Day 30 Contentment and Leadership

Proverbs 30:7-9 (NIV) "Two things I (Agur) ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.

1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV) But godliness with contentment is great gain.

It was the first century Roman philosopher, Seneca, who observed, "Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more." Today, woven throughout modern secular literature on leadership is the same thread of the importance of character in leadership - especially the literature on servant-leadership. The contented leader is a concept that addresses personal core values and has nothing to say about achieving profitable market share. The later drives a business: the former drives how the leader leads the people who "do the business." Agur's prayer - like the Lord's Prayer - recognizes the truth that living is to be a daily experience. "God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our______." How are you filling in the blank?

Copyright ©2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Being a Dependable Leader

Proverbs 31:4-5 (MSG) "Leaders can't afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, Lest, hung over, they don't know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt.  Use wine and beer only as sedatives, to kill the pain and dull the ache of the terminally ill, for whom life is a living death.

It was David Ogilvy, who told his successor when asked what one piece of advice he could provide, is reported to have said, "No matter how much time you spend thinking about, worrying about, focusing on, questioning the value of and evaluating people, it won't be enough. People are the only thing that matters and the only thing you should think about, because when that part is right, everything else works." And you can’t do that buzzed or drunk. Leaders must first know and manage themselves to be effective leaders, and for some, that might begin with simply dealing with how they handle stress, their dark, internal motivations, and the demons that haunt them. Get that right and you won’t be seeking either artificial stimulation or dulling booze offers. If you can’t manage yourself, how can you manage others? Followers depend on their leaders to know right from wrong – especially in social occasions when they “let their hair down.” Are you dependable in and out of the workplace?

Copyright© 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

An Eternal Vision for Leaders

Proverbs 29:18 (AMP) Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people perish; but he who keeps the law [of God, which includes that of man]--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he.

This verse has often been presented as a reason to have a personal or corporate vision. No denying the importance of those conclusions. But what is fundamental here concerns God and his revelation to man and by extension, developing both a personal and corporate vision (or purpose statement) that recognizes God's revelation. More to the point here is that if God is not brought into the affairs of humans, if God's Word is not part of how a person thinks about his affairs, if God is shut out from a person's living, “people perish!” What a powerful incentive for Christian business leaders. Who is better equipped to express Christ-like behavior in the workplace? Who is better equipped to express the “redemptive revelation of God” to the marketplace? When focusing on what God is doing you are used for a purpose greater than just work:  companies are transformed - lives changed. Are you a blessing in the marketplace?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

Leaders Hate - Covetousness

Proverbs 28:16 (MSG) Among leaders who lack insight [or judgment], abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption [covetousness], the future is bright.

The juxtaposition of covetousness and the lack of insight drive us to look inward to understand motivation and behavior. The terms “emotional fluency” or “EQ” (the ability to use emotions effectively) are sometimes used when describing the process of developing positive corporate culture by practicing integrity. Examples of covetous leaders include those who coerce staff to fudge on the inventory or to book phantom orders in response to quarterly scrutiny or the abusive manager, who sucks the very life out of the team – that being the quintessential expression of covetousness. Leaders must resist behaviors such as these by utilizing an equally powerful emotion – hate. We must hate covetousness! It takes that emotional commitment to turn from self-serving behavior and practice integrity. Integrity built on insight - insight from transparent communication with friends who are wise and from personal communication with the One who created and died for us so we might appropriate insight and good judgment while looking forward to a long, fruitful life.


Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

Leaders Hate - Covetousness

Proverbs 28:16 (MSG) Among leaders who lack insight [or judgment], abuse abounds, but for one who hates corruption [covetousness], the future is bright.

The juxtaposition of covetousness and the lack of insight drive us to look inward to understand motivation and behavior. The terms “emotional fluency” or “EQ” (the ability to use emotions effectively) are sometimes used when describing the process of developing positive corporate culture by practicing integrity. Examples of covetous leaders include those who coerce staff to fudge on the inventory or to book phantom orders in response to quarterly scrutiny or the abusive manager, who sucks the very life out of the team – that being the quintessential expression of covetousness. Leaders must resist behaviors such as these by utilizing an equally powerful emotion – hate. We must hate covetousness! It takes that emotional commitment to turn from self-serving behavior and practice integrity. Integrity built on insight - insight from transparent communication with friends who are wise and from personal communication with the One who created and died for us so we might appropriate insight and good judgment while looking forward to a long, fruitful life.


Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

Leaders Giving Advice

Proverbs 25:11 (NLT) Timely advice is as lovely as golden apples in a silver basket.

One of the important functions of leadership is listening; however, there does come a time for giving advice. Timely advice - not constant chattering advice of Micro-managing – advice given at the right time in the right place with consideration of the recipient - advice that is not only “beautiful” but also valuable. Timely advice can be seen as the process of asking insightful questions, the answers to which will yield clarity: What does the questioner really want? How do they understand the problem? What are the options? Do the alternatives have the same weight of importance? If an ethical issue, what are the moral imperatives and where is Truth? At the end of the day, a Believer’s advice must be a perfect mixture of grace and truth.  If a gracious heart rules your mind, then your advice will be both timely and worth its weight in silver and gold.

Copyright ©2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Hidden Power of Envy

Proverbs 24:19-20 (NIV)   Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of the wicked, for the evil man has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
For the believing leader, this admonition seems simplistic - perhaps, not even very insightful. Because we know the end and the One who holds the end in His hands, we have hope and should live without envy. However, secular literature supports this Biblical observation that envy and leadership are intermixed in many complex ways. Conceptual psychoanalytic research suggests that envy is often so painful an emotion for leaders that it is driven to the unconscious resulting in behaviors that undermine a leader's ability to attract and maintain followers. Biblical Leadership is a "heart" issue - one that takes a power higher than ourselves to expose the hidden drivers that capture our thought-life. Leaders will succeed by "filling [their] minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." [Phil. 4:4-6 (MSG)] What are you thinking about?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Humble Leaders

Proverbs 22:4 (NASB) The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.

In an article written for www.darwinmag.com in June of 2004, leadership author, John Baldoni (www.johnbaldoni.com) writes, "Humility just might be one of the most overlooked attributes in leadership, but it just might be one of the most important attributes a leader can possess. Humility is a strand between leader and follower that underscores one common element: our humanity." If, in our humanity, we put God at the core of our thinking - not as some abstract, ancillary association with life in general, but as our Creator, Sustainer and Provider, then the Sunday stuff will drive the Monday stuff and our team, vendors and competitors will know our humility is genuine - we really do care about our followers because they see us follow our Leader. Plenty, honor and a satisfying life are the consequences of our journey. Who are you following?

Copyright © by P. Griffith Lindell

The Light of the Humility of a Leader

Proverbs 21:4 (NLV) Eyes lifted high and a proud heart is sin and is the lamp of the sinful.      

Why would anyone want to be led by you? Goffee and Jones had asked this very question in a ten-year study and the results published in the Sept-Oct 2000 HBR, "Why Should Anyone Be Lead by You?" They discovered four "unexpected" traits of "inspirational" leaders and the first is that these kinds of leaders "reveal their weaknesses." Proud people would shun away from that kind of leading. Their only "light" for their path is themselves. No one else can do it better, think in through better or explain it better. It is all about them. Leading is best accomplished with a light that clearly illuminates the path. Those who choose self are limited in their light. Those who chose God, as revealed in Christ, have the "light of the world." This light attracts. This light, when shining through us, illuminates all you fall under its beams.

What is your light source?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

Leaders Are All Ears

Proverbs 18:15 (AMP) The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.

Some 3000 years ago, the world’s wisest man suggested that listening is vital for growth. “Google” the words Leadership and Listening and within seconds will find about 34,100,000 results today. Listening is a “hot topic” and in one of those results from a Google search, Jeroen van der Veer, president of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company and vice chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell Group stressed to students at the Stanford Graduate School of Business the importance of listening skills to sustainable leadership. He further urged the MBA students “to adopt a model of leadership that involves modesty, empathy, and reflective listening.” He understood that one of the roles of leaders is to ask good questions and then listen to the responses. That takes time and is very different from “doing stuff” – but, in fact, it is the stuff of leading. Do you take the time needed to listen? It’s hard work, but leaders do it.

Copyright© 2006 P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Know Where to Walk, Stand or Sit

Proverbs 17:12  (NIV) Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly
Psalm 1:1 (NIV) Blessed (happy) is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers...

Does this verse in Proverbs 17 seem like a hyperbole --a bit melodramatic -- a stretch? A person living in folly is more deadly than a 500-pound Syrian Brown Bear, with bared teeth, menacing growl, towering height and long claws, diving down and running at us? We would desperately try never to tempt a bear to attack. We would avoid cute little bear cubs if we found them while hiking. Avoidance at all costs.  However, we are under greater threat from the "wisdom of this world" than from the physical attack of a known fearsome animal. Why is that? Perhaps, because the folly of fools fills us with false hope, or because it is so seductive-- it appeals to our self-centered natures. Who we look to for counsel (walk in the counsel) who we hang around with (stand in the way of) and where we sit to learn (sit in the seat of) affects our spiritual happiness. We are to be in the world, not of it. Where do you find your happiness?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell     

Planning Starts in the Heart

Proverbs 16:9,25,33 (NLT) 9We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
25 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.  
33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.

If planning is focused solely on what my organization or I want, not what God wants, planning is worth - nothing. Self-propelled plans produce death because eternity matters, now. Even with business planning, nothing happens anywhere without God's involvement.  We must first think about what we do as "Lord-delighting-plans" - and then marshal our people to plan - developing the discipline for our managers to look ahead and to be intentional about communicating goal progress, resource allocation and the impact of the short-term plans on mission and vision of the organization. We must accomplish all these “business things” remembering that strategy begins in the heart. Is your heart in God’s hands?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Understand the Power of Others

Proverbs 15:22 (NLV) Plans go wrong without talking together, but they will go well when many wise men talk about what to do.

Going it alone is not a recommended strategy in Scripture for leading a business, a family, or your life. God created humans to be fulfilled in community. To make sure that people understood the power of relationships, as Pastor Doug Webster puts it, “God, who was never alone, became alone so we might have a relationship with Him.” We were created to thrive in a community -- a team.  In  business, fresh perspectives are vital to innovation. Collaboration and consensus building drives better business decisions. However, it is not just about seeking advice, not about just talking things over with others; it is also from whom the advice is sought. Are you talking things through with a trusted team of advisors? Are they wise? It is not only the what, it is "the who" that is giving the advice.

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Choose Advisors Carefully

Proverbs 14:7 (AMP)  Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

Concerning issues of character, morality and ethics where you get your advice is critical. It is in the “gray areas,” where arguments can be made on both sides of an issue, that “solid” advice is critical. Parsing issues based on legality and balance (is the solution just for all parties involved?) are generally straightforward:  however, it is the third leg of the ethics stool – rightness – that can cause real problems. In today’s atmosphere of  “relative truth” (an oxymoron for a Believer) the question of right and wrong can be quickly muddied with expediency. That relative truth generally comes from a “foolish and self-confident person.” This is a person who lives life as if God were irrelevant - not important at all for living and certainly not for business. Their foolish words can have power – but your discernment even more. God's way is not negotiable:  business must be run in a way that is pleasing to God and the people you impact. When “coloring” the gray areas, choose your business advisors carefully.  

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

The Leadership Team

Proverbs 11:14 (MSG) Without good direction, people lose their way; the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

Leaders not only provide good direction, they also seek wise counsel. This is not “either/or” thinking; rather, it is “both/and.” Silo thinking is not part of this culture and there is an absence of hierarchical vocabulary and its effect -- lack of collaboration. However, when humility is out and arrogance is not only tolerated, but also often rewarded, people “lose their way” and become well known for offering answers, not solutions. The people running these kinds of organizations often don't ask for advice from the team despite the admonitions above that are certainly plain enough: get advice - Godly advice (wise counsel). God has called Believers to adopt a different attitude - one that seamlessly integrates the scared with the secular. God's word: God's people: And You. That's a team that improves “your chances.”

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Communication Skills Essential to Leadership

Proverbs 10: 32 (MSG) The speech of a good person clears the air; the words of the wicked pollute it.

Corporate culture thrives when clear communication is a core value. That value is expressed when each at every level embraces all the values; when the culture supports communication without fear, even challenging the way “things are done;” and also, when the company “speaks” with integrity because its employees do. Idle words can be dangerous and what you say matters. Effective leadership in this positive culture is about keeping the "air clear." How easily communication can become polluted. Believers are admonished that our words must make a difference. We are called to be purveyors of peace with words that are fitting to our listeners. Words that encourage, edify and empower. Are you that kind of leader?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Ethical Training for Leaders

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

A recent study from the IABC found that over 65% of their membership had no training on ethics – and it is this group that advices senior management on ethical decision-making! It has also been my experience that those who ran their business ethically were people who had grounding in the Word. Interestingly, many have rejected Christianity – but all had experienced religious raining in school.
Today, ethics training that focuses on company values, internal and external relationships is certainly needed; however, the rules, regulations and process that often flow from that training are generally “head” issues. This verse points out that wisdom and understanding (the foundation of ethics) is a heart issue. Perhaps John Jay, first Supreme Court Chief Justice was correct: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers. And it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest, of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leaders Value Wisdom over Wealth

Proverbs 8:11 (MSG) For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.

Status, wealth, power, and living the "good life" rule the airwaves. We live in a society where truth is not as valued as is correctness, or tolerance and sincerity (being open to any idea as long as it is passionately, personally, and sincerely believed). We have become society that is more concerned about how we look, how we are liked, and how our decisions "feel" than what reflects Truth that has its source in Wisdom. Taking a stand in business for the Truth sometimes will yield sneering. To battle that belittling attitude, Christian leaders must remember, "Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth." It is a lie that "he who has the most toys, wins." Leaders, whose source of strength is their Creator-Lord not their balance sheet may take some "hits" from the "ruler of this world;" but, undaunted, they focus on the goal set before them by their Lord and press on toward a higher calling then net worth. That’s a goal worth living for.

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Seduction and Leadership

Proverbs 7:1-5 (MSG) Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you'll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it! Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart. Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion. They'll be with you to fend off the Temptress—that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress.

These verses make it clear that eternal core values must be of paramount importance if we are to protect ourselves from seduction – of any kind. For leaders, the line between leading and seducing it mighty thin: consider the German language where “to lead” is “fuehren” (think Fuehrer!) and by adding only the prefix “ver” or “verfuehren,” the result is “to seduce.” We must protect ourselves from the “Great Seducer” who wants to add a “simple prefix” to our thinking and paints his path as the path to freedom – freedom to think on our own and to run our lives and business on our own – a path that is actually the very opposite of freedom – slavery; a path that looks good, but is not. Seductive path mimics the real. Can you tell the difference? You can if you make Wisdom the “apple of your eye.”

Copyright ©2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

The Heart of a Leader

Proverbs 4:23 (MSG)  Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts. (NKJV)   Keep [above all else, guard- NIV] your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.

Servant-leadership has become a hot topic in the business press. Servant-leadership thinks of others before thinking of self. This kind of leadership demands a humble heart, which takes effort on our part and that effort, and as Wisdom admonishes, is focused on guarding our heart. We are told that what we think about or ponder in the heart, will define us. The heart is where feelings, behavior, attitudes, hidden thoughts live. Scripture also teaches that the heart is very wicked and deceitful - so much so, it can fool us. That's why it must be guarded. The older I get, the more I understand how much personal discipline it really takes to become a "person after God's own heart."

Are you disciplined for Servant-leadership?

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Transformational Leadership

Proverbs 3:3-4 (AMP) Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart. So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.

Leadership that has a genuine concern for others (and their opinion and ideas) is desperately needed. In his new book, Leading Through Conflict (Harvard Business School Press), Mark Gerzon, an internationally known mediator, posits that we need a new kind of leadership, “…we need boundary-crossing leaders who can help the parts work together by strengthening the whole.” This kind of leadership grows from a real concern for truth and for “the other” (even when “the other” is an internal adversary or rival). This leadership forsakes the demagoguery of self-absorption and the limited thinking of simple managerial leadership and focuses on building bridges, not walls. A leader filled with mercy, kindness and truth. Sounds like something Jesus would be about. Are you?

Copyright ©2006 by P. Griffith Lindell

Leadership Treasure Hunt

Proverbs 2: 1-5 (NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Working in or running a business God’s way is not a matter of a morning prayer of “Bless, oh Lord, my business I pray…” Observe the highlighted words in the verse – there is work to do, here. Of course, business people still need to develop an understanding of markets, of customers, of competitive landscapes, of the process of differentiation, and then clear statements about the benefits the product offering provides  - business treasure and important stuff. No eternal value. Doing business in a way that glorifies God will develop your character (heart, soul and mind) so that you will become increasingly Christ-like – that’s where the real value is. Are you searching for the right treasure?

Copyright ©2006 P. Griffith Lindell

Relax Then Lead

Proverbs 1:33 (MSG)  "First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands.

Want to relax? Do a Goggle® search on "relax" and your eyes will be opened to all the world’s possibilities for learning how to relax. There's music: quieting videos; unique DVDs; special cassettes; and even spectacular CDs. You name it. Someone will sell you something to help you relax. This verse says there is a simple method that will provide what you need to learn to relax – and it’s free!  Do life right. Shift your focus. Being self-absorbed equals anxiety. Becoming God-absorbed equals relaxation. The choice should be clear.

Copyright © 2006 by P. Griffith Lindell