The executive erupted as the employee described the team’s mistake. The executive didn’t want to hear about what led to the mistake or how the team was working to mitigate the problem. He wanted the offending employee to feel his anger and the consequences of the error. How do you react when a team member admits an honest mistake? Paul ...
As the time approached for the day long prayer retreat, I started having second thoughts. There were so many important things that needed done. Also, as an introvert, I relish my quiet time with God, while corporate prayer is more of a struggle. Despite my reluctance, I went, and left grateful. The time of prayer was sweet, but the added ...
Nehemiah, with God’s help, remarkably rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls in only 52 days. For most people it would be a time to celebrate. Instead, Nehemiah had a dream of rebuilding the whole city, not just the walls. But it was going to take the help of the people, money, and resources. Nehemiah realized he needed to involve everyone. Nehemiah 7:5 says, ...
The biggest limiting factor in business leaders putting their faith into action is usually time. With the fast pace and demands of life, our tendency can be to become so self-absorbed, we don’t see the needs of the people around us. As leaders, we need to listen and care for those we are called to shepherd. But sometimes that requires ...
Today is Maundy Thursday. On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus, the Son of God, modeled for us a surprising act. In ancient times, Maundy, which means, “washing someone’s dirty feet,” was one of the worst jobs a servant could be asked to complete. Yet, on Jesus’ last night, He humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples! ...
Our work generates value in many ways, but we need to guard how we let it define us. In a recent Substack post, pastor and author Scott Sauls cautioned against measuring our value by our work. We become anxious, he wrote, when “we believe our worth depends on what we produce, how visible we are, or whether we stay ahead ...
In the work world, we often succeed by creating something of value for others. We are rewarded when we identify a need and then create a solution to meet it. We credit success to our efforts. In his book, “On Being a Servant of God,” Warren Wiersbe encourages a different focus when we serve others. Instead of adopting a “manufacturer ...
When someone offers you unsolicited advice, how do you respond? Do you reject it out of hand? Or do you prayerfully consider that person’s counsel, assessing how they came to that suggestion and the wisdom that they may offer? I was tasked with reorganizing a department when another manager shared his thoughts about things I should consider. My first reaction ...
Erika was widely respected as a manager because she had a track record of excellent work and commitment to results. Employees were eager to be on her team because she also had a sincere and compassionate heart for others. She valued both purpose and people. In his letter to the Romans, Paul reinforced that love is an essential element for ...
The modern workplace often puts a premium on individual performance. Organizations build infrastructure to hire people with the talents and skills they need to succeed. Employee performance evaluations tend to focus on individuals’ accomplishments toward the organization’s goals. But concluding his letter to the Romans, Paul lists by name more than two dozen people to whom he sends personal greetings ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
