The Core 4

Recently our youth paster taught a lesson that included the “Core Four” that Chick-fil-A expects employees to follow. 1. Make eye contact 2. Smile 3. Speak enthusiastically 4. Stay connected As I thought about these character traits, I couldn’t help but think about how much it applies to us as christians. We should always be polite and share God’s love with others, however why is it that when we break it down and take a deep look into our lives, we only show these traits at church or on a mission trip? What if we were like this all the time? Everywhere and everyday? This post is about my thoughts on each one of there from a christian perspective and how they can improve our relationships with people at school or pretty much anywhere. 1. Make eye contact

Making eye contact is a great way to show someone that you care about what they are saying and are listening to them, whether it’s a friend or a stranger. Making eye contact is an extremely important part of how we communicate, it shows respect and maturity. Here is an example, have you ever been in the grocery store and went to checkout but the cashier wouldn’t look at you, make eye contact, or even engage in conversation? How does that make you feel? How about this example, have you ever tried to give advice to a friend or family member, but they just brushed you off and ignored what you said, or didn’t even acknowledge that you spoke? I know that when these things happen, it makes me feel like I’m not important, or that they really wish I would just go away, or that I am just a bother to them. Some people say that looking at someone when they speak is not really important, but it is. There is a quote that states: “Eyes are the window to the soul.” Making eye contact is a huge part of being honest with others, because eyes are the biggest indicators of how we feel, and looking at someone while they speak helps people know how much you actually care, and help determine if they will respect you in the future. 2. Smile

Mark Cathy said, “We look to see if someone is smiling because if they are smiling that means they care.” Something as simple as a smile can change someone’s day in a huge way. A real, genuine smile will lift up your spirits and the spirits of anyone who sees your smile. I dare you to try it, the next time you are at the mall, school, or with friends, look around and when someone glances your way, give them a real, true, genuine smile and see how they respond. Even if you don’t know the person, and even if it has been a long, hard day at school, make their day and let them feel a warm smile that brightens the room. Here’s another challenge, the next time you answer the phone, smile, it will surprise you how much it will lighten up the conversation and change what the conversation is about in a positive way.

3. Speak enthusiastically

So many of our conversations are no longer determined by the words we speak, but rather in our tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions. However, when you speak enthusiastically, you find a wonderful new way to share joy, love, and happiness with people, as well as a great way to show genuine interest in the what they are saying. Let me ask you this, have you ever agreed to do something for someone but, when said you would do it, your tone of voice gave away how much you really didn’t want to do the task? When we stop and think about it, our tone affects our conversations more than we think, and it happens just as much with our families at home, as it does with people at school or the mall. Next time, when someone asks you to do something that maybe you really don’t want to do, try to make it a point of saying “Yes” just as enthusiastically as you would if it was something you truly wanted to do. Try not to let that person know that you truly don’t want to do the task, and see if it improves your relationships and makes you new friends. That leads us to our next point. 4. Stay connected

This is the point where, if we are honest, most of us fall short. We tend to meet people and talk to them in that moment, but never reach out and talk to that person again. Sometimes, when someone we know is going through some difficult times, we don’t try to connect with them to ask how they are doing or if there is something we can do for them. Chick-fil-A likes their employees to stay connected with each other, but they also encourage their employees to build relationships with the customers and try to make a difference in their lives, not just sell them a chicken sandwich. Now take a moment to think about what this means for you in your own lives. We should value the major influence we can have on others when we build a relationship, however, until we build a relationship with someone, we can not lead them in Christ. Connecting with someone is a crucial leadership skill that we all need to improve on, it takes time and it takes energy to connect with someone, and we always have to be willing and ready to be the first person to reach out and take the first step towards a new connection.