Master Your Role

Invite a class member to write this list of different roles on the board: job coach, store manager, associate development counselor, Church leader, and mentor. As a group, list and discuss the responsibilities attributed to each position or role. Then discuss the following:

• How can knowing one another’s roles help you fulfill your duties?
• What would happen if any of the roles were eliminated?
• How do each of the roles and their responsibilities complement one another and help associates progress?
• How have people in other roles supported you in your work with associates?
• Why is it important to know and remember that all the different roles—job coach trainers, development counselors, and store managers—have the same goals?

“Every individual needs a support team,” according to Rich McKeena, former director of Deseret Industries (in “A Second Chance at a Future through Deseret Industries,” Oct. 14, 2008, mormonnewsroom.org).

Deseret Industries aims to help associates find hope and become self-reliant by providing them with a support system.

As a group, discuss the following questions:

• What does the store manager role contribute to an associate’s support system? What does a job coach trainer contribute? a development counselor? Church leader? mentor?
• What is unique about each role?
• How do each of the roles complement the others?
• How do these other roles help you fulfill your responsibilities?
• How have associates benefitted from this support system?
• What have you learned to value about this support system?
• How would you explain this support system to someone who has never heard of it?

Divide into small groups. Each group will be given an envelope containing words on strips of paper. The group must order all words correctly to form phrases or sentences from a scriptural verse found in 1 Corinthians 12. Order the words correctly, and paste the verse on a piece of paper.

Invite a class member to read 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14–21. When your group’s scripture is read, send a representative to place the verse on the board and recreate the correct sequence of the scripture. Then discuss the following:

• What does Paul teach you about the importance of working with different members of your team?
• How did working as a team help you complete this activity?
• How do Paul’s teachings apply to the support system for DI associates?
• Describe how each role—Church leaders, counselors, job coach trainers, and store managers—contributes to Deseret Industries’ purpose.
• Explain how each role complements and supports the others.

Break into small groups and read the following statement:

“In order to assist the Savior, we have to work together in unity and in harmony. Everyone, every position, and every calling is important. We have to be unified in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Chi Hong [Sam] Wong, “Rescue in Unity,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 15).

• What common goal should unite all Deseret Industries employees?
• What does it mean to be “unified in our Lord Jesus Christ” as you work at Deseret Industries? (Discuss three to five ideas.)
• In your opinion, why is it important to work in unity and harmony at Deseret Industries?
• What are some positive results from working in unity with the Savior and with others?
• What can you do to be unified in Christ as you work with people in complementary roles (such as development counselors, bishops, and so forth)? How can you preserve this unity despite challenges, setbacks, and personality clashes?

Once you finish your small group discussion, regroup with all attendees. Each small group will share a summary of each of the items discussed.

Read the following quote from Ken Thoreson, president at sales consulting company Acumen Management Group.

“When an organization is fully aligned with a shared vision, a common goal and a set of operating principles for which they hold each other accountable and use to make business decisions, you’ll see a fully engaged team. You see everyone in the same boat, facing the same direction, with the same sized oars, pulling the oars in perfect synchronization, and all the leader needs to do is count the beats to achieve perfect precision, teamwork, and business results.

“In too many organizations today you find a variety of people working together and still not reaching their full potential as a high performance team. Here is what is happening in many organizations: You have some people in the boat with very short oars rowing very fast but not fully contributing. You have another group of people in the boat with very long oars, pulling deep in the water and feeling like they are the ones ‘holding up the team.’ You see some people in the boat facing the wrong direction and actually working against the team. And you have a few people standing on the dock and wondering where the boat is going.

“The power of teams and teamwork is having everyone in the boat, facing in the same direction with the same sized oars. It is pure beauty in motion to see a high performance rowing team, sports team, orchestra, or a work team pulling together to achieve their shared vision and fulfill their mission” (“Leadership and Teamwork—Pull the Oars,” Microsoft Dynamics Community website, May 20, 2013; spelling and punctuation standardized).

As a group, discuss the following questions:

• What is DI’s shared vision?
• Why is it important to remember that job coaches, counselors, Church leaders, and store managers are part of the same team?
• What have you done to make sure you are contributing to the team at Deseret Industries?
• What have you seen others (not job coach trainers) do to “row deep” at Deseret Industries?

Take a minute to ponder the following question individually:

• What I am currently doing to work in unity with others at Deseret Industries?

Read the following scriptures:

“And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21).

“Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;...“And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work” (D&C 4:3, 5).

“Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments” (D&C 59:1).

“Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God” (D&C 82:19).

As a group, discuss the following:

• What do you think it means to have an eye single to the glory of God?
• How does having an eye single to the glory of God help us support people in their respective roles, including job coach trainers, store managers, associate development counselors, Church leaders, and mentors?
• How can having an eye single to the glory of God help us diminish and eliminate contention? frustration? anger? other negative feelings?
• What experiences have you had where you’ve seen DI staff work together toward the same goal? What were some of the positive results?
• In sum, how does having an eye single to the glory of God create greater love and unity among coworkers? Discuss how the following roles can work together in unity: job coach trainers, store managers, associate development counselors, Church leaders, and mentors.

Read the following statement:

“You and I are to act and be doers of the word and not simply hearers who are only acted upon. Are you and I agents who act and seek learning by faith, or are we waiting to be taught and acted upon? . . . We are all to be anxiously engaged in asking, seeking, and knocking (see 3 Nephi 14:7)” (David A. Bednar, “Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2007, 64).

You have the power and ability to master your role through faith, diligence, and willingness to act. As a group, discuss the following questions:

• What are your roles and responsibilities as a job coach trainer at Deseret Industries?
• How do you learn your roles and responsibilities as a job coach trainer at Deseret Industries?
• Why would it be important for you to master skills, roles, and tasks required for your current position?
• What resources do you have to help you master skills, tasks, and roles required as a job coach trainer?
• What does it mean to be “anxiously engaged in asking, seeking, and knocking” in your role?
• How can being “anxiously engaged in asking, seeking, and knocking” help you master your role?

In your learner’s journal, write down a skill, task, or role you would like to master as a job coach trainer. Also write down a plan that includes ideas and resources you can use to master it.

Break into small groups. Take turns sharing examples from your life when you mastered a task, skill, or role. Share answers to the following questions:

• Why did you develop that skill?
• What obstacles did you face?
• How did you overcome these obstacles?
• How long did it take you to master this skill?

After all group members have shared their experiences, discuss what it takes to master a skill, task, or role. Then take a minute to ponder the following:

• What are some of the roles, responsibilities, and tasks required to be an effective job coach trainer?
• What skills, tasks, or roles have you improved since working at Deseret Industries?
• What skills, tasks, or roles would you like to master as a job coach at Desert Industries?

Share your insights with the rest of the group if you feel inclined to do so.

In order to improve a skill, we must first assess our current skill level. Complete the Master Your Role worksheet individually, which is included in the “Lesson Resources” section, Resource 1.

Then discuss the following questions as a group:

• How does this self-assessment help you identify what your priorities should be for your current position?
• How can periodic self-assessments help you master your role?