management by God

overcoming the odds

2008-07-02T15:39:00Z

Believe. If I could sum up what I am about to share with you in one word, that would be it. Believe.

Recently, I had the pleasure of acting as the Teacher Coordinator with my church's Vacation Bible School, a week-long program for kids aged 4-12. While I was in charge of teaching them some very valuable lessons, I learned several myself as well. One of the most important ones is the message that I got to share with the kids on faith. In short, we discussed Thomas, the disciple of Jesus that doubted the resurrection unless he could actually see Jesus for himself, including the holes in His hands. Silly man...

Anyway, as I prayed and prepared for this lesson on the importance of believing in God even though we cannot see Him, I felt that there was another important message about faith and believing. And as I take a final look at the life of Gideon for the lessons from Biblical leaders, I find that this idea fit very well. Once Gideon had his army dwindled down to a mere 300 men, and was preparing to go up against 120,000 Midianites, he still had his doubts. I think that most of can relate to Gideon and why he doubted. When we are up against overwhelming odds, it is difficult to see how you will overcome those odds.

In the book of Judges , God told Gideon to check things out. When he did, he overheard some Midianites talking about a dream about Gideon's success. THEN, finally Gideon believed that he could do what he was being asked to do. From this, there are three things that I see as keys to successfully overcoming the odds:

Obedience - The entire account of Gideon hinges on his obedience to God's calling. He certainly tested it to make sure that it was God's will, but he never would have been in a situation to overcome the odds unless he was willing to simply do what he was told to do.
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Faith in God - This is a trust thing. Gideon had to trust the integrity of God's character, and that He was going to do what He said He would do. Gideon certainly had to take a leap of faith here, but he trusted that once he did that God was going to take care of what he could not do on his own.
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Faith in yourself - Often we underestimate what we are able to do. But God put everything in us that we need. This doesn't mean that we can accomplish everything that is in our will. But it does mean that we can do whatever is in His will. This means that if we are in tune with what God wants us to be doing, then there is nothing that we cannot overcome.

Make your workplace a house of prayer. I'm not talking about the big, overstated kind of prayer that will make other people feel uncomfortable. What I am talking about is making conversation with God throughout your day a BIG priority. The more in tune you are with Him, the more likely you are to overcome the obstacles that come your way.

risk management

2008-07-02T15:18:41Z

Risk Management has been defined as, "the process of measuring, or assessing risk and developing strategies to manage it." When you go into any new project or other type of initiative, you must weigh out your risks. Missing this means that your project could run into obstacles that you are not prepared to handle, and this could slow you down or even stop you completely. Therefore, being an effective leader includes the need to measure and assess risk in everything that you do, and to develop the strategies that may be needed to overcome them should they arise.

As I continue looking at leadership lessons from Biblical leaders, I come across an interesting event in the record of Gideon. Shortly after he was called by the Angel of the Lord to, "go... and save Israel from the hand of Midian," he was instructed by God to do some other work first. God told him to tear down the altars and idols to other gods there in his own hometown, and to set up an altar to the Lord (Judges 6:25-26, see context). The in verse 27 we see that Gideon had done as the Lord commanded him, but there is one statement that I found quite interesting. It reads, "But because he was too afraid of his family and the men of the town to do it by day, he did it by night."

While some may say that this points to a lack of trust in his God to protect him, I think that it is a better example of great wisdom applied to his job. Gideon was given a project, but also knew that he was going to be needed for other missions later on. Therefore, he had to evaluate and determine the best way to work through this task while maintaining the integrity of the "organization" and the "mission". Let's look at the basic risk management process in light of Gideon's assignment...

Establish the context - The first and most important thing that Gideon had to realize was what was important to The Boss about accomplishing this mission. He was never told to do it at a certain time or within a certain time frame, even though it is questionable whether God would have given him his next assignment if he had not followed through on this one. Regardless, Gideon understood what the important part of the direction was before he could make any other decisions... tear down the altars to other gods, and set up a new one to the One True God.

Identify potential risks - Knowing the bigger picture, and understanding that there was much more that he needed to do, Gideon certainly understood that one of the of the requirement to completing the greater mission was that he was actually alive, or not in prison. Either of those conditions would have certainly presented serious risks to the "organization". Therefore, his personal safety was a major requirement. Gideon correctly anticipated the response of the local people (see v.30), and took that risk into consideration in his planning.

Evaluate opportunity costs - Gideon had to make a decision. He had ten men with him, but had to weigh out his options. He could have taken his ten men in the middle of the day, but would likely have still been overtaken. Or, he could take his men late at night when they would have been much more tired and inconvenienced, but would have run into virtually no opposition. The slight inconvenience on one side obviously outweighed the major costs on the other side.

Select the approach - Once Gideon knew that he could accomplish the mission that he was given, while minimizing the risks, he was then able to carry out his task. This simply gets down to making a decision, and implementing your best strategy. The risks certainly did not go away, but Gideon was able to carry out a plan that helped to minimize the impact of those risks.

The goal of risk management is to minimize the effect of potential risks to the project and the organization. When Gideon's situation is considered in light of this perspective, he appears to have showed great wisdom in carrying out his tasks while leaving his "organization" in the best possible situation to carry on further objectives.

Lessons from Odd Jobs

2008-04-09T13:33:50Z

Shortly after getting married I took a huge leap of faith and left a job that was making me miserable. During my time of trying to find a better workplace environment where I knew I could thrive, I hit a spot where I had to find something quick in order to get some cash flow moving. My wife's income just wasn't enough to get us through, and we didn't have much in reserves to hold us over until I found that one, right job that I was looking for. So I landed a gig as the Manager of "Yo-Yo Loco", a kiosk at an open-air outlet mall. During my short time there, I learned a few important lessons...

Overcome your pride - As a talented young man looking for a job that would allow me to use my Go-given skills, I had to suck it up and take a job pushing yo-yos and kites in order to get by. It was a pretty humbling experience, and I had to learn that humility the hard way.
Have fun - This was a job where in order for me to be successful, I had to loosen up and have a little fun with our products and with the people walking by. Keeping a positive attitude, and making work fun is something that I have continued to carry with me even in other jobs.
Invest in people - I remember one of my employees was a young man who had been working there for a while, and was actually really passionate about yo-yos. I could tell that he was a little disappointed that they hired me for the manager position rather than promoting him. So I helped teach him the skills that he needed so that when I left, I could confidently recommend him for the job. He got it, and he was ever grateful for my investment and belief in him.

This post is not just a message about what I've learned, but it is part of a Group Writing Project Meme from HighCallingBlogs.com (which I am a member of). The guidelines for this meme are simple:

1. Write a post about some strange job you’ve had and what you learned from it.

2. Link to this and other “Lessons from Odd Jobs” posts around the highcallingblogs.com network, or quote them in your post with proper attribution. (Note: There were no other posts at the time of this writing.)

3. Tag your post “lessons from odd jobs”—if you use technorati tags or another form of meta-tags.

4. Tag other bloggers by linking to them in your post and inviting them to participate in the meme. Tag as many people as you like! So I am tagging...

5. Link back to the Lessons from Odd Jobs page in your post and email this month’s host at “Marcus AT highcallingblogs DOT com”. Linking back and emailing Marcus isn’t a requirement, it just helps us keep track of what’s going on.

what are you passionate about?

2008-03-23T22:19:32Z

One of the most important things in a workplace is passion. Imagine a workplace where nobody has a passion for what they are doing. I think of people that sound like Eeyore (from Winnie the Pooh) when they answer the phone while saying something like, "hello, I'm happy to help you...". On the other hand, imagine what that same greeting sounds like from someone who is passionate about what they are doing! Their voice will be full of energy and excitement! I also think about great athletes like Jerry Rice. Now here is a man who had a passion for excellence in what he did, and it showed up in the things that he did to keep himself in prime shape while becoming arguably the best wide-receiver to ever play football. Passion...   success in anything relies on it.

Passion manifests itself as enthusiasm, and enthusiasm can be a contagious thing to the people around you. Check out what Paul says to the church in Corinth...   "For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action" (2 Corinthians 9:2, NIV, emphasis mine). There is an obvious passion being demonstrated here, and it even stirred other people into action.

So besides telling you how important it is to work with a passion, I want to take a moment to share a personal passion of mine. My son Samuel just turned five years old, and he brings so much excitement to my life. He really is a great kid, and he makes me want to be a better father all the time. On the day after Father's Day 2004, we took him to the doctor's office only to find out that he had Type 1 Diabetes. He was only 17-months old. Since that day, Samuel has had to be on a strict regimen of insulin shots, redefined eating habits, and regular checks of his blood sugar levels. The early going was tough, because food needs and desires can change drastically from day to day for a child of that age. He is now on an insulin pump which feeds insulin directly into his body 24/7, but as a result he has to wear a pager-sized piece of equipment 24/7 to feed him that insulin. This has made our quality of life much better, and meeting the changing dietary needs of a growing boy much easier to manage. However, insulin is not a cure...    it is only life-support.

So, every year I join the Walk To Cure Diabetes. I am walking for Samuel, and I am not going to stop until we find a cure. There have been some great advances in research lately, and we are so very close to finding a cure, but we are not there yet. I cannot tell you how difficult it is for me to say this to you, but we need money to support this research. Every year, I put together a video to help tell our story. Please watch this...

After watching the video, I only ask that you follow your heart. If you would like to sponsor me for this walk, please visit our donation page before March 14th, 2008 and donate online. If you do donate, please send me a little note letting me know that you did so. I would love to know that you came from this site. You can also watch more of our walk videos at the Walk For Samuel channel on YouTube.

I have already raised a total of over $11,000 prior to this year for the annual event, and each year my walk team has grown. This year the company that I work for is also walking with me (watch our video), and our goal for this year alone is $20,000 (and I know that we can reach it)! This is something that I am passionate about, and the results show. If you let your passion drive you, you will always be able to achieve great things.

Thank you.

Note: To learn more about Diabetes and it's devastating affects on the body, visit www.jdrf.org.

Thinking Blogger Award

2008-02-15T14:35:33Z

Well, management by God has been tagged as a recipient of the Thinking Blogger Award. I thank Jerry from As The Crackerhead Crumbles for selecting me for this great honor. My biggest goal with management by God has been to challenge people to take a serious look at the Scriptures and think about how they can be applied in the workplace. There is way too much guidance there for us to not learn and apply the lessons that wait there for us. So it is nice to know that I seem to be hitting the mark! Thanks Jerry!

The participation rules are simple:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award'.

I know that there are many blogs that make me think, but I know that several of them have already received this award. So, here are some blogs that make me think who I do not believe have already won this recognition...

1. Red Letter Believers
2. 24 Seven Faith
3. His Work in Progress
4. workplace-ministry.com
5. Emails To God

I just want to pray a blessing over these bloggers, and ask that God continue to work through them. Their work is a great ministry, and together we can make a difference for the gospel in the workplace. May their efforts be blessed, and their reach be extended. In Jesus name. Amen!

lift Him up

2008-02-05T14:06:10Z

This is a tough one. Political correctness has made it difficult to even say the name of Jesus in the workplace. We are often required to shut down certain aspects of our lives while at work resulting in a deafening quiet regarding spiritual matters. This has always bothered me. A dear friend and co-worker several years ago set it straight when he told me that he was a Christian first, and oh by the way, he also worked for our company. This shift in perspective forced me to stop identifying myself primarily by the work that I do or who my employer is, but by my true identify first and foremost.

However, this is not the heart of what I want to talk about today. Yes it is important for us to identify ourselves as Christians first, and then sprinkle that with a little bit of what it is that we do for a living. But what I want to focus on is more about what we do with a foundation such as this. In Proverbs 3:6 we are told, "In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." As I studied this verse and it's workplace implications, I was stunned. There is much more than meets the surface here, and there are some great lessons for us in the workplace.

First I want to touch briefly on the statement of, "In all your ways acknowledge him" (emphasis mine). Here are some of the commentary and study notes that I found regarding this statement, and some of my personal notes about the workplace implications...

Believe that there is an over-ruling hand of God :: Before anything else, we must remember that God is in control over our workplaces as well. It may not always seem like it, but recognizing His presence is the foundation to the rest of this whole thing.
Address ourselves accordingly :: Once you recognize His presence, then we must also act like it. When Moses recognized that he was walking on Holy Ground, he took off his sandals. In other words, he acted differently, and treated that place differently. God is present, act like it.
By seeking his wise aid (ask His advice) :: When you need to come up with some creative ideas, do you rely on your own wisdom? Or do you pray and seek the wisdom of the Lord?
We must ask success of Him :: In recognizing that our strength and power comes from Him, and our desire to see Him glorified, then we must ask for and expect Him to accomplish great things through us.
Acknowledge God with thankfulness :: Each day is a precious gift, and we should recognize that. Our jobs are gifts as well, and we should be thankful to Him for allowing us the opportunity to serve Him through our jobs.
Acknowledge God with submission :: Sometimes we have to walk through the fire. Sometimes it isn't easy. But every time we must remain in submission to our God, and the authority that He has placed over us. By honoring your authority, you are honoring God.

I know that seems like a lot to consider, but that's exactly what "in all ways" is. It is everything. There is no exception. We are called to let God rule in our lives, and not hold anything back... including our jobs. Let me be clear about this. This doesn't mean that we have to run around our offices preaching at people, and using religious jargon in the workplace. I think that sometimes that can push people away and hurt the cause of evangelism. It also does not mean that we cannot think for ourselves. We are called more to make use of the brain that God gave us than we are to wait for Him to tell us to complete that sales report that we have to get done. My point is that we must not suppress our Christian nature, and we should allow God to work in our lives in the workplace. It is okay to pray and ask God for guidance at work. It is just important to invite Him to work with you even in the most secular of workplaces.

So what is the promise that we receive in return? The verse continues by telling us that "he will make straight (our) paths." If you think about the heart of this idea, then the first thing that should be obvious is that straight paths are easier to travel on. I'm not trying to say that you will never run into any problems at work ever again, but from experience I do know that the roads are easier. Problems won't be as difficult to deal with. You will be more relaxed, and level-headed. You will easily be able to rise above the drama. And I think that working with God at your side, you will find that your relationship with Him will grow in ways that you never expected.

So, if I have to sum this whole thing up, then I would say simply, "give it to God... all of it... and enjoy the ride!" You will never regret taking the opportunity to talk to God while you are at work. It is amazing at how quickly you can work through challenges when you ask God for the wisdom to deal with them. God is interested in your work, no matter what it is that you do.

mbG Challenge:
Rather than a question or two to make you think here, I'd like to hear what you think. Take a moment to think of ways that you can (or already do) bring God into your work, and share them in the comments below. For example, if you pray for guidance in certain situations, then tell us about how you do it. Or maybe you have a "secret signal" that you give God whenever you have a success and want to acknowledge him (like football player point to the sky). Whatever it is, please share...

Recommended resource:
The 9 to 5 Window: How Faith Can Transform the Workplace
By Os Hillman

What happens when Christian believers take the Word of God literally and begin to apply it where they spend 60 to 70 percent of their waking hours? What happens when Christians move in a spiritual dimension in their work lives as few have endeavored to do before now? Lives, workplaces, cities and nations become transformed by the power of Jesus Christ!

Called the "next great movement of God," ministry in the workplace is like a sleeping giant that is starting to take the nation by storm. In The 9 to 5 Window, Os Hillman, one of the leading authorities on "faith at work" today, introduces you to the new breed of worker who has gone beyond the status quo to become a transformer. Learn the facts on the current movement, how to bring God's presence into your workplace, how to develop an intercessory prayer team at work, how to transform your workplace, city and nation for Christ, and much more. Includes a Bible study guide suitable for either individual or small group use.

Book Review: Maxwell Leadership Bible

2008-01-17T10:34:38Z

I likely won't do this very often, but I got something for my birthday late last year that I just cannot get enough of. It is the Maxwell Leadership Bible. And knowing that my readers are here because of their interest in becoming a better leader in any aspect of life (but especially the workplace), I thought that it would be valuable to offer some insight into this incredible resource.

The Bible itself is in the New King James Version. This is not my absolute favorite of the translations, but is certainly a reliable resource. The best part of the Bible though is not which translation that it uses, but the commentary that John Maxwell has provided. If you are familiar with any of his other works like The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership or The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, then you will be very pleased with the inclusion of the articles spread throughout where the Scriptures support these laws and qualities. There are also hundreds of profiles and other articles that focus on mentoring and other leadrship principles.

I'm sure that you will find that a Bible with John Maxwell's leadership writings throughout as valuable a resource as I do. And at the time of this post, you can even find these resources listed on sale at ChristianBook.com. Check out these great prices...

NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible: Second Edition, hardcover
Retail: ~~$34.99~~
Sale: $22.99 (Buy it now!)

NKJV Maxwell Leadership Bible: Second Edition, Genuine Leather, Black
Retail: ~~$79.99~~
Sale: $49.99 (Buy it now!)

If you are a regular reader of this blog, then I know that you will find these resources to be a great value just as I do. I believe that you will find this to be one of the best tools in your toolkit in becoming a better leader no matter what it is that you do.

While I am talking about John Maxwell resources, I would not be doing my job if I did not take at least a minute to talk about one of my favorite John Maxwell resources. It is the REAL: What Every Leader Needs to Know series. These four pocket-sized books pack a powerful punch, and can be used for personal study, or even in a small group discussion. I read them as a part of a leadership class that I have taken, and they proved to be a great tool for covering some of the most important topics is a short, easy-to-read format. They are also quite inexpensive, so check them out...

Enjoy!

mbG Interviewed by Ron Hurst

2008-01-17T10:37:41Z

Awards are great, but one of the greatest honors that I think that I could have received is to be interviewed by another leader. Manager, Leader, Coach Ron Hurst from Developing Leaders and Material Leadership has recently interviewed me for a new series of podcasts that he is putting together on the topic of purpose. I am quite honored and humbled by his desire to interview me and share some of the management by God story.

The large focus of the interview was on "purpose". He wanted to know about how mbG has either helped me to realize or refine the my purpose. I believe, as Ron does, that purpose is one of the most important aspects of being a leader. It is out of purpose that one finds direction. Without purpose, we are simply wandering from random points to random points. Purpose tells us where we are, were we want to go, and even helps to fill in the gaps regarding how to get there from here. Leaders are relied upon to provide vision for their organizations, and without purpose a leader will lack any sort of substantial, or real vision.

Some might even argue that their "purpose" is to be a leader. This is an incorrect perspective. I would argue that leaders are people with well defined purpose. It is the people who know where they want to go, and have a plan or vision to get there that become the leaders.

One of the things that I learned most from this interview is about the impact that someone with a well defined purpose can have. The success of mbG has been well beyond anything that I ever expected, but I can tell you that this likely stems from the passion that I have for studying the Word of God, and finding ways to apply it to our lives. I am so passionate about this because it is a part of who I am... it is my reason for being... it is my purpose in life. So you see one's purpose manifest itself into something greater, such as this blog.

So I encourage you to read Ron's postmortem on the interview, and watch for the podcast. It is my hope that it will bless you as much as your readership has blessed me...

Interview #1: Dan King Blogger @ managementbyGod.com

mighty man of valor

2008-01-17T10:39:33Z

No one likes selfish people, but our natural human tendency is to be selfish (at some level). We tend to think of how things affect ourselves before we ever consider how it affects other people. In the English language, there is no literal distinction between the singular and plural versions of the word "you". Therefore, often when people are talking, and they say the word "you", our natural inclination is to think of the singular "you" as opposed to the plural referring to whatever community we may be a part of.

This selfishness has nasty implications in the workplace. When there is a group of people who are all out for themselves, then the organization is less likely to achieve its goals. And as creatures of habit, we tend to slip into the same behaviors as the people around us. So when it comes to breaking away from selfishness, we typically need a leader to show us how it is done. The good news here is that in identifying this principle, and we learn from another leader named Gideon, then we can model a behavior that would make us the type of leader that can enact the change that is needed.

First let me give you a little background for what I am about to share. After Deborah (in the Book of Judges), the Bible says that there was about 40 years of peace in the land. Then the Israelites started acting up again. During this time, the Midianites started coming in an pillaging the homes and land of the Israelites. It got pretty nasty. In fact, it was recorded that these invaders were son many in number that they could not even be counted. Not to mention that they would simply take and destroy so many crops and livestock that the people had nothing left to live off of for themselves. In typical Israelite fashion, these troubled people started to cry out to God again. This is where Gideon comes in. Take a look at how Gideon is introduced in Judges 6:11-13...

11 Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor. 13 And Gideon said to him, Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.

The first thing that I want you to notice is that Gideon was beating out wheat in order to hide it from the Midianites. What does this mean? Well, at minimum it means that he was preparing to protect himself (and likely his family) by thinking ahead enough to be able to keep some of his precious crops. I think that this may say a little bit about how a self-centered perspective is okay in certain situations (especially as a safety mechanism). So as I continue here to talk about the importance of selflessness, I want to also point out that you should not be so selfless that it causes danger or harm to fall upon you. Thinking about yourself is not a sin...

The next thing that I want to point out is that the angel of the Lord referred to Gideon as a "mighty man of valor". Gideon contained a quality that made him worthy of honor. Valor refers to the quality of bravery or courageousness. I am not sure if Gideon had ever been in battle before, but he has certainly earned some respect, and is being approached as being worthy as a leader.

Most importantly, I want to point out Gideon's response to the angel of the Lord. When the angel said, "The Lord is with you," how did he respond? His response surprises me. Rather than thinking of the singular "you" that many of us would likely think, he acted in response to a plural "you". Rather than thinking of himself as an individual who may have deserved God's presence, he first thought of himself simply as a part of the greater whole of the nation of Israel. He responds in he plural asking how it could be with "us".

I believe that it is this type of selflessness that made him worthy of being the leader that he was. He was about to be called on by God to deliver the people from this enemy, and he never once thought of himself first. God honors this kind of selflessness. Gideon went on to win one of the greatest battles in the Bible by allowing God to work through him.

This same principle is true of the workplace. It is when we (as leaders) include ourselves in the ranks of people that we are in community with in our organization that we can truly reach a position of being honorable. If you think about it, it is people's self-centeredness that makes this statement true. Isn't it the person that thinks mostly of themselves that likes it when someone focuses on them? Let us learn the type of humility and perspective that Gideon had, and become mighty men (and women) of valor worthy of the battle that we find ourselves in at our own workplaces. ...We must become less in order for Him to become greater...

making a stepford wife

2008-01-17T10:42:52Z

I love the classic (and remake) movie The Stepford Wives. I think that every man has thought about what it would be like to have that "perfect" wife. You know, the one that anticipates and meets your every need. I think that even most women can even relate that it would be cool to have a husband that caters to their every desire. I think that this movie makes an incredible statement about our human nature and the natural desire to want something without having to invest the effort that it takes to "earn" the kind of treatment that would come from the "perfect" spouse.

As I look at the next requirement for the manager-leader, I cannot help but to think about this perspective. The qualification here is that "wives are faithful in all things". As we explore this topic, it would be too easy to try to make a list of things that needed to be done in order to keep one's wife "submissive," but not only do I find that idea repulsive, but also not Biblical. I believe that while "submission" of the wife is quite Scriptural, I also believe that the wife is to be in a place of honor as far as the husband is concerned. So rather than focus on what other people (the wife) needs to do in order to fulfill this requirement, I want to focus on what personal responsibility is required to earn it. And... this principle applies to women as well as men...

Basically it gets down to one thing. In order for a wife to be "faithful in all things," then the husband also should strive to be worthy of that faithfulness. I am a firm believer in the idea that if you want to be loved, then you must make yourself lovable. If you want to be honored, then you must make yourself honorable. If you want to be trusted, then you must make yourself trustworthy. The responsibility does not rely solely on the other person, but on what we do to earn the desired state.

So what does it take to earn faithfulness? That is a great question, and is one that deserves much more than this short overview can really provide, but I think that a good start comes from "the Love chapter" (1 Corinthians 13). Let's take a look at some of the basic meat of this passage, verses 4-7:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Jesus exemplified all of these things. Because He was fully God, and because God is Love, then you can easily replace the word Love with the name Jesus, and still find each of these statements to be true. Jesus is patient and kind... Jesus does not envy or boast...

Because Jesus is our ultimate example for how we should strive to live, then we should try to insert our own names into these statements. I think that if we are honest with ourselves, then we will quickly recognize that most of us cannot truly say each of these statements with our own names in there. But this is the starting point of being worthy of earning the "faithfulness in all things". Seriously, what wife would not totally flip over a man that is patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, etc.? Men, if you want a wife that lifts you up and meets your every need, then become "love" to her.

The amazing thing is that this same principle applies to the workplace as well. I believe that the reason that this is one of the qualifications for the manager-leader is because the qualities that it takes to earn this type of faithfulness from the wife are qualities that help us to manage people in general. Why? Well, truthfully... everyone wants to be loved, and this is how we can show them love.

So rather than a "question to consider", I would like to have you do a little exercise. Use this list of things that love is and that love is not, and place your name in front of each of them. Then start working on each one to make sure that you can live up to each of these statements. I'm sure that you will find that the respect and "faithfulness" of your spouse as well as the people that you lead will come MUCH easier...

(insert your name here) is patient
(insert your name here) is kind
(insert your name here) does not envy
(insert your name here) does not boast
(insert your name here) is not arrogant
(insert your name here) is not rude
(insert your name here) does not insist on his/her own way
(insert your name here) is not irritable
(insert your name here) is not resentful
(insert your name here) does not rejoice at wrongdoing
(insert your name here) rejoices with the truth
(insert your name here) bears all things
(insert your name here) believes all things
(insert your name here) hopes all things
(insert your name here) endures all things

Enjoy, and God bless!

proof positive

2008-01-17T11:00:46Z

Managers are leaders with something left to prove. Front-line employees look at managers as "the boss". And when a front-line employee gets promoted into a Supervisor/Manager position, it sometimes feels like they have reached "the top". But I prefer to look at supervisor/manager positions as "entry-level" into leadership. Granted, I also feel that everyone has and should develop certain leadership qualities, but the true manager is really just getting started in the process of leadership development.

As we look at the next qualification for the manager-leader, we come to the requirement to "serve to prove themselves blameless." This is an interesting one that I will break down into three pieces. First, I will discuss what it means to "serve". Then I will touch on what our motivation is in serving, which is "to prove". And finally, we will discuss the goal of this proving, which is to show ourselves as "blameless". I think that this qualification has obvious implications in the church, but also has a huge impact on workplace management, especially in the area of attitude.

The word "serve" here is the Greek word diakoneo, which literally means something like "to attend to someone's needs". It is actually the root for the English word deacon, which is the position in the church that we have translated into "manager-leader" for the workplace. The interesting thing about this is that while a Deacon is a leadership role, it is simply defined as a servant role. I think that this says a lot about what the focus of the manager-leader should be. They should be focusing on the needs of the people, and what they do should be motivated by what the people around them need. There is no opportunity here to think selfishly, or in one's own interests. Rather, this is the idea of putting others before yourself.

But what should be our motivation in serving in this manner? Well, it is to prove yourself. But doesn't someone have to prove them self in order to get into this position in the first place? Absolutely! But that doesn't mean that the testing has stopped. In fact it is quite the opposite. A manager-leader should resist the urge to think that they have proved themselves, and the desire to rest on their laurels after that. That would be thinking more of oneself more then they ought. As a manager-leader, there are lots of eyes looking at you, and each one is evaluating your every move. Your growth as a leader is not done yet, and you should always remember that you still have something to prove.

Finally, the goal of this whole serving idea is to prove yourself "blameless" (or above reproach). I guess that the expectation here is that you are flawed, and that you have an opportunity to show that you can grow past your flaws. Nobody expects you to be perfect, but people do expect you to strive to become a better leader.

I believe that one of the underlying themes here is that the manager-leader must not be self-centered, or haughty. Instead he/she should focus on the well-being of others, and work to prove themselves worthy of their role (or even one greater).

Questions to consider:
How can you focus on the people around you more? Are you focusing on your needs or supporting the needs of others?

prepare to be tested

2008-01-17T10:50:57Z

I remember getting my first position as a manager. There was so much excitement, and so much pride in the fact that your hard work has finally paid off. And I know that many people can identify with these feelings as well, but I also felt a bit anxious about the great level of uncertainty about what my future held for me. Remember that feeling? Your first role in some sort of leadership, and rather than standing strong on what got you there, you suddenly fear what might be in your now so uncertain future.

As we explore the next qualification for the manager-leader we come to, "be tested first". I think that this is an interesting qualification. One can read this and assume that before becoming a manager-leader that they must be tested, and pass the test. I believe that this much is true, and if it were that simple then I would just say to you that you can expect to have to earn your position in leadership and leave it at that. I don't believe that it is that simple. I believe that there is something that the manager-leader must carry into their position that holds true even beyond the "test" that got them there.

The first principle that I see at play here is the idea that leadership is earned. I know that there are times that people are placed in positions of leadership because of who they know, or some other factor. However, I believe that those are the exceptions, and that TRUE leadership is still earned. Most importantly the manager-leader should understand that earning your leadership position does not stop with getting into the role. It is something that is continuous. Whether it is your job, your ministry, or even in your family, you should strive to earn your role as a leader every day.

Testing also prepares us for bigger and better things. It is a growth opportunity, and we all need those. Personal development is a responsibility that we all have, and is one of the purposes of the workplace in our lives. Encountering challenging situations is how we mature. It is one thing to have the knowledge about how to deal with something, but it is something completely different to actually make it happen. And as we grow and mature in our leadership, we then become able to take on bigger and better things. I had a boss once that gave me projects that highlighted the skills that I already had, but then allowed me to learn something new. Then my next project would then take it one step further, and so on. I remember thinking after a year or two of working for him that I could do so much more now than I had ever imagined. He tested me regularly, and as a result I became more skillful and capable in my role.

Testing provides us an opportunity to shine. Similar to my last point, not only do we have an opportunity to mature, but also to show off what we've got a little bit. God has gifted you with some great talents, and he expects you to use them. Therefore, it is important that you show it off a bit. Don't take this the wrong way. I am not talking about being prideful and self-centered. I am saying that when we shine, it should be the reflection of Him that shines off of us. It should be important to all of us to show others how awesome our God is, and one of the best ways of doing that is in rising to the occasion and displaying the skills that He has given you, and enhances in your life through His Holy Spirit. You are MORE than a conquerer (Romans 8:37, context)! You can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13, context)!

One thing that is for certain about your future as a manager-leader, whether you are brand new to the role or a long-timer, is that you will be tested. But do not look at these tests as problems or negatives in any way. Instead they are opportunities, and should be approached as such. Maybe part of the reason for this qualification is simply so that you expect the unexpected. And the more that you learn to deal with that, the more that you've earned even greater roles in leadership. What a blessing and an honor!

Questions to consider:
How do you view challenges today? Are they problems to get rid of, or opportunities? How can you seek out ways to be tested? How can you ensure that once you've been tested that you ensure that it becomes a learning or maturing experience? How have you earned your leadership role today?

capture the spirit

2008-01-17T10:52:29Z

I have worked in and around Call Centers for a good number of years, and one thing that never ceases to amaze me is the negativity that seems to prevail. Part of it could be that the Call Center agents only really take calls from the customers who are having problems. Think about it, when is the last time that you called your credit card company just to thank them for being there when you need them? Instead the only time that you are going to make the effort to get in touch with them is when you are upset about something. And this is the Call Center agent's job... to talk to unhappy customers all day long. So I can understand that it would take a lot to keep positive when it seems like everyone you talk to has a problem. But I think that there is a deeper issue, something that we can all relate to, going on here.

How about this perspective... Have you ever worked with someone who just hated their job? Every day they come into work miserable, and they complain about how bad things are in that job/company all day, and then split right out the door as fast as they can at the end of their day. Seriously, why do these people continue working somewhere that they are obviously so miserable at? Now imagine that it is your boss that has that bad attitude! Some of you know exactly what I am talking about. I had one once that just bashed the company that I enjoyed working for every chance they got. That attitude made it very difficult for me to work and connect with that boss at all.

As we look at the next qualification for the manager-leader, we come to one that requires one to "hold [the] mystery of [the] faith with clear conscience." There are a couple of things at play here, but in order to understand the principle that we can apply to the workplace with this one, we must first understand the principle in the church. So, we need to understand what Paul meant by "mystery of faith". Some interpreters take this to mean that there are things that as Christians, only we can truly understand. These things include ideas like what salvation is, and understanding who the Holy Spirit is, and much more. So the idea here is that there are things about being a "member" that one should not only understand but "hold" on to without question (a clear conscience). I like to think of these things as the spirit (little "s" intentional) of the family (of Christ).

I believe that the same thing holds true in the workplace. Employees, especially those in any sort of leadership role, should be able to capture the "spirit" (again, little "s") of the company. This manifests itself in a positive attitude about the company. The person that can capture the spirit of a company probably knows exactly what its goals are, and is an evangelist for its products and services. The person is the company's biggest fan, and they feel good about their reasons why. When leaders have this type of attitude (as opposed to the one discussed earlier), then it makes them much easier to follow. They will walk with a certain excitement about being there, and have a great amount of energy to accomplish great things. These people are much more fun to follow...

There is another school of thought about this piece of Scripture, and that goes further to explain practical reasons why one must hold the mystery of faith. The idea with this point of view is that there are some things that are harder to understand (making them mysteries). Therefore, as a leader (in this case a Deacon), one must be able to understand so that they can explain them to other people. Now I do not believe that this falls much in line with the "capture the spirit" mindset, but still think that there is more workplace application here.

With this different perspective, the mysteries could be like the rules, regulations, and deeper inner-workings of an organization that are typically learned by people with more tenure and/or leadership. To follow our "so that" we can then state that manager-leaders are in a position where they must understand some of these "mysteries" so that they can help train up others and pass the information on as needed. Basically, this is a teaching task. And when we look at the executive-leader qualifications, we see one that says that they must be able to teach. So, it seems that part of this concept is a pre-cursor to being able to fulfill a greater, later requirement. One must be able to understand and hold onto the "mysteries" so that they can share them, but they may eventually have to teach them to others.

Even though both of these concepts seem to follow slightly different interpretations of the same verse, I believe that both concepts are relevant and valid for the workplace today. Capture the spirit of your organization, and hold onto it. Better yet, understand and share it with others, even if only on a small scale.

Questions to consider:
Is the company that you work for one that you feel like you can stand behind? If not, then what is keeping you from going to work somewhere that you feel comfortable in? If so, how have you "captured the spirit" of the organization, and how do others know that you have done so? How can you share this spirit with others, or at least practice raising other people up by mentoring them with the knowledge and understanding that you currently have?

The Power of "Nice"

2008-01-17T10:54:05Z

When I set out to do what I am doing with this site, I never expected to be called "nice". I try to share the Word of God, and deliver it in a way that causes everyone who reads it to be a better leader and/or a stronger Christian example in the workplace. I know that sometimes the messages that I deliver hit some people in that spot that makes them say "ouch", but it is typically taken with the agape heart that they were shared in.

So when Isaiah from Joie de Vivre: A Wretched Man's Quest to Follow In Jesus Christ's Footsteps tagged me with the Nice Matters Award. Isaiah selects me, "for being one of the nicest people on the blogosphere. He is one of the bloggers I most respect." The award is given out to “…those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”

For this honor, I thank Isaiah. In addition to him, there are a few other people that inspire me with their goodness...

Jerry at AsTheCrackerheadCrumbles
Julie at A Joyful Life
Michael at Living Water for Those Who Thirst
TruthofmyKing at Wesleys Blog: Shining A Light in a Dark World
King's Kid at Just the WORD-Please!

There are so many more, but I know that several have already been selected, and several more should be recognized by the people that I have selected.

management by God "Lesson Learned":
"Nice" may not be my goal, but it sure does help. Be powerful or forceful when you need to, but "nice" helps you to keep the respect that you earn.

greed and desire

2008-01-17T10:55:22Z

It is a question that the average Christian has been asking since the "American Dream" was first dreamed. American consumerism tells us that we need more, and that if we don't want more, then there must be something wrong with us. Even the church is split on this issue of "how much money is enough". On one side, you have the poverty-minded groups that think that money is evil, and that financial poverty is the way to Godliness. Then you have the "Health-and-Wealth" gospel folks that believe that if you are not filthy rich, then you must have some sort of sin in your life that is holding back God's blessing.

I don't believe that either of these is the truth, and both sides could use a little lesson in proper exegesis and hermeneutics of the scriptures. As we look at the fourth qualification for the manager-leader, we come across a requirement to be "not greedy for dishonest gain." While much can be said about money itself, the point that I will make is that "money" is not evil, but the "love of money" (or strong desire for) is the root (or start, or feeding point) of evil. Money is a blessing, and a great tool. We just cannot let it take a position in our life where it controls us. But this qualification is not so much about money. Let's take a look at this qualification in parts...

not greedy
Greed is defined as "excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions" (view source). Based on this definition, there would be a normal level of desire, and an excessive desire. When it comes to money in general, I believe that there is a "normal" level of desire that is okay. It is okay for me to want to earn more so that I can provide better for my family, and even give more to the church and its causes. But I should not have an "excessive" desire. It should not consume me. When desire for something becomes excessive, it also becomes dangerous. Decisions are made based on what helps us get to the thing that we desire, and not necessarily on what is best for the team, organization, project, or customer. Avoiding "excessive" desire is important for us when needing to make clear decisions.

for
...what? The point here is that the excessive desire (greed) is actually directed at something. This indicates that the "greed" itself is not even the major issue. It is what the greed is focused on that is more relevant. I find this interesting, because the executive-leader seems to be held to a higher standard here. There is much more here that holds the leader more in a position against the greed (or selfish thinking) itself. Maybe the manager-leader is not held to as high a standard because of the smaller realm of influence. Maybe the manager-leader is considered more of an executive-leader "in training". These skills must be mastered before one is expected to master the more demanding skills. So, back to the real question here. What exactly is the focus on here? We are expected to be not greedy for...

dishonest gain
What? You'd imagine that the manager-leader would be held to a high standard here, but "dishonest gain"? Wow... The standard of the world must be pretty low if the "higher standard" is that we must "rise above" dishonest gain! I guess that the point here is that in a leadership role, opportunities will occasionally present themselves where some sort of gain or advantage can be taken because of the position. Realistically, a manager gets more keys to the office than the entry-level guy that just started with the company, right? Well greater access must lead to greater temptation, and we must remain honest in whatever gain that we get.

So watch yourself. Don't take advantage of newfound "advantages". Keep yourself on the same playing field. But if I were to add anything to this concept, then I would say that if you are to gain or get ahead somehow, then let it be on your own merits rather than the dishonest advantages that you may have access to. Work as if unto the Lord, and let Him shine through your example. Work hard and represent your faith well.

Questions to consider:
What do you need to do today to work as unto the Lord? Are you taking advantage of any situations unfairly? Are you justifying things right now in your head as you answer that last question? What other approaches can you take to succeeding that are a better display of your skills?

"You Lift Me Up" Award!

2008-01-17T10:57:02Z

It is always cool getting recognized by fellow bloggers, but Casey from Casey's Critical Thinking just passed on an award to me that really means a lot. Casey recognized me with the "You Lift Me Up" Award. The funny thing is that it is not my intent to "lift people up" through my blog. I like to challenge people with the Word of God, and help people to become the every bit of the leaders in the workplace that God intends them to be. The cool thing is that this only shows how powerful the Word of God can be in encouraging people and lifting them up! Thank you Casey for this great honor! And as I know many others would say, I can only say that it is not me that is deserving, but the Christ in me that deserves all of the recognition!

So, let me recognize some other people that lift me up, and encourage me...

A Joyful Life - Julie is a friend from my church, and even outside of her blog, she is such an encouragement to my wife and I. Therefore, I cannot complete a list of those that "lift me up" without including Julie.
LifeToSuccess.com - John Clark has a way of presenting information in a way that helps you believe that you can achieve great things. His blog is all about helping you to be successful.
My Christian Life - This is an inspiring, and relevant account of a young Christian who is discovering more of God every day. This is a great blog with real feelings, and great references to Christian resources.

Now I send these three great bloggers out to pass on this award to those that inspire them! Thanks, congrats, and AMEN!

control or be controlled

2008-01-17T11:02:56Z

Much is said about drinking and drugs, and it is not my intent to diminish any value that they have when used appropriately. However, often it is the misuse of these things that tends to bring problems. Personally, I am not against alcohol, but only rarely enjoy a drink (a few times a year). I used to be a big drinker when I was in the Marine Corps and in college. Not only do I have first-hand understanding about the principles that I am about to discuss here, but I have also seen the effects that it has on others.

While we look at the third qualification for the manager-leader we discover this issue of not being "addicted to much wine". Often in a statement like this the focus falls on the "what" or the idea that it is "wine" that one should beware of. I actually think that the root issue is at the beginning of the statement, not at the end. I believe that the real issue is in the idea of being "addicted". It is the "to what" that helps us to look at specific problems that this addiction could bring...

For example, one expositor (John Gill) of this text points out that there are health implications attached to being addicted to much wine. While my intent is not to provide a medical detail about the effects of alcohol on the body, it is important to understand that this is a true statement. I personally have watched people's bodies literally break down right before my eyes from long-term addiction to alcohol. The important part here is that as a leader, you have a responsibility to the people around you to stay healthy. As the leader of my home I expressed to my wife that the health of her and our son were more important to me than my own health. (That's me trying to be sacrificial like Jesus.) She promptly responded by letting me know that to them, it is actually my health that was more important. If something were to happen to me, then they would totally loose their leader, protector, and provider. It is the same thing in the workplace. Leaders need to build confidence by showing that they physically can make it as long as is needed.

Another example that Gill points out are the effects of alcohol on the mind. He even goes so far as to state that it "stupefies the mind". Alcohol not only has it's sort-term, drunken-state effects on our thinking, but because it kills brain cells (among others) it also has a long-term effect on our thinking. This is another area that as leaders we owe to the people who follow us. We must be able to think through things clearly. Not being able to think clearly will eventually lead to poor decisions that will affect those that follow you.

But one of the biggest issues that I have with this idea of "being addicted to much wine" is the issue of people being controlled by it. Even the one who states that they "have it under control" really do not if they cannot walk away from it without harboring harsh feelings about it. As a leader it is important for us to be able to maintain a state of control over the things in our lives. People can easily see whether we have control over something, or whether something has control over us. Imagine working for someone who is controlled by alcohol. How can you have confidence in the decisions that they make that affect you? How can you know for sure that the decision was made in your best interest, or was if it was clouded by some one's strong desire to just go have a drink? You cannot let something control your life, or else it is controlling the lives of those that follow you as well, and that is not fair to them.

Questions to consider:
What controls your life? Do you need to put it down for a while so that you can regain control over it (and everything else in your life)?

such a lonely word

2008-01-17T11:05:16Z

One thing that disgusts me these days is how comfortable people have become with lying. Not telling the truth has become so common place and accepted, that you don't know who to believe about anything anymore. People hide their thoughts, their feelings, and their perceptions. Now I'm not saying that everyone is bad, because there is nobody that tells the truth at all anymore. But what I am saying is that the idea of not being truthful is becoming more and more acceptable.

However, as is usually the case, the leader must be different than the norm. As we look at the second qualification for the manager-leader, we come across the requirement to not be double-tongued. This term that we translate into "double-tongued" is the Greek word dilogos. This verb describes the activity of saying one thing to one person, and then saying something different to another person. Today we call that, "talking out of both sides of your mouth." Or, quite simply, it is the act of being dishonest. So there is this sense that the manager-leader must not only deliver a consistent message, but also be honest with everyone in their communications.

Billy Joel even sang a song about this very issue, and it goes something like this...

Honesty, it's such a lonely word,
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty, it's hardly ever heard,
But mostly what I need from you.

These lyrics ring so true even in the business world. As a leader, honesty is something that your people need from you. They can get lies and half-truths and secrets in lots of other places, but if you are going to be someone that they can put their trust into, then they need you to be honest with them. But when being honest, one must remember the goal of communicating, especially in a leader-follower relationship. Our communications should build each other up, and not tear each other down.

But what if you have to tell someone something bad or difficult, and are worried that they might take offense to what you are saying? In situations like these, it is very easy to justify telling "little white lies" in order to protect people. But the bottom line is that lying, even if it is done out of right motives, is never a right way to communicate, especially from a leader. This is where creativity in communication comes into play. Even while delivering the "bad news", you must find ways to use that conversation to build someone up.

For example, if someone is not meeting job expectations, then in your conversation with them discuss how working on certain skills will improve their chance of success. Then be specific in developing an action plan for improving that everyone can get excited about. But then do not turn around and speak negatively about that person, but rather talk about how excited you are about their willingness to try new things (or whatever else you can praise them for).

For the manager-leader, this qualification is really just about making the effort to perfect our communication styles. We must be truthful, but also with the intent of building people up. Double-tongued people will find it difficult to get people to follow them, because they portray themselves as being untrustworthy.

Questions to consider:
Do you talk negatively about other people behind their back? Do you regularly find yourself sharing one thing with some people, but not entirely the same story with others? Think about ways that you can verbally build people up directly, but then also find ways to build them up in conversations with other people as well. What sort of impact do you think that you will have on the people around you when they hear through other people the good things that you've said about them?

know your worth

2008-01-17T11:07:31Z

Tightrope walking is the art of walking across a rope or wire usually suspended over great heights. This act requires incredible balance and focus, because with one slightly wrong move the walk could be over. Depending on the safety precautions taken, tightrope walking could be a very dangerous sport. However, while the dangers of this activity could be enough to scare some people into not even wanting to attempt it, the reward for succeeding in it must be great. Karl Wallenda (founder of the great Flying Wallendas) once said, "Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting."

As we look at the first qualification for the manager-leader, which is to be dignified, I cannot help but to think of the fine balance that must be struck. First of all being dignified simply refers to the fact that one has dignity. But what exactly is dignity? Dignity can be defined as the "nobility or elevation of character; worthiness." So with dignity, there is this sense that one should consider themselves worthy of the calling that they have received. However, with this idea of dignity there are the pitfalls of thinking too much of yourself, or not thinking enough of yourself. Hence the idea of walking a tightrope and looking at a skill that requires great balance and focus.

The first pitfall that you need to watch for is in being too prideful. In order to avoid any confusion about what I am talking about, let's define the word first. Pride is defined as being, "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc." We've already defined dignity as being simply "worthiness," and in comparison pride is the idea that one thinks more (inordinate) of themselves than they ought. Pride leads to egotistic behavior, a sense of being indispensable, and other behaviors that eventually lead to a lack of trustworthiness than causes people to not want to follow.

The proper response to pride is humility. One should keep a humble perspective about themselves, and understand that others can be just as worthy as we are. A great leader is not have feelings of superiority. As a leader one should act as though they are in the service role to the people "below" them. Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, so the least that we could do is to find out what support our people need and provide it to them. The leader who practices humility guards himself against the dangers of being too prideful.

The second pitfall to walking with dignity is the idea of not considering yourself worthy at all. Some people carry the humility concept much too far. While Jesus showed us how to be humble leaders, He also had a deep understanding of who He was. We need to do that as well. In a strictly business sense, you must believe in yourself when you jump into leadership roles. People are not typically given these roles unless they have earned them. That means that you should be confident in who you are and in the skills that you have, because others believe in you too.

To the Christian however, this idea takes on a slightly different meaning. Who you are in Christ is where you find the value for yourself. I've heard a teaching recently that makes the statement that to God, if you were worth one penny less than His own Son, then He never would have sent Him. In other words, you have great value in God's eyes. He created you, and loves you just as much (if not more) than his own Son who He sacrificed for our sakes.

As leaders, we must have a dignity, or a sense of worth that gives us the self-confidence that we need in order to accomplish great things. You must not think less of yourself that what you are, but you must also protect yourself from the pride that can destroy trust and relationships with those around you.

Questions to consider:
Have you connected what gives you the value that you have to offer others? What do you need to do in order to realize your full worth? Have you overly expressed your worth, and exaggerated it to the point of making yourself better than others? What do you need to do in order to humble yourself into a right-sized dignity?

manager-leader qualifications

2008-01-17T11:09:04Z

There is one person (or group of people) in any organization that determines that organization's level of success more than anyone else. You may argue that it is the front-line. And while I agree that the front line is indispensable as the group that carries out the mission, I still feel like there is a more important group. Some may say that the executive-leaders are the most important, because without them, there would be no organization or vision. Again, while I recognize the importance of this group in setting the direction and creating the "spirit" of the organization, I again still feel like there is a much more important group.

The group that I feel is probably the most important group in determining the success of an organization is the managers. Ironically, many people even question the validity of the role of the manager, and even go as far as to state that a manager is not even a leader. However, it is the person in the role of the manager-leader that is responsible for taking the vision and direction of executive-leaders and implementing it with the rest of the workforce. Therefore, the person in this role is not only responsible for managing the workforce "below" them, but also for managing the expectations and results with the executive-leader stakeholders "above" them. This is where the rubber meets the road, and the big translation of goals to actions takes place.

With this important role, there are certainly some qualifications that one must fulfill in order to be effective. These qualifications come from Paul's letter to Timothy where Paul outlines the qualifications for elders (executive-leaders) and deacons (manager-leaders). It is the qualifications for deacons that we use for manager-leaders since the role of the deacon in the church is quite similar to the role of the manager in any other organization. Each of the following items will be discussed in much greater detail individually...

Source: 1 Timothy 3:8-12

If you were to compare the two lists side-by-side, then you would find that there are a couple of the qualifications that appear on both lists. I believe that is simply because they are important to both roles, and represent some of the things that carry over, and help a manager-leader potentially grow into an executive-leader. We'll discuss more on this later.

Questions to consider:
What perceptions do you have about the role of a manager in an organization? Do you think of it higher or lower than it should? How can you redefine how the manager is perceived in your organization? At first glance, which of the qualifications do you need to work on the most?