Tuesday, April 27, 2010

LEADING…TODAY – not TOMORROW

Proverbs 27:1 (MSG) Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow.

I was having calendar problems today. Syncing this one with that one and getting too many duplicate meetings between them. Got me thinking about leading and “tomorrows.”

Influencing others is a today thing – can’t put that off for tomorrow. I remember getting so focused on today’s tasks, that the people needing positive influence (nurture, direction, encouragement, care) were placed in the tomorrow slot. As if I would know that I would be there tomorrow to provide that leading. That brashness may not have been verbally announced, but it was part of my thinking. God-like. Knowing tomorrow would be there for me. For them.

Good leadership is about being present. Aware of and taking care of the people and problems - today. You, and they, may not have tomorrow.

Sure, planning is important. So is scheduling properly. That’s not the issue: tomorrow is about attitude. We either have the “I’m in charge” attitude or the “God is in charge” attitude. Which one we adopt shapes how we think about today. And tomorrow.

Got the right attitude?



Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Thursday, April 22, 2010

INFLUENCE: A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

Proverbs 22:24-25 (MSG) Don't hang out with angry people; don't keep company with hotheads. Bad temper is contagious— don't get infected.

How you influence others may well depend on how others influence you.

There is an undercurrent of anger about the economy, health care and America’s “place” in the world. Those issues are important and discussion about them vital. Small businesspeople must make tough decisions about staffing, inventory, sales – all sorts of business decisions – because these kinds of external factors play a role in how business “gets done.”

Notwithstanding the importance of collaboration, the servant-leader, who seeks to positively influence followers, must not allow clicks of the cankerous to be part of his/her circle of friends. God has called His followers to trust in Him, not the government, not cash flow, the budget, wars and rumors of wars. Him. Alone.

A great leader put it this way: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.1” Not the words of a hothead – a bad tempered or angry person. I’d like to hang out with him! Can’t – in person. But I look for people with this attitude. It influences by perspective.

Who is influencing you?



Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell


_______________________
1Psalm 62:1-2

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

10 Additional Ways to Influence the Workplace

1 - 10

11. Practice being open to others by actively listening to them and not “telling” them

12. Daily prepare your heart so you are not seduced by subtle ethical distinctions – subtlety has a way of sneaking up – ambushes work on the ill prepared – be prepared.

13. Develop your personal purpose statement (Why were you created - born? What are you meant to accomplish?) and lead from it (and we all lead no matter our title)

14. As a person thinks so is he – therefore, practice Phil 4: 8-9 “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things.

15. Be present in all your business conversations – connect with the person speaking – listening is an active activity – passive listening does not honor the speaker

16. Develop inner contentment – joy is accepting the circumstances with an understanding that our loving Father wants what is best for us in spite of the stuff happening around us. The peace of God is directly related to our anxiety.

17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project, this business idea, this family – you and I own nothing.

18. Make all business decisions with integrity remembering that wealth is not a goal but a consequence

19. Idle words are dangerous – practice clear, concise, encouraging, edifying conversation

20. Understand what drives you (how God wired you) and then understand how God has wired others and communicate with them in the style that best meets their needs – not yours.


Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

10 Ways to Influence the Workplace

1. Don’t worship self – work on your internal attitude – remember: it’s not all about you!

2. Value others – by tangible, external expressions - like expressing appreciation or saying “Thank you!” and meaning it.

3. Lead with a moral compass – if you have not thought about your core values, just ask yourself this question: “What would Christ do?”

4. Remember what a wise writer once wrote: – Accept the words of Wisdom as truth; memorize them and store them up; tune your ear to listen to people who are grounded in Wisdom; apply your heart to wisdom; i.e. your mind, will and emotions; and, finally, call for insight, ask for wisdom and cry aloud for understanding.

5. Realize that innovations, insights and impact in the market have their source in God – by doing this an attitude adjustment will follow which will be reflected in your treat other people

6. Show a concern for truth by the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses

7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making

8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart with being daily in the Word

9. Build influence by being authentic – For example: when you don’t know, don’t fake it: say you don’t know, but will find out.

10. Practice, with diligence, the art of observing, learning from results (good or bad – no matter), teaching what is learned and mentoring someone to take your place



Copyright (c) 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Guided Leaders…Guiding

Proverbs 11:2b-3a (NIV) …with humility comes wisdom; the integrity of the upright guides them...

To guide others well, one must first be guided.

Guiding others, without a clear grasp of personal purpose (Why am I here? What’s my meaning?), is difficult, indeed one might say, impossible. God’s guidance for the Believing Leader is not a guessing game. His Word clearly provides the fundamental moral and ethical principles and the application examples are plenteous – those who successfully led others were committed to being lead by the Lord both actively (visions, a still, small voice, physical appearances) and passively (His revelation, powerful relationships with others and recognition of circumstances).

Guidance from our Creator is all about relationship: a deep, personal relationship with the one who “shepherds” us. That analogy of shepherding implies that we take the posture of sheep. Not easily done. We humans often aspire to be lions, tigers, cheetahs – fleet, strong animals. Sheep? Probably not. Sheep need to be lead. They tend to wander and get in trouble on their own. They can’t find green pasture on their own. Need to be lead to quiet watering holes. The leader, who is willing to be directed by the Sprit of God, will prove her/himself a capable leader filled with integrity and a clear sense of purpose and meaning.

Leading is not only about doing, but more importantly it is about being.

Are you investing the time needed to be centered, purposeful and humble?

Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A Leader’s Life: a Beacon of Hope

Proverbs 30:5 (NLV) Every word of God has been proven true. (DARBY) "Every word of God is pure..."

Today is Passover on the Jewish Calendar – a beginning of a celebration of God’s word being true providing hope. Biblical hope is not based on some outlandish wish or desire for something that has no basis in reality. As death passed over the first-born of the children Israel, so our hope remains in the reality of the Word of God. That it is true. Pure in its original autographs. Its promises continually fulfilled.

As leaders, we are charged with providing pure hope for those following – hope, that in managing change, we maintain integrity (that which whole and complete and proven true). Something that is pure needs nothing added to it: in fact, whatever is added renders it to be no long pure.

Followers rely on their leaders – especially when a business is struggling – and therefore we must be well centered (knowing our purpose, knitting into our behavior a standard of ethics) and we must control our thoughts and behaviors; then are able to influence others to follow because we are well grounded and filled with real hope.

Leaders, whose model is Scripture, have hope and expectation, because, like those Jews in New Testament times, who recognized Jesus as Messiah and the fulfiller of their Hope, He still fulfills our hope if we keep our eyes focused on Him with our “self-talk” and not on us or our circumstances.

Our hope is not only in His return again, but also in His promise that in our daily living, He is our shield - our protector. He is our hope for a reason: we must not only live in hope - our life must also reflect that hope within us.

Our hope has meaning. So should our lives. Does your life offer hope?

Copyright © 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Leadership Heat and Joy

Proverbs 17:3 (NKJV) The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

We don’t like it, but experience validates that it is true: it’s in the furnaces of life that we are tested. We all want to be that finished museum piece, beautiful to behold, gleaming, admired - just needing a little dusting now and then. Not going to happen. We were created “living” beings.

Scripture reminds us that God gives tests – not so that he can know something new or discover anything – testing is for our benefit. What’s really going on inside you – the you nobody sees. Does our repentance hug rejoicing in who God is?

The nation of Israel is our example. God went ahead of them in the Promised Land and when they trusted in Him, and not their own ability, they won battles. There was joy. Dancing. Life was good. They conquered the land.

But after Joshua dies, and that generation passed without doing what God had ordained (teaching the God-principle to their children – that the Joy of the Lord is our strength). That the new generation who did not know God, became the conquered instead of the conquerors. Some of the enemies of truth and righteousness had been left in the land to “test…whether they would obey the Lord’s commands…” They didn’t.

And we (at least, I know I am) are like them. Silver and gold are purified by heat – the dross is burned off and the metal emerges cleaned of the stuff that mars its beauty and usefulness. To mix metaphors here, given the test, the furnace of affliction, I found that “I studied the wrong material and was not prepared,” instead of being the metal and letting the fire clean it – and learn from that – I wanted to manage the test.

God wants us to learn that JOY finds its source in Him. Not ourselves. Not our idols. Not our abilities. And he tests. And tests. And tests, until we learn it’s all about Him and not us.

Are you in the furnace? Are your eyes fixed on the test or the One, who with your repentance, rejoices with you when the fire has done its work?


Copyright © 2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Monday, March 15, 2010

Cheerful Leaders Conquer Circumstances

Proverbs 15:15 (NIV) All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful (merry, glad) heart has a continual feast.

It’s not the circumstance where you find yourself: it’s how you respond and that response begins with an understanding of who you are.

Understanding our purpose has powerful implications. Anxiety drains us. Allowing circumstances to shape our view of the future is not only unbiblical, it is damages our ability to live and lead. I know. I’ve been there. Circumstances crowded me. In that confined space, it was about me – not about my purpose in life – it was just about me and my “wretched” conditions. No cheerful heart there.

Recently studying the life of the Jewish patriarch, Joseph, has reminded me of the strength of a cheerful heart that is pure with a clear comprehension of purpose. If anyone had an excuse to be shaped by circumstances, it was he. He endured his brothers’ jealous behaviors and the false accusation of a lustful woman: he was imprisoned and forgotten for several years, and when released to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, he instantly deflected the ruler’s flattery and, in humility recognized the source of his abilities was outside of himself – it was not about him, but about the God.

The source of that instinctive humility? It was from a heart fixed on purpose and filled with joy. A leader, who serves others with humility and resoluteness of will, will do it in prison or in the palace. It does not matter.


How are you responding to your circumstances?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Thursday, February 11, 2010

It’s Not About Adequacy: It Is About Attitude

CONTROL YOURSELF - Integration * Proficiencies * Behaviors

Proverbs 11:2 (AMP) When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness.

The Amplified Version gives real insight into the processes that may lead to humility – note the “may.” Some going through these pruning processes or the pounding of the chisel working on their character respond with bitterness and pride. I know. Been there myself.

Apostle Peter was there: remember in the courtyard when his pride, expressed in the Upper Room, (“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”) stood in the way of his behavior? Why? As Lloyd Ogilvie points out “Peter had built his relationship with Jesus Christ on his assumed capacity to be adequate.” Pride.

Authentic leaders display a humble heart because they are grounded in the God who does not change and are centered in His love for them that does not result from some quid pro quo behaviors –“if I do this and that God will love me.”

Are you living and leading (behaving) to gain His love or because of His love?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

What are the pillars of your life?

CONTROL YOURSELF - Integration * Proficiencies * Behaviors

Proverb 9:1 (AMP) WISDOM HAS built her house; she has hewn out and set up her seven [perfect number of] pillars.

I am reminded of the Outback Steakhouse ad slogan: “No Rules. Just Right.” This begs the question: Is there “right” without rules? Our society would say so. What is right is defined by YOU. Only you.

Scripture has built her house. Finished. Done. With seven pillars – the perfect number of pillars – and we could speculate, theologically, what those might be.

I’ll ask you. What seven pillars of God-formulated Wisdom are you using to build the behaviors in your life?

Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Grabbing a Breath

Writing takes a bit of time and fair amount of mental energy.

Both have been in short supply lately. God graciously has provided a "job" as an adjunct at a local university teaching Principles of Marketing two times each week. New text - actually students have two editions because of an interesting situation; therefore the class is demanding a bit more time to manage the different editions.

In addition, I continue teaching workshops for SCORE and it seems a number of tumbled into the January schedule. Last weekend, I spoke all morning on Five Selling Essentials, then from 5 - 9 began a class on Servant-leadership- Do You Have What It Takes? - a seminar that continued all day Saturday.

I've also taken on an adult Sunday School class teaching the life of Abraham for the month of January.

Mental energy. After writing the above, I now clearly understand why I seem a bit empty thinking about the on-going subject of this blog.

My reading and thinking has been very focused of late - this too will pass and my musings on topics related to leadership will return, if the Lord is willing.

What is capturing your thinking?

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Choose To Seek the Positive and Be Positive

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF: Integration of Body/Soul/Spirit

Preparing for January 6th – Epiphany (a Christian Feast Day)

We are now finished with the Christmas Season – well sort-of: On Sunday (January 4th, 2010), in liturgical churches, Epiphany was celebrated – a celebration to remind people of the Incarnation, the visit of the Magi and, for many, Jesus’ early life – baptism and turning water to wine at Cana. Epiphany means “appearance,” “manifestation” or “showing forth.”

Got me to thinking about the new year and just what it means to be people who serve a risen Savior – and that’s a key. If Christ is not risen, than all this stuff about leadership and positive thinking is interesting, may be motivating, but not ultimately important. Christians celebrate a Risen Savior. It changes things.

An email from a friend today reminded all it readers (one of those kind of emails) that we can choose to be joyful or not.: and scripture reminds us that “…whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind finds life itself—glorious life!” That kind of life is a manifestation of the Supernatural. It will be attractive. We each can become an “epiphany” by how we respond to life.

Positive people attract. It is certainly easy to hunt for the wrong and wicked – so much out there to find. Hunting for the right and kind takes discipline; it takes intentionality and a willingness to forego the “junk going on in your life” to find the beauty in life and in others.


Is your life a manifestation of Christ in you, the hope of glory?


Copyright ©2010 by P. Griffith Lindell

Monday, December 28, 2009

Authentic Leadership Demands Hard Work

Proverbs 28:19 (NIV) He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.


Working the land, like authentic leadership, is about doing the right stuff at the right time in the right amounts.

There’s purpose to that working. There’s commitment to the values whose predicates are often long, tedious hours of “real work.” It’s about caring more for the “land” than for your comfort – there are days when certain work must be accomplished no matter how you feel. Warren Bennis put it this way, “What we are looking for is well-honed judgment that is rooted in visible purpose and values that we consistently count on over time.”

“Working the land: is at least about purpose and commitment to values of stewardship but it is also about capacity – rotating crops to benefit the soil or even resting the land: both helping to yield more of the core crop. Maybe that metaphor becomes reality in cross-training – allowing several to develop and expand skill sets. Takes extra effort. It’s hard work, but it pays dividends.

Whether it’s leading your firm or growing in your journey of knowing God and making Him known, both take constant effort – work. Fantasy has no place in either pursuit.

What are you working on?

Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF: Choose to Smile

Proverbs 17:22 (MSG) A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

Our Creator is sure practical! And health professionals have long recognized this truth; but it is even now permeating the business community.

According to author Susan Heathfield, writing on employee motivation, leaders should: “Start the day by showing a positive, cheerful attitude (Your arrival at work sets the employee motivation tone for the day.)”

Good medicine for you: good medicine for your company.

The leader lays the foundation for the culture. Your smile and disposition not only helps you, but also others.

Are you smiling?

Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF: Saying the Right Thing at the Right Time

Proverbs 15:24 (AMP) A man has joy in making an apt answer, and a word spoken at the right moment--how good it is!

Giving voice to thought – now, for me, that sometimes is very hard to control. As the Apostle Paul noted “…and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)

The mind matters. Its thoughts must be taken captive – for a purpose. Why? Because out of the mouth flows the intents of the heart. The one follows the other.

Controlling both our thoughts, and our voice takes intentionality – in other words, CONTROL. You want to practice servant-leadership, get control of your thoughts and your talk.

The result of that control is “joy.” Giving a right answer. Building up: not tearing down. Encouraging. Providing advice. Saying the right thing at the right moment. The fruit of our words should be sweet and tasty – delightful to the ear. That’s not always the case for me. Tonality. Body language. I’m working on it – all the time.


How about you? Got the talk down? The timing right?


Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Monday, December 14, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF: The Foundation

The image I use to illustrate the body/soul/spirit integration is the Statue of Liberty. Like many illustrations, it is not perfect, but is useful. The statue is an integration of the flame of the spirit, the crown of the mind and the structure of a supporting body. The foundation for this symbol is both large and solid.

Another illustration from Scripture might be instructive. Noah’s three sons named in Scripture - (Ham (body-physical), Shem (spiritual) and Japheth (mind - intellectual) - each may represent nations that mirror the tri-part makeup of humans.

Japhethites, essentially European people groups provided the world with great intellectual development – philosophy, science, psychology; the Hamites, a mix of African and Asian people groups (Egypt, Africa, Orient), provided the world great explorers, farming and crop-raising techniques, architectural wonders, servants (slaves, producers for the other nations); and the Semites, who gave the world both Israelites (Hebrew people – Jewish nation) and Ishmaelites (Arabs), have given the world much in the spiritual development.

God intended all to work together for the benefit of each. Man had different ideas. Ham, through his son Canaan, was cursed by Noah for his dishonoring behavior, has been fulfilling the curse, despite his grandson, Nimrod’s, attempt to rule rather than be ruled. If you read The Book, you know the final end of Babylon the city founded by him and then the final realization of God’s plan – of which there should be no doubt.

So what’s the “so what?” Shem’s descendant, Jesus of Nazareth, who came to earth as The God/man, provides the difference. The body must be nourished, feed what is good for it demands care and keeping. The mind receives nourishment from it to support our God-given intellect; therefore, it too must not be dismissed, demanding constant stimulation and challenge; but both are only temporary. The eternal spirit, however, changes our focus of body-care and mind-development. For if Christ was not resurrected, he becomes only another guru in a long line of Wiseman, and our spiritual faith is in vain.

That faith drives the reality of His Spirit living within us to provide us the power needed to control self. On our own, our attempts for control are temporary, and under stress, that self-foundation becomes obvious. Only a supernatural “Rock of Ages” – the Messiah promised the world- the living Jesus Christ provides the foundation we need to exercise control.

Is your life built on the shifting sands of self or the living Rock of the Ages?




Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF – Does Your Light Shine?

Tomorrow is 11 December 2009 AD or 24 Kislev 5770 – the former the Christian date; the later the Jewish date.

Chanukah (Hanukah for us Gentiles) begins Friday. Our Jewish friends will kindle one light before sunset. This is done in celebration for the miracle of the Jewish temple’s menorah burning continuously for eight days from a one-day supply of sacred olive oil. The Maccabees, who stood up to their enemies, cleansed their temple, and in the face of certain punishment or death, took risks for their faith: those people and that miracle are now celebrated with the “Festival of Lights.”

That Temple Menorah pointed to the “light of the world” – now Christian believers. (Matt 5:14 “You are the light of the world….” Jesus, the “true Light” gives that light to us to shine through us: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5: 16)

This is His season; for it is the Christ of Christmas that changed history, and he was Jewish. We should not forget that. He came for all humans, but he came within a particular time, from particular ancestry - as foretold in Scripture.

In our pluralistic society, controlling self has come to mean, for some, political correctness. Control your spiritual self, in other words. Bah humbug! Rubbish. This is the Christmas season. We celebrate the birth of the God/man who walked among us as a Jewish carpenter, proclaiming the good news, to the Jewish nation, that their long-awaited Messiah had come. The one who brought them the miracle of the menorah now completed the expression of God’s light by being with us in this life. "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5)

This truly is the season of lights. Homes in our neighborhood are lit up – despite the recession. Inside and outside houses, malls, stores –even some businesses - sparkle with lights. Nice. But not important. The light that counts is His light in you.

What kind of light are you? Is your life glowing good works that glorify your Father in Heaven?


Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF - Integration of Body, Soul (Mind) and Spirit

Controlling self is an integrated function that begins with an understanding of what controls humans. Business recognizes the importance of each attribute – and when they have discounted one for the others, problems arise.

Charles Dickens made a good living exposing businesses that worked people too many hours to the determent of the body – we have work-rules today that recognize that humans need to rest the physical structure. Dickens also exposed those who focused on the Soul (mind) to the exclusion of the spirit. These characters lived as if the body and soul were all that is – and the spiritual component of humans was dismissed as not important – indeed irrelevant. His writing, as well as others, gave rise to a leadership that became increasingly more sensitive to the complete person. Today, leaders must recognize all three natures and manage the business accordingly.

It is my belief that humans are both material and immaterial beings. Some writers in the area of theology posit that humans are two-part beings consisting of body (material) and souls (immaterial). Others distinguish the immaterial into two distinct, but interrelated “parts.” I hold to the second view.

Body – material (Gen. 2:7 “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground…”) is the temporary housing for the Soul and Spirit. When humans die, the body dies – returns to “dust” – its chemical nature breaks down and becomes part of the ground from which it was originally created. The body has sensory-consciousness, which can be used to the destruction of humans –(Gen 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good (suitable, pleasant) for food and that it was delightful to look at…”). This, sin begin it journey into the world through Eve’s sensory gates.

Soul is that part of you that is the essence of living. (Gen. 2:7 “…and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man become a living soul…”) It is the “you-ness” of you - what makes you an individual, distinct from another.

Your body may look identical (like in twins) but each twin has a soul that is unique. This is the part of you that will live eternally. Your sensory gates are connected to your brain (material) and the brain has the ability to create meaning (the immaterial) both in your unconscious and conscious mind – a function that cannot be totally understood or explained.

Your soul nature includes your beliefs, attitudes, feelings, emotions, memory, will, thinking, reasoning and desires. Like the body, the soul must be controlled (Gen 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was …to be desired in order to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…”). As Aristotle noted, “what is in your power to do, it is in your power to not do.” The soul is the seat of your self-consciousness – and if left to dominate, can destroy your eternal relationship with your Creator.

Your spirit is the power that ignites you and controls you. When theologians tell us that humans are born in sin, they are talking about this spirit that is born evil and must be supernaturally reborn to become good. Your spirit is either of God or of Sin and thus gives meaning to life, helps you define your purpose (which can be changed with the spirit is changed). From your spirit you form your faith, your communication with your Creator (prayer) and your ability to have God-consciousness. It is this within us that can be regenerated so that we can know God and the things of God - I Corinthians 2:14 - "But the natural man (body & soul) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him: nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

When humans were created, it is this that ultimately distinguished humans from the animals. Genesis 1:26-27 "Then God said "let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.... So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." The Apostle John reminds us that God is not material and we share an attribute of His for He made us in His image. John 4:24 "God is Spirit…" It is from our spirit that we worship either ourselves (we choose our own god) or our Creator God.

We now seem to be living in the BODY generation – we worship the body. Movies, entertainment, sports are each about the body – the material you. It may be a bit of an over-generalization, but it could be argued that the Reformation worshiped the SPIRIT – the educated opinion-makers focused on things spiritual. In like manner, thinker during the Renaissance worshiped the SOUL (mind), reasoning; what the human soul conceived was venerated. God was not.

Servant-leaders, I believe, should keep the three in balance and worship the Creator, not any one part of the creation. (Romans 1:25 “They (those that reject God as He has revealed Himself to us) exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.”)

Is your life in balance? Do you work at integrating your body, your soul and spirit? Do you allow the Spirit of God to be the fuel in the engine of that integration?


Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Monday, December 07, 2009

Servant-leadership: CONTROL YOURSELF - Leadership and Seduction

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.

Being committed to personal purpose, having a system of ethics and a holistic worldview that does not separate the sacred from the secular is a good start. It is not enough.

The next step is the harder step. Disciplining yourself. 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 by that power 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. Seducing others to follow our lead down this path – playing around with your life – has deadly, eternal consequences.

The seductive path mimics the real. Can you tell the difference?


Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

Friday, December 04, 2009

Servant-leadership - CONTROL Yourself: Integration – Body, Mind, Spirit in Sync.

Proverbs 4:20-23 (MSG)
Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.
Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!
Those who discover these words live, really live;
body and soul, they're bursting with health.
Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

The first important step in “controlling self” is to have a process for keeping congruent your body, your mind and your spirit. As a leader, what marks your journey to develop the “soft side” of leadership - sensitivity to the qualitative aspects and character issues? For example: Are you expecting your sales team to produce revenue to the exclusion of integrity – white lies, exaggerations, manipulations, “dealing,” etc? Or, do you reward both results AND character?

How do you go about nourishing your body, your mind and your spirit? At work, do you allow your team to actually take real vacations – or are they on call 24/7? Not only is that probably a violation of the law, more importantly it is a violation of God’s law that rest is good and important for his creation. Just as you do not take a drink of water only one day a week, neither can you nourish your mind and spirit for two hours on a Sunday morning. You nourish your body by drinking liquid every day: how are you treating your spirit and your mind? (The Biblical term “heart” is a unique combination of both.)

What about your mind? Did school teach you all you needed to know? What the latest leadership book you have read – and studied (meditated upon)? How are you nourishing your mind with more than technical data about your products/services, the industry or the marketplace?

What of art, music, fiction, poetry, gardening etc. provides nourishment for your mind and spirit?

The “heart” fuels the engine of your mind and body. How do you practice reflection to keep your heart pure? Motives pure? When you look at the results you have produced at work, home or even play, how do you reflect upon them to change behavior to produce a different result? What is your experience with apologizing – recognizing that the results you just produced did not honor God, or other people?

Integration of body, mind and spirit takes work. Do you have a work plan?


Copyright ©2009 P. Griffith Lindell