In Arthur Brooks’ book, From Strength to Strength, he references a study that discovered that 70% of workers say that the most important element to a happy work life is friendships at work However, 82% of all businesses in America are now led by solo entrepreneurs, with little opportunity to make or have friends at work. That can make work ...
When I launched a faith-based consulting practice, a partner helped me start the business. Six months later he returned to banking, while I carried on alone. Very alone. We had rented some space in a dreary basement of a bank building. Suddenly, I was isolated, lonely, and making decisions in a vacuum. As an introvert, I get recharged by quiet, ...
In an article on forbes.com website titled, Empathy as a Workplace Superpower, the author, Jason Richmond, notes the value and importance of leaders showing empathy to their team members. Jason provides several practical strategies for leaders to embrace. First let’s talk about honoring the work-life balance of your team members. Looking for ways to support and encourage your employees’ ...
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 ...
In the book of Nehemiah, we learn that Nehemiah’s preceding Governors had placed a heavy burden on the people by demanding onerous taxes and provisions. These leaders seemed motivated by self-interest. Nehemiah had the same taxing rights, but his motives were different. Rather than look to his own self-interest and grow his wealth, Nehemiah showed concern for the people ...
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 ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
