Find What's Working...and Do More of It

No doubt about it. We’re going through some very difficult hard times. So how do you survive: personally and corporately? For some, it’s hard work and optimism. For others it’s heads-down, dig-in mentality.

We’re not going to get out of this mess with happy talk or a bunker mentality. You as leader must find ways to grow. We need to focus on new opportunities. Don’t keep trying to push old ideas or methodologies. Jesus talked about the danger of putting new patches on old wineskins. Just putting patches on old strategies isn’t enough in tough times.

Find what’s working and do more of it—that`s my motto. And find what’s not working and quit doing it. Paul in the 1st Century talked about forgetting about what’s behind and pressing on to what’s ahead in the high calling of God.

You're Being Watched!

Leaders need to know they’re being watched by their workers. If you’re a boss, you must model desired behavior for employees. Set the tone for excellence in everything. As a leader, you’re in the spotlight. People notice inconsistencies, unguarded moments, non-verbal expressions, how you cope under pressure.  
 
Paul, the Apostle, said to his young student Timothy: “Set an example for others in speech, in life, in love, in faith, in purity.”
 
That’s it. Guard your speech. Bad comments spoken lightly could come back to haunt you. Live your life consistently. You’ve heard the phrase: “Actions speak so loudly I can’t hear what you say.” Live love. Yes, even in the workplace. Your team will appreciate that they’re loved by their boss.

Steve Jobs and Eternity

The world has been admiring the creative genius of Steve Jobs. Steve wasn’t known as a deeply religious person. But he was a highly successful leader and entrepreneur. In spite of being one of the richest men on the planet, becoming aware of his imminent death caused him to say: “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful...that’s what matters to me.”

That moment of truth will come to all of us. In spite of our position, wealth, or power, we end at the same place. Our accomplishments will be measured not by what we’ve gained, but by what we’ve given. Causing another great man to “give what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose. Riches don’t matter at Forest Lawn [Memorial Parks and Mortuaries]. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Influence, not power.

To quote John Maxwell: “Our influence has less to do with our position or title than it does with the life we live. It's not about position. The key word is credibility. We gain credibility when our life matches our talk and when both add value to others.”

Now, I know people in ministry and mainstream who are low on the org chart, but have huge influence with their co-workers. I know this person who did not have a big office or a fancy title, but he cared for people, knew what they were thinking, and had the pulse of the organization. He influenced because he cared and listened. No matter who you are, you can be an influence to those around you. You can change your organizational culture. After all, God often uses the weak to confound the strong and the humble to overpower the proud.