Personal Development
The Psalmist (probably David) said that, "Good people will prosper like palm trees, Grow tall like Lebanon cedars;" (Psalms 92:12, The Message). I particularly want to bring attention to the idea of growth here, but let's break this statement down piece by piece...
Good people - Some versions refer to this as "righteous", but I'd like to put emphasis here on the idea that these people are "worthwhile". However you think of them, good people, upright, upstanding, and righteous people, are the ones that you want to have working for you.
will - This is a definitive statement. There are no maybes here.
prosper - Even by itself, the outlook here is good. "Good people will prosper." They will do well. They will do well in your organization. If they prosper, then it benefits the business. But, that's not enough... How much do they prosper?
like palm trees - In the Scriptures, palm trees are often used as a sign of victory. More on the trees here in a moment.
Grow - This is the key word that I want to focus on here. The idea of growth, development, or the process of maturing. Notice where this term is in relation to it's "tree". In the first part of this verse, the word "prosper" is in the same place in reference to it's "tree". I think that it is interesting that the ideas of growth and prosperity are in parallel positions here. But think about this statement... The "good people" that you want working for you "grow".
tall - They don't grow just a little bit, but they grow TALL (or much).
like Lebanon cedars - In reference to the trees mentioned here (palm and cedar) the JFB Commentary has this to say, "The vigorous growth, longevity, utility, fragrance, and beauty of these noble trees, set forth the life, character, and destiny of the pious". I believe that this really speaks to the quality of the growth (or maturing) that we see in these "good people".
The third objective (or purpose) that companies have for their employees is Personal Development. People are expected to grow, and become more than they currently are. Good employees are not always hired just for the skills that they currently have, but also for the potential that they have to grow. Therefore, we have a responsibility as leaders in our organizations to provide an environment where people can learn new skills and try new things.
I had a manager at one point in my own career that knew exactly what I was capable of currently doing at any given time. Secondly, he also knew very clearly what skill-sets that I did not have. Then finally he also knew what I wanted to "be" when I "grow up". He knew all of this about me because of the relationship that we had, and how he invested into my life personally, but that's another topic. Knowing all of this about me, he assigned projects to me accordingly. He would always assign a project to me emphasising the skills that I already had, but then also throwing in one additional skill that I did not have. It wasn't long after taking on projects like this that I had developed an whole new set of skills that I didn't even think were realistic for me to have before working for him. The benefits to the business are obvious. With the additional skill-sets, I am able to impact the business in a greater way.
The question here then is... How well do you know your team members skill-sets? How well do you know their personal goals? And what are you doing to provide an environment to develop your people?
Good people - Some versions refer to this as "righteous", but I'd like to put emphasis here on the idea that these people are "worthwhile". However you think of them, good people, upright, upstanding, and righteous people, are the ones that you want to have working for you.
will - This is a definitive statement. There are no maybes here.
prosper - Even by itself, the outlook here is good. "Good people will prosper." They will do well. They will do well in your organization. If they prosper, then it benefits the business. But, that's not enough... How much do they prosper?
like palm trees - In the Scriptures, palm trees are often used as a sign of victory. More on the trees here in a moment.
Grow - This is the key word that I want to focus on here. The idea of growth, development, or the process of maturing. Notice where this term is in relation to it's "tree". In the first part of this verse, the word "prosper" is in the same place in reference to it's "tree". I think that it is interesting that the ideas of growth and prosperity are in parallel positions here. But think about this statement... The "good people" that you want working for you "grow".
tall - They don't grow just a little bit, but they grow TALL (or much).
like Lebanon cedars - In reference to the trees mentioned here (palm and cedar) the JFB Commentary has this to say, "The vigorous growth, longevity, utility, fragrance, and beauty of these noble trees, set forth the life, character, and destiny of the pious". I believe that this really speaks to the quality of the growth (or maturing) that we see in these "good people".
The third objective (or purpose) that companies have for their employees is Personal Development. People are expected to grow, and become more than they currently are. Good employees are not always hired just for the skills that they currently have, but also for the potential that they have to grow. Therefore, we have a responsibility as leaders in our organizations to provide an environment where people can learn new skills and try new things.
I had a manager at one point in my own career that knew exactly what I was capable of currently doing at any given time. Secondly, he also knew very clearly what skill-sets that I did not have. Then finally he also knew what I wanted to "be" when I "grow up". He knew all of this about me because of the relationship that we had, and how he invested into my life personally, but that's another topic. Knowing all of this about me, he assigned projects to me accordingly. He would always assign a project to me emphasising the skills that I already had, but then also throwing in one additional skill that I did not have. It wasn't long after taking on projects like this that I had developed an whole new set of skills that I didn't even think were realistic for me to have before working for him. The benefits to the business are obvious. With the additional skill-sets, I am able to impact the business in a greater way.
The question here then is... How well do you know your team members skill-sets? How well do you know their personal goals? And what are you doing to provide an environment to develop your people?
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