbing and analyzing information to help make better decisions. You are continually stretching your thinking for the future.
Is this where most of your characteristics showed up? Your reputation is built on creating hope for the future. You are a forward thinker that makes practical plans and finds ways to execute them for yourself and others.
Use this theme to build a reputation for hope.
I hope you have seen yourself in one, two, or three of these themes. Building your reputation takes recognizing them and then using them. The third thing I want you to think through today is giving all these strengths back to God.
You, as a Woman of Valor
What I notice the most in studying the Proverbs 31 woman is that she does everything to benefit her sphere of influence. Each decision is to enhance her life and the lives of those in her circle.
As Christian businesswomen and entrepreneurs, we have many circles of influence. We are not called to BE the Proverbs 31 woman because she is the ideal, not the reality. She exemplifies all parts of you: physical, mental, moral, and spiritual.
She is the same Wise Woman described throughout the Proverbs. Not all of us have husbands, are mothers, work outside the home, or have sales businesses. None of us are exactly like the other, yet we are all Proverbs 31 women.
How? Because we fear God, which is the beginning of wisdom, that is a woman of valor.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. –Proverbs 9:10
Do you see yourself as noble, courageous, heroic, fearless, and bold? You can be a woman of valor when you recognize your strengths and lead with your strengths to build your God-centered business reputation and give God all that He has given you by growing your faith and knowledge of Him.
The Reason For Your Strengths
He has given you these strengths for a reason. He wants you to use them for His glory.
The beauty of understanding your Strengths is that you can see the value in each person, each client. Using your strengths allows you to show up as your best to serve those in your sphere of influence.
The Calling Clarity program gives you these tools and allows you to put into practice building the reputation God wants for you. Discovering your Strengths is just one piece of your beautiful mosaic: your personality, expertise, experience, talents, gifts, and values.
Learn more about what that Mosaic looks like by watching this Masterclass. Get a glimpse into the Clarity you can have to connect to God, make better choices, serve Him through your work and build your reputation.
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