So, apparently last week I was supposed to read another few verses. Listen in as I explain how I screwed up after taking a shortcut! Has this ever happened to you, or am I all alone?
Well, you may get a little chuckle out of my own mistakes.
Really? Being of One Mind In The Office? How Does That Work?
If you are follower of Christ and you’ve struggled with wanting to ‘fit in’ and be part of the team when it seems like the team is only after more money and power, then there’s a little-known, bible verse that provides to a quick and easy way to not be subordinate, but still stick to your Christian Values.
Click the player below to listen now!
Suffering The High Road…
I was just reading 2 Thess 1:1-8 and had a few observations:
As I read this bit of scripture, it’s clear that the “high road”, or God’s way, has some real challenges. Those challenges are that others will persecute me or others trying to take the high road. And, this persecution looks like:
1. Limited job opportunities because we’re not willing to bend the rules
2. Limited recognition for successes because we’re not looking for the praise or validation of our peers.
3. Being overlooked for promotions because we’re not willing to step on heads to get what we want.
4. Treated as a wimp because we don’t run a cut-throat team only focused on profits.
In this scripture, it’s also clear that we’re tempted to take matters into our own hands. We’re tempted to “get even”, make a fuss, or to even bend the rules to get off the short list and stop the persecution.
So… what can I do today to fend off the temptation? Also, what can I do to get in the right frame of mind when persecuted?
I think it’s about two things – a worldview and faith. But, it’s easier said than done. So, let’s take a minute and try to understand the basics.
The Worldview Issue:
The secular worldview says that our boss, our co-workers, our position, our work responsibility and our paycheck all determine our worth. However, if we really focus on our worth, then we realize that we’re worth dying for – at least to Christ! That’s right, if you’re co-workers and your boss are willing to lay their lives down for you knowing that you’re flawed now and will continue to be flawed until your body stops, then they might have more influence. But, they probably won’t do that. But, someone already did. The sure bet is on what’s already happened, not what’s going to happen.
The Faith Issue:
This is where theory and action come together. Faith is actively believing that God’s in control. So, what can you do to be faithful? A few things…
A) Pray for your work. Pray that they’ll understand that you’re trying to do the right thing and sometimes that’s hard. Pray that they’ll see your faith and you taking the high road as a solid character trait from which they can rely on your behavior when times get tough. And, pray that God will soften their hearts against you.
B) Be kind and help your team achieve their goals and mission. After all, you are employed specifically to help the company reach their mission. If the mission of the company is wholesome and true, then working toward that goal as you take the high road only gets the team closer. However, if the mission of the company and your team is unrighteous, pray that God would deliver you from there into another job that isn’t.
C) Make a change if needed. I’m not one to tell you to suffer needlessly. In a world of so many opportunities, there’s another job out there for you. That means that every day, you have a choice about where you work. If that choice has you compromising your integrity, and you’re not called by God to be in the middle of the fray (believe me it happens), then take action and leave.
Drop me a comment and let me know what you
Why Core Values Are So Important…
Monday February 19, 2018
2:38 PM Pacific [SACRAMENTO]
I was just reading 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28.
It’s amazing to me how many times I can read the same section of Scripture and get something new from it every time.
As I was reading today, I realized that a team’s core values define more than their character when they interact with customers and partners. In fact, these core values define an ecosystem in which the entire team is reponsible for some very simple – yet powerful things…
1. Appreciation for supervision and teaching – if we are all working within the same worldview and core values, it’s easy to see that heirachy matters. In this heirachy, we get students and teachers. We get coaches and mentors. We get an appreciation for the wisdom that has come before us and an openness to learn. Without this appreciation, we construct “us against them” mentalities that break down the very fabric of our businesses.
2. An open discussion about process and people improvement – in today’s era of human resources overreach, it’s hard to feel comfortable providing constructive criticism because it seems there’s a risk of having it spun into harassment or discrimination. But, if we examine this bit of scripture, we see that as long as we’re all working within the same set of ‘rules’, the same ethics, the same right-from-wrong understanding…then it’s not just our responsiblity, but our duty to keep one another in line. And, if we take this seriously, this translates into an attitude of continual process and people improvement. This improvement is seen as positive, not aggressive, not unfair, not harassing and not discrimintory. It’s good for the person and it’s great for the team.
3. A framework in which you can take calculated risks – we’re bound to make mistakes. And, as we stretch ourselves and our companies, we’re bound to make bigger and bigger mistakes daily. However, if we’re all working from the same worldview, core values and appreciation for one another, then we make mistakes with good intentions. While mistake can and will hurt, those not made maliciously build the team faster than not being able to make mistakes at all. It is with these mistakes that we manage risk and “fall forward”.
So…if we were to apply these to work today, what might it look like?
1. Say thanks to your supervisor for teaching you something and be open to teach someone else.
2. View criticism as a way of building a stronger team and a stronger you. And, as you’re providing criticism, view it as a way to caring enough about someone else’s future in the team and in their career that you approach the critique with grace and mercy.
3. Set yourself and your team up for the right kind of failure. Regularly review your core values. Regularly review the changes that need to be taken to grow the business, grow the customer and grow yourself. Then, take on that risk that’s consistent with the core values and watch everyone grow from your experience!
Want to go deeper? Business Integrity Matters
Talk tomorrow,
-bradley
Butter Slime – Clear Slime – Sparkle Slime – Oh My…
Bradley here, with a little question for you…
When was the last time you really sat and watched a kid ‘create’?!
My youngest daughter has been in the ‘slime’ business for about two years now. She’s watched every YouTube training or special recipe known to man.
She’s an expert! And…
When she’s in a particularly ‘creative’ mood – she’ll ponder the next big feat!
She’ll sit back and think….
Will it be butter slime this time?
What about transparent (crystal clear slime)?
Maybe, some glitter in this next batch?
After she plans, she begins the complex process of mixing a little of this and…
a little of that.
Then, as it’s taking shape – the grin gets bigger and bigger!
When I watch her create, I imagine the grin on God’s face as he’s pleased that his image of creativity flows through her so strongly!
… can’t you see the grin that must have been on His face when He was creating the earth (Gen 1:1-31).
He’s left a pattern behind for us to create.
He’s mapped out a perfect process to bring an idea to life.
When you read the first chapter of Genesis – can you see the Master Creator…
+ planning ahead?
+ not wasting any energy?
+ building systems that can easily reproduce themselves?
+ orderly… on purpose?
Isn’t this the pattern we should be following when we do our creative work in our jobs everyday?
I think so.
Go deeper – (Business Integrity Matters – Chapter 2)
Talk tomorrow,
-bradley
The 5 Essential Pieces to an Effective Coaching Plan
I’ve been in committee after committee trying to figure out which coaching and mentoring plan to adopt – what key elements to adjust for our own circumstances and which pieces are simply hogwash! There are entire businesses crafted around the development and implementation of accountability leadership and coaching plans. But which are the really good ones?
If you’re a leader in a business, you’ve probably asked yourself this same question over and over again. Anecdotally, we see that those that get coached into bigger roles stay longer at work and find work more satisfying. In addition, each of us (if we’re honest) know that we need to be coached to. Someone needs to be sitting in the dugout and watching how we swing to be sure that our motion is as effective as possible to knock it out of the park. But which do you adopt?
Paul’s First Letter to Timothy Gives us the 5 Essential Pieces to an Effective Coaching Plan
That’s right – it’s been under our nose this whole time! The model coaching plan can be summed up in the 6 chapters of 1 Timothy; proving again that the Bible is the CEO’s guide to the galaxy and God’s plan for us to honor Him in our work.
- Piece One – Staying on the Right Track: How and Why (1 Timothy 1:3-20). In the beginning of this letter Paul warns about what happens when we get our priorities all out of whack and chase shiny objects. In addition, Paul provides Timothy with confidence that he’s the right coach since he’s been in his shoes already. Lastly, the goal of Timothy’s role in the church is well laid out; much like we need in our work.
- Piece Two – Personal and Team Conduct (1 Timothy 2:1 – 1 Timothy 3:13). Here Paul talks about the importance of prayer and God’s hand in his work. He discusses the interaction and the respect that each group within the team deserves. He also highlights the leadership hierarchy and clearly defines roles within the organization.
- Piece Three – Being the Culture Warrior (1 Timothy 3:14 – 1 Timothy 4:16). Paul spends considerable time talking about foundational principles and the responsibility of the leadership to maintain these principles through word and action.
- Piece Four – Organizational Leadership (1 Timothy 5:1 – 1 Timothy 6:10). In this section of Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul makes it clear that there are distinct roles, responsibilities and rewards for different people and groups of people within the organization. In addition, Paul describes the disciplinary actions necessary to protect the integrity of the team.
- Piece Five – A Distinct Charge (1 Timothy 6:11-21). In this section Paul provides encouragement and guidance Timothy’s upcoming challenges and delegates the power he’ll need to accomplish his goals.
Implementing Paul’s Model Coaching Plan
There are numerous commercially available coaching plans, but very few would be this straight forward with such a pedigree of success. Putting this type of coaching plan in place might take a little time in the beginning, but it is easy to replicate, easy to teach, and simple to understand.
Cutting through the chaos of day-to-day activities and building up your organization through coaching and mentoring has been proven to reduce risk and increase profit. But, some companies fail to take action because they just don’t know where to start. However, with Paul’s example everyone of us can get this coaching plan started today and fine tune it as we go along.
Imagine What Well Coached Teams Look Like
If you started coaching and mentoring in your office today – what would next year’s performance reviews reveal? What would next quarters sales and customer satisfaction reveal? What if your entire leadership team took Paul’s outline – picked one person each to coach and were consistent in applying the principals? What would happen if you (and we) prayed for them as they were coaching their teams?
May God Richly Bless You and Your Business!
