LEADERSHIP Series: Choosing the Right Walk

Whether it's Business School or the school of life, any learning that leaves out God, is foolish – it's the simple (think simpleton) way.

A Christian leader (or any person) must adopt a worldview that is totally integrated – it defines walking in the “way of understanding.” That walk includes unifying our public/private, sacred/secular lives, growing in Truth and gaining spiritual power.

Truth is not subject to man’s rules about discourse and debate. Understanding the principles of Truth is vital since many business decisions are not clearly legal or illegal; rather, they often demand leaders thinking abut which of the ethically right paths that should be followed - and that takes understanding and a clear focus on the Truth.

Another example of the “way of understanding” concerns stewardship – managing the world our Creator has given us. I personally, do not subscribe to the global-warming hysteria since I see that its genesis has no real basis in good science. However, there are simple solutions that demonstrate our care for our resources given the current rise in costs associated with heating and cooling the workplace.

Practical "green" tips

Want to walk the "green path" and show care for our culture and remain in the Truth?

• Consider simple solutions to hold in the heat and keep out the cold like window treatments especially for south or west-facing windows.
• For some businesses, windows, open to viewing, are important for crime prevention (the register is out front and can easily be seen); however, for those not critical to crime prevention, consider insulating drapes or blinds.
• Sealing air leaks is another simple way to help with the cost of heating and cooling.
• If you can, replace or clean the HVAC system filters a regular basis.

Understanding some simple things you can do may yield dividends that will save you money and demonstrate understanding of the principles of resource management. Green behavior acknowledges our role as stewards - a way of understanding.

Proverbs 9:6; (NIV) Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.

Sometimes we cannot clearly see down the path: following God's lead is a walk of Faith and not sight. This faith walk begins with "knowing God" and that results from feasting at the table of His Word, praying, and having a transparent relationship with Godly people.

You got “walk?”


Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

LEADERSHIP Series: The Chords of Leadership Character

In their book The 5 Pillars of Leadership, Meyer and Slechta posit that the first three fundamentals of leadership are integrity, a servant’s heart and stewardship. The chord of your character, if built with those three strands, will not easily be broken!

Warren Bennis is quoted as saying that “Character is the key to leadership” and research, done by Harvard University professors, indicates that 85% of a leader’s performance depends on personal character.

Character helps you clearly define your goals because they are formed with integrity that is born from a Godly fear. These goals serve the needs of a leader’s followers because the Christian leader has first learned to serve their Master; and their goals reflect the attitude that the Leader does not “own” the business and its resources: the effective leader understands that s/he is a steward of those resources.

For the Christian leader, the source of character is a reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord: ignoring this fear (The attitude that I will fear no one!) has consequences. There is the final judge. What we do, what we think and what we say ultimately matters.

One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that happiness (blessedness) starts with fear. Know God - No Fear. Fear God - Know happiness.

From what are strands in your chord of character made?

Proverbs 28:14 (NIV) Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

For Further Study

Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell

LEADERSHIP Series: Dangerous Compromises

Compromises of our moral principles begins when we forget the basis of those principles. Our slide down that slippery slope gains its momentum when we stop learning from the text that really matters – Scripture.

In her book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, author Goodwin noted that Lincoln was consumed with learning. A study of his life reveals that he not only read but also studied Scripture. His Bible was never far from him and one of his quotes, no doubt stimulated by his constant reading of the Scriptures is, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”

His compassion (an expression of humility) was demonstrated in his 2nd Inaugural Address when he declared: "With malice toward none; with charity for all…" and that began the process of healing between the North and the South.

You, as a leader, now have power – at some level - to heal or hurt. How you use that power with your followers will demonstrate your ability to follow your Creator-leader. Effective leaders must demonstrate in their character what Lincoln lived out – “a paradoxical mix of humility and resoluteness of will” - one of the hallmarks of “Level 5 Leadership” (Good to Great, Collins).

Arrogance (a lack of humility) and compromising principals starts when we stop “listening to instruction” from the Ultimate Instructor.

Even when we think God is not listening, He is there. As John Eldredge points out (in Walking with God: Talk to Him. Hear from Him. Really) “Hearing from God flows out of our relationship” – a relationship born of God, given us through the work of Christ and sealed by the Spirit.

Like any meaningful relationship, this one also takes work. Driven by a daily duty to declare that even our time belongs to Him, we make that declaration real by “listening to instruction” from His Word – first.

Got the Book? Are you hooked on instruction?


Proverbs 19:27 (NKJV) Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.


Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell