Recently, the news has been filled with those business people and other leaders who have achieved a result and their name is not good because of that result.
For everyone, especially leaders, two attributes are more desirable than all the wealth we can accumulate: to be well spoken of and to be held in high esteem by others.
Both point to personal purpose: knowing who you are and what your purpose is. I hope you have a handle on that.
A.W. Tozer offered seven “tests” for us to use when we want to understand better how we are “known” and what really drives us:
1. What we want most
2. What we think about most
3. How we use our money
4. What we do with our leisure time
5. The company we enjoy
6. Who and what we admire
7. What we laugh at
And remember, as my Mom used to say: “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you say.”
What really drives you? Do you have a personal purpose statement?
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Showing posts with label behavior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label behavior. Show all posts
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Lighting the Way
Qualities of a business leader often deal with competency, care, and communication. Great qualities to develop. Christian leaders must develop both secular standards of leadership and scared standard that may include providing sound, Biblically-based advice, good teaching that provide “light” and living a life of moral discipline.
Life is not simple and neither is leading.
It is about being a light. Light has a way of revealing. Christian leaders must distinguish right from wrong even in the face of what might be "legal," but not righteous, in God's eyes.
Is the “light” of your life revealing Christ in you?
Proverbs 6:23 (MSG) For sound advice [that had come from Wisdom] is a beacon, good teaching is a light, and moral discipline is a life path.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Life is not simple and neither is leading.
The ability to discern truth and righteousness demands, of leaders, something beyond their natural skills. Being known as a Christian business leader should have an eternal impact on the lives around you.Business is in constant flux. Capital gets depleted. Priorities change. Boards demand progress. Individual contributors are often driven by self-centered motives painted in the texture and hue of team effort. Complexities arise very often fraught with gray areas that take special wisdom.
It is about being a light. Light has a way of revealing. Christian leaders must distinguish right from wrong even in the face of what might be "legal," but not righteous, in God's eyes.
Is the “light” of your life revealing Christ in you?
Proverbs 6:23 (MSG) For sound advice [that had come from Wisdom] is a beacon, good teaching is a light, and moral discipline is a life path.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Friday, May 1, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: In Tough Times Leaders Relax Then Lead
Thoughts about leadership come from many diverse sources. While thinking about sharing my thoughts on stillness and resting, relaxing and leading, I was in bed, also reading a Tanenbaum novel last night wherein this description awoke my thinking:
That author captured the both the wonder of stillness and result it produces. This result will impact all those around - all those watching you. You want to be a magnet of quiet meaning to those seeking rest and relaxation from the troubles of their life? Relax.
If lost in the woods, we are taught to be still. Stay in one place. Our nature is to move. Run. Flee. Frantically find the way out. Instead of frenetic activity, on writer advised, "I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother."1
This verse says there is a simple method that will provide what you need to learn to relax – and it’s free!
Go deep into life – be still. It takes patience and discipline to quiet self and listen to the still, small voice of our Creator. For hard chargers like me, it is difficult to quiet my mind, my soul and my body – and I want God to shout. Being still – relaxing – I have learned will help you discover your way.
Do life right: Shift your focus. Being self-absorbed brings anxiety: Becoming God-absorbed yields relaxation. The choice should be clear.
In the stillness, to whom are you paying attention?
Proverbs 1:33 (MSG) "First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
1 David, in Psalm 131:2
“Lucy in the meantime was exercising her primary religious talent…simply keeping still and reflecting in peace and gratitude. This had a radiating effect on the other lunchers.”
That author captured the both the wonder of stillness and result it produces. This result will impact all those around - all those watching you. You want to be a magnet of quiet meaning to those seeking rest and relaxation from the troubles of their life? Relax.
If lost in the woods, we are taught to be still. Stay in one place. Our nature is to move. Run. Flee. Frantically find the way out. Instead of frenetic activity, on writer advised, "I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother."1
This verse says there is a simple method that will provide what you need to learn to relax – and it’s free!
Go deep into life – be still. It takes patience and discipline to quiet self and listen to the still, small voice of our Creator. For hard chargers like me, it is difficult to quiet my mind, my soul and my body – and I want God to shout. Being still – relaxing – I have learned will help you discover your way.
Do life right: Shift your focus. Being self-absorbed brings anxiety: Becoming God-absorbed yields relaxation. The choice should be clear.
In the stillness, to whom are you paying attention?
Proverbs 1:33 (MSG) "First pay attention to me, and then relax. Now you can take it easy--you're in good hands.
Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
1 David, in Psalm 131:2
Saturday, April 18, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Putting Your Faith to Work @ Work
Whether you are in a small business or large corporation, here are some principles that might help with your Business Ethics:
1. Don’t worship self – it's not all about you - work on your internal attitude.
2. Value others – by respecting their rights and with tangible, external expressions like expressing appreciation for work well done.
3. Lead with a moral compass – ask yourself “Are my actions in sync with God's moral principles?” Do you even know them?
4. Apply Proverbs 2: 1-5 – accept the words of Wisdom, store them up, turn ear to hear, apply heart, call for insight; cry aloud for understanding Helps with #1 See also
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 treatment of other people
6. Show a concern for truth by not only the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses, but also by how your behave. Keep your promises. Make restitution for harm done - even if it is accidental.
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart by 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 that you 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. Remember, everybody always produces a result - look at the result and make changes to produce a different result.
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
13. Develop your personal purpose statement and lead (and we all lead no matter our title) from it.
14. "As a person thinks so is he" – therefore, practice “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 - respect their right to speak.
16. Develop inner contentment - if you are not, how do you expect others around you to be content?
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project – you and I own nothing. We have a duty - some would say and "holy duty" to be responsible stewards of natural resources. Is what you are doing sustainable?
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. Cussing, swearing, getting mad accomplishes nothing positive.
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 ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell This material may be quoted with proper recognition of source.
1. Don’t worship self – it's not all about you - work on your internal attitude.
2. Value others – by respecting their rights and with tangible, external expressions like expressing appreciation for work well done.
3. Lead with a moral compass – ask yourself “Are my actions in sync with God's moral principles?” Do you even know them?
4. Apply Proverbs 2: 1-5 – accept the words of Wisdom, store them up, turn ear to hear, apply heart, call for insight; cry aloud for understanding Helps with #1 See also
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 treatment of other people
6. Show a concern for truth by not only the questions you ask peers, subordinates and bosses, but also by how your behave. Keep your promises. Make restitution for harm done - even if it is accidental.
7. When leading a team or a company, practice humility, modesty and shared decision-making
8. Practice personal discipline to guard your heart by 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 that you 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. Remember, everybody always produces a result - look at the result and make changes to produce a different result.
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
13. Develop your personal purpose statement and lead (and we all lead no matter our title) from it.
14. "As a person thinks so is he" – therefore, practice “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 - respect their right to speak.
16. Develop inner contentment - if you are not, how do you expect others around you to be content?
17. Remember – you are a steward of this company, this team, this project – you and I own nothing. We have a duty - some would say and "holy duty" to be responsible stewards of natural resources. Is what you are doing sustainable?
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. Cussing, swearing, getting mad accomplishes nothing positive.
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 ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell This material may be quoted with proper recognition of source.
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