Just as money cannot buy happiness, it cannot buy wisdom.
The purchase of wisdom is a heart thing. The heart must first be changed since God's ways are not the ways of the world.
What are leaders at work to do? Stop funding all educational incentives? Disparage the educational system? NO! That MBA will help do stuff: a heart for God will help you be.
Proverbs 17:16 (NLT) It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool who has no heart for wisdom.
Believers are called to a different world: to a different way of living: we are called to learn God’s ways and apply them. It matters little whether we are a butcher, baker or candlestick maker: we are each models of applied wisdom.
What are you working on: being or doing?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Planning
It was D.D. Eisenhower who said: "In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable."
For business leaders, planning that goes into strategy is essential. You must know what is happening in the environment. You have a duty to understand the business sector. Understanding market share and profitability helps determine strategy. These are tools, when given to God, become quite useful for humans. Mintzberg & Quinn in their text The Strategy Process observed: "Strategy deals with the unknowable, not the uncertain."
Business leaders work hard at looking at patterns, factors, trends, research, known and unknown needs - elements, among others that go into planning; but they do not know the future. God does.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
The process is ongoing. The market changes. Internal factors change. People come and go. New dynamics emerge. The Christian business leader should use good planning and management techniques to control the business: but s/he does this with the absolute certainty that the LORD determines the outcome. This fact in no way excuses people from planning, thinking, strategizing.
Are you planning with God in mind?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
For business leaders, planning that goes into strategy is essential. You must know what is happening in the environment. You have a duty to understand the business sector. Understanding market share and profitability helps determine strategy. These are tools, when given to God, become quite useful for humans. Mintzberg & Quinn in their text The Strategy Process observed: "Strategy deals with the unknowable, not the uncertain."
Business leaders work hard at looking at patterns, factors, trends, research, known and unknown needs - elements, among others that go into planning; but they do not know the future. God does.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
The process is ongoing. The market changes. Internal factors change. People come and go. New dynamics emerge. The Christian business leader should use good planning and management techniques to control the business: but s/he does this with the absolute certainty that the LORD determines the outcome. This fact in no way excuses people from planning, thinking, strategizing.
Are you planning with God in mind?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Monday, June 15, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Get Advice. Godly Advice.
We live in a world of uncertainty – magnified by the political, socio-economic and military events of 2009. Jobs lost. Families in stress. For many leaders, the streams of their revenue have dried up. The lake of their reserves now lies with its old, rotten stumps exposes in pools of mud. No water there. Not a pretty picture.
Google “business advice” and you’ll find over 98,000,000 entries. Lot of advice out there. Small and large business leaders have many sources from which to choose. Many are living a life of frustration with their unrealized plans. Frustration with the wide variety of choices for advice. Frustrated with movement or lack thereof. Who do you choose and why?
For the Christian leader, this verse offers very explicit advice. Solomon directs the reader to seek those who know us well – small (by implication) intimate group with whom we have been transparent. A team proven to be trustworthy with our secrets.
These are the ones with whom we can share the interrelated nature of what is happening to us. They have a special task: They listen. They deliberate. Then, they offer a plan.
God’s way recognizes that plans sometimes are complex. The counselors chosen must have resources beyond them simple mental capacity to ask important questions – to guide your thinking – to provide legitimate resources to draw upon to help solve business problems. These “counselors” have proven themselves worthy by prayerfully considering the circumstances, and based upon their connection with the Spirit within them, they offer the kind of achieves that achieves results.
Proverbs 15:22 (AMP) Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.
Look at the promise: the plans are established. Can’t beat that. Ah, but it’s conditional. Get counsel from those who get counsel themselves. God has shaped them with life experiences from which they have learned practical and spiritual lessons.
Advice from people who have “been there - done that” is important. Advice from those who have learned spiritual lessons in addition is vital to the Believer. Consider Kingdom Point consultants - they provide both attributes.
Got those kind of people around you?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Google “business advice” and you’ll find over 98,000,000 entries. Lot of advice out there. Small and large business leaders have many sources from which to choose. Many are living a life of frustration with their unrealized plans. Frustration with the wide variety of choices for advice. Frustrated with movement or lack thereof. Who do you choose and why?
For the Christian leader, this verse offers very explicit advice. Solomon directs the reader to seek those who know us well – small (by implication) intimate group with whom we have been transparent. A team proven to be trustworthy with our secrets.
These are the ones with whom we can share the interrelated nature of what is happening to us. They have a special task: They listen. They deliberate. Then, they offer a plan.
God’s way recognizes that plans sometimes are complex. The counselors chosen must have resources beyond them simple mental capacity to ask important questions – to guide your thinking – to provide legitimate resources to draw upon to help solve business problems. These “counselors” have proven themselves worthy by prayerfully considering the circumstances, and based upon their connection with the Spirit within them, they offer the kind of achieves that achieves results.
Proverbs 15:22 (AMP) Where there is no counsel, purposes are frustrated, but with many counselors they are accomplished.
Look at the promise: the plans are established. Can’t beat that. Ah, but it’s conditional. Get counsel from those who get counsel themselves. God has shaped them with life experiences from which they have learned practical and spiritual lessons.
Advice from people who have “been there - done that” is important. Advice from those who have learned spiritual lessons in addition is vital to the Believer. Consider Kingdom Point consultants - they provide both attributes.
Got those kind of people around you?
For Further Study
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Friday, June 12, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Leader’s Language Heals or Hurts
In his book, Leadership Without Easy Answers, Harvard professor Ronald Heifetz posits that the role of leadership is changing: the new role is “to help people face reality and to mobilize them to make change.”
Change has been a hot topic recently and change is at least painful and at worst potentially destructive. Positive change in our relationship takes intentionality. People are sometimes “destroyed” by what is said and how it is said as they spontaneously react negatively to the change.
Crosby, in his book The Absolutes of Leadership, posits that there exist five leadership personalities:
o “Destructor – see things only from their own perspective;”
o “Procrastinators – waste people’s time and energy;”
o “Caretaker – who is frozen in time”;
o Preparer – plan well but are inflexible; and,
o “Accomplisher”– who through words and deeds inspire, motivate all stakeholders to move the organization ahead.
What is interesting is that the communication styles move along a continuum that is similar to this verse – the “Destructor” will use rash language that cuts and maims, while the “Accomplisher” is a wise communicator, healing customers, suppliers and employees so that all are building positive relationship with the business.
Business strategy is virtually meaningless until the leader successfully motivates the team to change. Motivation is the predicate of healing words, words that build and do not destroy; words that inspire personal change in behavior for the benefit of the individual and the organization.
Proverbs 12:18 (MSG) Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.
The wise leader recognizes the various impacts of change on the team and carefully chooses language and speaks words that heal by creating value and meaning for each person experiencing the change.
Are you leading with words that heal or maim?
Copyright ©2009 P. Griffith Lindell
Change has been a hot topic recently and change is at least painful and at worst potentially destructive. Positive change in our relationship takes intentionality. People are sometimes “destroyed” by what is said and how it is said as they spontaneously react negatively to the change.
Crosby, in his book The Absolutes of Leadership, posits that there exist five leadership personalities:
o “Destructor – see things only from their own perspective;”
o “Procrastinators – waste people’s time and energy;”
o “Caretaker – who is frozen in time”;
o Preparer – plan well but are inflexible; and,
o “Accomplisher”– who through words and deeds inspire, motivate all stakeholders to move the organization ahead.
What is interesting is that the communication styles move along a continuum that is similar to this verse – the “Destructor” will use rash language that cuts and maims, while the “Accomplisher” is a wise communicator, healing customers, suppliers and employees so that all are building positive relationship with the business.
Business strategy is virtually meaningless until the leader successfully motivates the team to change. Motivation is the predicate of healing words, words that build and do not destroy; words that inspire personal change in behavior for the benefit of the individual and the organization.
Proverbs 12:18 (MSG) Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.
The wise leader recognizes the various impacts of change on the team and carefully chooses language and speaks words that heal by creating value and meaning for each person experiencing the change.
Are you leading with words that heal or maim?
Copyright ©2009 P. Griffith Lindell
Thursday, June 11, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Leader’s Immediate Stop Busybodies and Gossips
An anonymous person has been quoted as saying, “Samson slew 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. You and I may have destroyed as many relationships with the same weapon.”
Words are powerful and workplace gossip has become almost like air: it's everywhere. So pervasive that management literature not only recognizes gossip as a force in the workplace, but also has studied how it starts, how to use it, how to make it work for you and how to stop it.
Writers in the field of organizational development, human resources and management seem to recognize that gossip "is a universal human behavior that we all engage in, and which serves a functional purpose for employees and organizations.”(Summerhurst & Talbott)
I don’t know that I agree that is has a functional purpose, but the literature seems to posit gossip as an outgrowth of our supposed evolutionary journey allowing “us to exchange information about other people, so short-circuiting the laborious process of finding out how they behave.” (Dunbar, 1996)
How do you stop it? Research has discovered that if the gossip is immediately challenged or redirected, the gossip will stop; however, if a second person joins, it grows. Business etiquette and Scripture agree - stop it before it starts.
Remember what my Dad told me years ago: Small people talk about other people. Ordinary people talk about things. Wise people talk about ideas.
Are you wise and trustworthy?
Proverbs 11:13 (NLT) A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Words are powerful and workplace gossip has become almost like air: it's everywhere. So pervasive that management literature not only recognizes gossip as a force in the workplace, but also has studied how it starts, how to use it, how to make it work for you and how to stop it.
Writers in the field of organizational development, human resources and management seem to recognize that gossip "is a universal human behavior that we all engage in, and which serves a functional purpose for employees and organizations.”(Summerhurst & Talbott)
I don’t know that I agree that is has a functional purpose, but the literature seems to posit gossip as an outgrowth of our supposed evolutionary journey allowing “us to exchange information about other people, so short-circuiting the laborious process of finding out how they behave.” (Dunbar, 1996)
How do you stop it? Research has discovered that if the gossip is immediately challenged or redirected, the gossip will stop; however, if a second person joins, it grows. Business etiquette and Scripture agree - stop it before it starts.
Remember what my Dad told me years ago: Small people talk about other people. Ordinary people talk about things. Wise people talk about ideas.
Are you wise and trustworthy?
Proverbs 11:13 (NLT) A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: A Challange
Rich Leadership. Truly rich.
Blessings from the Lord do not come with continuing lust or passion or focus on “toiling” for more riches. Blessings from the Lord are freeing, not enslaving.
So, just whom does the Lord bless? Those who are diligent to know Him; diligent to be like Him; committed to bless others as He did; and – here’s the kicker - to obey Him.
Without a scent of self-centeredness; without a hint of disputing His law; obeying wholeheartedly.
I’m challenged. Are you?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Proverbs 10:22 (AMP) The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it].Quite a promise when you think about it: riches with no sorrow; wealth without anxiety. No worrying about who might take it away; or how you might loose it; or the tax burden because of it; or the misunderstandings about you because you have it.
Blessings from the Lord do not come with continuing lust or passion or focus on “toiling” for more riches. Blessings from the Lord are freeing, not enslaving.
So, just whom does the Lord bless? Those who are diligent to know Him; diligent to be like Him; committed to bless others as He did; and – here’s the kicker - to obey Him.
Without a scent of self-centeredness; without a hint of disputing His law; obeying wholeheartedly.
I’m challenged. Are you?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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?
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
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?
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.
- 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.
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
Monday, June 8, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Avoiding the Seductions of Wealth
We have become society that is more concerned about how we look, how much we are liked, and how saying the “right things” rather than behaving with values that reflects Wisdom that comes from the Truth.
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."
The Christian business person must excel at business using principles that honor God and people. Doing business in a way that both people and God are pleased takes supernatural infusion of Wisdom. Because our hearts are “desperately wicked,” we can easily be deceived. We must consistently ask for Wisdom, in faith, not doubting.
Christian business leaders who live in the pursuit of business success and personal significance find the source of strength in their Creator-Lord, not their balance sheet. They 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 personal net worth.
Proverbs 8:11 (MSG) For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
What do you “wish for?” Wealth or Wisdom?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
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."
The Christian business person must excel at business using principles that honor God and people. Doing business in a way that both people and God are pleased takes supernatural infusion of Wisdom. Because our hearts are “desperately wicked,” we can easily be deceived. We must consistently ask for Wisdom, in faith, not doubting.
Christian business leaders who live in the pursuit of business success and personal significance find the source of strength in their Creator-Lord, not their balance sheet. They 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 personal net worth.
Proverbs 8:11 (MSG) For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.
What do you “wish for?” Wealth or Wisdom?
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: The Business of Knowing God
God is meant to be our all in all – in every single thing. If we have not sold out all for God, we have yet to become truly human.
Observe the highlighted words in the verse below.
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.
There is work to do, here. This is not a pretty string of words to light up our spiritual life tree. These are both contemplative and courageous words. They demand action. The result will change your business life - that I can promise.
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 their offering provides - all business treasure and important stuff.
No eternal value, per se. What will have value is our realization that all the gifts of business acumen that God has given us must not become the object of our worship. We must worship only of the Giver of those gifts.
That kind of worship will allow one to do business in a way that glorifies God. It 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 ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Observe the highlighted words in the verse below.
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.
There is work to do, here. This is not a pretty string of words to light up our spiritual life tree. These are both contemplative and courageous words. They demand action. The result will change your business life - that I can promise.
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 their offering provides - all business treasure and important stuff.
No eternal value, per se. What will have value is our realization that all the gifts of business acumen that God has given us must not become the object of our worship. We must worship only of the Giver of those gifts.
That kind of worship will allow one to do business in a way that glorifies God. It 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 ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
Monday, June 1, 2009
LEADERSHIP Series: Leaders Must Become Powerful Magnets
There was a time in our culture when the term “God-fearing man or woman” was used to describe a Christian; however the literature of the last century painted an image of this person as hard, cranky, without compassion, stoic, even brutal – not a pretty picture.
God-fearers at work have disappeared - at least many public voices. The “fear” written of here is not the trembling Lion quaking before the Wizard of Oz; rather, this fear includes the attitude of honoring God as having authority over all things rejecting the attitude of “I don’t need God: I can do just as well on my own.”
This faith is not mere facile declaration. This faith is vigorous, attentive, and “alive.” God-fearers are called to be magnets - attractive people - because they don’t worship self, they value others, and they lead with a moral compass firmly established.
Are you an attractive God-fearer in the workplace?
Proverbs 1:7(NASB) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
God-fearers at work have disappeared - at least many public voices. The “fear” written of here is not the trembling Lion quaking before the Wizard of Oz; rather, this fear includes the attitude of honoring God as having authority over all things rejecting the attitude of “I don’t need God: I can do just as well on my own.”
This faith is not mere facile declaration. This faith is vigorous, attentive, and “alive.” God-fearers are called to be magnets - attractive people - because they don’t worship self, they value others, and they lead with a moral compass firmly established.
Are you an attractive God-fearer in the workplace?
Proverbs 1:7(NASB) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Copyright ©2009 by P. Griffith Lindell
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