Training Meeting May 8th, 2014

Weekly Training Meeting

Topic: Agency
Objective: So you can learn what it looks like to have more God given agency to invite into your classroom

What makes missionaries fall hard when they come home?

Distractions

Definition- when your attention is divided
What is a division of focus in my life?

Why do we fall into the trap of distractions when we get home?

• We think we can take care of everything now, we want to be productive, but we may take on too much
• We convince ourselves that our distractions are valuable 
• You have to balance relationships with tasks. There isn’t enough time to have good relationships with people

• Distractions can either become your master or your servant. Take time to be still and know God.

• God has asked that we keep a SINGLE eye to his glory.
• Most of the time we are keeping that eye distracted. 

• The Life of a disciple of Jesus Christ is about small choices and structured righteousness.

What does it mean to have structured righteousness in your life and how does it influence your distractions?

Get out your planner and structure your righteousness for the next week.

What happens when you do weekly/daily planning and when you don’t?

Invitation: Do daily/weekly planning. It will help eliminate distractions.

Accountability

Even though the list may change a little in size, God doesn’t change.

What role does agency play in accountability?

Invitation:

Pg.150 PMG. Look at the bullet points that are different accounting tools to increase in your life.

Pick one principle that you can be better at and apply it to your life.

Read Handout:

MOTIVATION - AGENCY - ACCOUNTABILITY

• What drive predominantly motivates you most in your life? Results of those motivations?
• What are some extrinsic/intrinsic reasons you give in to distractions?
• Are you extrinsically or intrinsically motivated by the principle of accountability in your life?
• Is your sphere of agency expanding or decreasing post mission?
• How will you change your life from what you have learned?

DAN PINK- “DRIVE”

Motivation

First drive- Biological- basic human needs to survive- more innate now

Second drive- Extrinsic- outward, seek reward and avoid punishment more broadly

Third drive- Intrinsic- From within, internal drive and desire to be otivated

“We’ve configured our organizations and constructed our lives around this bedrock assumption: The way to improve performance, increase productivity, and encourage excellence is to reward the good and punch the bad… though effective, this system lacks enlightenment.”

“Human beings… have an, ‘inherent tendency to seek out novelty and challenges, to extend and exercise their capacities, to explore, and to learn.’ This third drive was more fragile than the other two; it needed the right environment to survive.”

“two key factors determined how people fared on the job. the first were “hygiene” factors- extrinsic rewards such as pay, working conditions, and job security. Their absence created dissatisfaction, but their presence didn’t lead to ob satisfaction. The second were “motivators”- things like enjoyment of the work itself, genuine achievement and personal growth. These internal desires were what really boosted both satisfaction and performance and were where managers out to focus their attention.”

“Intrinsic motivation is conducive to creativity; controlling extrinsic motivation is detrimental to creativity”

“People use rewards expecting to gain the benefit of increasing another person’s motivation and behavior, but in so doing, they often incur the unintentional and hidden cost of undermining that person’s intrinsic motivation toward the activity… Rewards by their very nature narrow our focus.”

“The problem with making an extrinsic reward the only destination that matter that some people will choose the quickest route there, even if it means taking the low road.”

“Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives”

“The ultimate freedom for creative groups is the freedom to experiment with new ideas. Some skeptics insist that innovation is expensive. In the long run, innovation is cheap. Mediocrity is expensive- autonomy can be the antidote.”

Agency

D&C 93:29-31

2 Nephi 2:14

“Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions.”

-Elder Oaks

“As we better understand our potential destiny, our level of self-worth and confidence and motivation is greatly heightened. Youth will understand that it is shortsighted at best to take easy classes and easy teachers rather than ones that will stretch them toward godhood. They will catch the vision that it is godhood, no grades, for which they are striving”

“Why is it so critical to have a correct vision of this divid destiny of godliness of which the scriptures and other witnesses so clearly testify? Because with increased vision comes increased motivation. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote, “No doctrine is more basic, no doctrine embraces a greater incentive to personal righteousness… as does the wondrous concept that man can be as his Maker.” And why not possible? Do not all Christian churches advocate Christ-like behavior? Is that not what the Sermon on the Mount is all about? If it is blasphemous to think we can become as God, then at what point is it not blasphemous to become like God- 90 percent, 50 percent, 1 percent? Is it more Christian to seek partial godhood than total godhood? Are we invited to walk the path of godhood- to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”- with no possibility of ever reaching the destination?”

Accountability

Alma 41:3-7

“Accountability does not come only at the end of your mission. It is a principle that includes how you begin, how you think and feel about the responsibility the Lord has given you, how you approach your work, and how well you endure. The attitude you have toward your mission experience is a reflection of your love toward you Heavenly Father and His Son and your respect for the priesthood.”- PMG pg. 150

Distractions

Philippians 3:13-15

“It is important to be still and listen and follow the spirit. We simply have too many distractions that capture our attention unlike anytime in the history of the world. Everyone needs time to meditate and contemplate. Even the Savior of the world during his mortal ministry, took time to do so. We all need time to ask ourselves questions or have a regular personal interview with ourselves. We are often so busy that it is often difficult to hear the heavenly words, “be still and know that I am God.’”

-Elder Ballard

Reflect on MOTIVATION-AGENCY-ACCOUNTABILITY hand out

Class Reflection:

• Phones- feeling connected to people. There are good and bad reasons to have social media. Figure out a vision for yourself. Does this fit your high priorities?
• What we ultimately want right now is what we will ultimately get in the end.
• If we believe that God intrinsically motivates us, Why Blessings? Why do missionaries promise people blessings? Do we view God as a behavioralist? 
• The spirit of agency has a close relationship with our faith. 
• Why did we study this and how does it apply to your classroom?
• How do we respond so they know we are listening and they are important?
• How can we respond to the missionaries to inspire intrinsic motivation? When they are stuck in the extrinsic help them towards the intrinsic.
• Help them to realized that they can go further.
• Be ok with what they are receiving from God. It may not be the same things as you receive.
• Help them to have that intrinsic motivation so that they are realizing that they are becoming more like Christ. 

Closing Scripture

30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

 31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.

-Heleman 14:30-31