Leadership

As I dive further and further into my own leadership style...if you would like to call it that...I'm learning that the deeper I dive, the more I must rely on God. What I mean is, that He has shown us time and time again what leadership is and should be, and how our work is affected by it. For example, the Bible does not give priorities on the various types of stewardship or work. In fact, most of the heroes in the Bible are people called to secular vocation. To piggy back on the writings of Dennis Bakke, he highlights a few things in terms of our work: (1) in seeking holiness and honoring God, we are called both to steward resources to serve people's physical needs and also to spread the story of redemption and other teachings of Jesus. While we as church goers may place an emphasis on evangelical association, little evidence bears that this is a higher calling than the work of managing his creation. (2) Nothing is more important than a person's coming into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. (3) Being called to work in a secular organization is no better or worse than being called to work in a church, a para-church org. or an institution run by Christians. God may call us to work for Him in any of these settings, regardless of our occupation and particular talents. (4) If I see my work as a mission for God, my attitude and behavior at work are likely to change in a markedly positive way.

People often shift into positions of "sacred" from "secular" by operating their own nurseries, schools, social services, and charities. By doing so, they are inadvertently aiding those who would keep the church out of the public square. They should be encouraged to switch back or to maintain their position in these secular schools and companies where their faith may have a bigger impact.

"give something back" is another phrase thrown around by business leaders. It is a concept as flawed as "success to significance." Giving something back assumes I took something I should have while working. Certainly this would not be the case if I saw my business as God intended it, a stewardship ministry to serve the needs of others and, in the process, my needs as well. Stewarding resources to meet needs of others is a legitimate "giving" activity. "giving back" is relevant only if I have misappropriated and mismanaged the resources I have been given to steward.

The creation story does not assign people, even leaders, the responsibility of "managing" other people. The Bible says that people are to have dominion over the animals and plants. It encourages humans to act as stewards for the world we live in. It does not, however, encourage us to dominate other people. It never classifies people as "resources." The Bible does endorse leadership. What is the difference? Biblical leadership requires those in authority to serve the people they lead. Leaders do whatever it takes to allow followers to use their talents effectively. Thus, good leaders delegate decisions and create an environment in which others can manage God's world. God allowed human kind ot make the ultimate decision of life. He gave us the choice to acknowledge and follow God or to reject Him. We were created in God's likeness as moral beings with the ability to reason, make decisions, and be held responsible for the consequences.

So...how does this all transfer into organizational decisions in the "secular" world? This is very difficult to understand. There is a dilemma of a leader who, on one hand, is given authority over the entire organization and, on the other, is supposed to refrain from making decisions that others in the organization can make. Leaders do have the authority to make all decisions and direct all actions. Leaders are responsible for all that goes on within the organization. There is, however, no requirement that leaders make all or even most of the decisions for which they have authority. God could certainly control His creation through micromanagement, but he chose to delegate most decisions to us. Where God tends to take action is on matters of morality and questions of right and wrong. Shouldn't we follow His lead when we decide which decisions to make and which to delegate? God created humans in His image. We are to be creators like Him. I do not believe He meant that most important decisions should be left to Himself or to human leaders acting on His behalf. God wants us to enjoy our work just as He did.

If any of the previous has bothered you...or you may find it objectionable, I respect that. But you must understand first why I feel this way, and second where it comes from. I place my highest importance upon my relationship with God. Even though I struggle to keep it a priority in my life, it does not alter the importance I have placed upon it.

I believe that leadership begins first with serving others. By serving others, we begin to serve ourselves. There is no better example than giving. Most people enjoy giving a gift and receiving a joyous reaction from the receiver. Much more than just receiving a gift. At least thats what I truly enjoy....the giving...what i receive by giving far outweighs any gratitude I may feel for a received gift. I believe we need to practice this giving in our leadership opportunities. Allow a person to succeed...or even fail. They have been allowed to grow in the process, and we can help guide them. But not make decisions for them at the same time.

Being a leader means to provide and example, and to provide and environment for growth. And to give the opportunities for others as they need or desire. We have been programed since our first day of school to do what is told...we need to get out of the box and let our people make decisions that matter....allow them to grow from it...and allow our companies (however, or whichever it may be) to experience more success and growth because of it. And that is what will bring joy to our workplace. That is what will add meaning to otherwise meaningless tasks we find ourselves in daily.