LEADERSHIP Series: Thinking Rightly – Doing Right Things

Rich or poor. Oppressed or the oppressor. Experience shape us, not by what happens, but by what how we think and therefore what we do about what happens.

It is because of the simple, common grace of God that we are born seeing. Easily forgotten. We take such for granted – until we are one of those born sightless, or deaf, or dumb.

Beyond the actual to the metaphor, all have been given some measure of enlightenment. Both can experience the hope for something more than this life offers: the poor for wealth that comes without anxiety and the oppressor for wealth not built on abusive behavior, but on right living.

It always comes down to what we do with the light the LORD has given:

Do we turn away (leave the lesson) and seek the shade?
Do we reach out, despite our condition, and ask our Creator to teach us something more?
Do we leave the light and seek darkness?

Are you learning or “leaving?”

Proverbs 29:13 (MSG) The poor and their abusers have at least something in common: they can both see—their sight, God's gift!

LEADERSHIP Series: The Power of Collaboration

Collaboration is a key to effective strategy development. Insights from all categories of stakeholders are valuable. No stakeholder should be deemed “insignificant” or “incompetent” to provide insights to the external and internal factors shaping your strategy.

Leaders in new organizations benefit from the current team’s corporate knowledge, even if it is based on an “old” paradigm and is not in sync with the leader’s new vision. Their current understanding of customers, competitors and the company (the important three “C’s” in business) provide valuable insights in a current-state analysis. As one of my colleagues once put it: you must understand your customers intimately, your competitors thoroughly and your firm brutally.

The same may be said for living a significant life at work, at play and at home. There exists a spiritual battle for the Christian leader. You are not warring against flesh and blood, but principalities, powers and rulers of darkness whose aim it to keep you from achieving significance – especially significance that counts for eternity,

Understanding the three “C’s” above can well drive your product introduction battles. They also drive your life battles (think customers as those you serve as a leader; competitors as Satan and his minions; company as you, and your family). Understanding for both “battles” cannot be done in a vacuum. Personal and corporate “victories” result when you have wise counsel from wise people.

Have you “wised” up?

Proverbs 24:6 (MSG) Strategic planning [wise guidance (NLT)] is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel.


Copyright © 2009 by P. Griffith Lindell