Business Politics and Believers - The Balance

This has been such a tough topic for me over the years in business. As I completed my Business studies, I had the opportunity to study different types of business leaders. One of those types was Politic Centric Leaders. Meaning, leaders who leverage and rely on politics to make gains in business. At first, I thought this was ludicrous. I thought that even classifying a leadership style based solely on politics was absurd, and grossly unfair.

Then, I started thinking about my own business leadership styles. I started looking at the role of "politics" in business. I realized quickly, that "politics" are a necessary leadership characteristic for all business leaders, including Believers in Business.

Lets define Politics. Politics to me are not back stabbing, cut-throat, lies that we tell about others to tear them down. Politics, in this case, are actions taken that consider either solely or mostly the response of another individual. They also consider levels of authority and influence.

Leadership has often been defined as INFLUENCE. What is influence? Well . . . maybe business politics are part of influence. And as a Believer, Christ called me to be "shrewed as snakes". Meaning, dont be a whimp, and clearly dont be ignorant. For me to INFLUENCE others, I must consider their authority, their power, their perspective, their position, and their whole take on the situation. In doing so, I may being playing "politics", as some have defined them.

Any thoughts on Believers right to utilize Business Politics?

The Holiday Season and Business Leadership

I have the amazing opportunity to sit in the top executives from none other than the Gap. Can you imagine my embarassment as I had to sit in a meeting where we discussed the influx of "merry christmas vs. happy holidays" emails and their impact on our ability to service our normal customers? So called Christians are emailing their thoughts and "disgust" about Gap not saying Merry Christmas, inundating our email boxes with garbage, causing frustration on the part of both the customer service consultatns and the management.

So -what did so-called Christians accomplish by vocalizing their disappointment with Happy Holidays? Exactly the opposite of what Christ has called us to do. I had top executives look at me, as they know I am a Christian, as if to say "what are your people doing?". And I just want to say to any of the emailers out there trying to "add Christ back to Christmas"... you failed miserably in this case.

You turned people away from the love of Christ and annoyed them with your insensitive, inpersonal, annoying emails.

Lets think about this for one second. Do Christians run the Gap? I dont think its the majority. So - why in the world would they want to say "Merry Christmas" any more than they would want to say "Happy Hannukah"? If you want to have debates with people, then have it with one another, where you might expect a Christian to remember Christ during the holidays. But stop expecting those who have not experienced yet the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to act as if they have. Our job - love on them, be a light, show them something they dont normally get during Christmas -maybe patience, kindness, goodness, self-control.

Or, as many "Christians" have done, inundate secular work groups with silly emails, cuasing more workload for already stressed out workers. Im sure that will get them to convert, come to church, and repent for saying "Merry Winter" or "Happy Holidays".

Lets just say... "Merry Happy Chrisma, Rama, Hanna, Quanaka"

Leadership has become one of the most highly discussed topics in business and ministry. However, leadership development and training remains to be seen. Its been easy to read books over and over again, go to conferences, and even listen to some motivational speakers... all around leadership. However, we have failed to help ourselves, and others, truly become better leaders.

What's missing??? Why do many successful leaders state that their greatest opportunity is better develop their teams, reproduce themselves, or as John Maxwell likes to state, "Leave a Legacy"? Because - we dont know how to take something we know and effectively help others internalize it, practice it, make it their own. Our experience in success and failure is difficult to share. There are also external factors that limit our ability, as leaders, to reproduce ourselves.

1. Time - we live in a world, both in business and ministry, where time is of the "essence". We have too much to do to sit down and train, coach, and develop someone else. Beyond ourselves, our teams don't have any time left in their days. Especially volunteers. Ministry Volunteers struggle to manage their personal lives, let alone volunteer leadership development.

2. Cost - Training and Development has been proven to be the first "thing to go" when finances get tight, especially in business. Development has long-term results, not short-term gains. Therefore, it is forgotten, pushed aside for more "important" initiatives. The ministry industry rely on expensive conferences, businesses look towards expensive consultants. Both industries believe that training and development is only worth while if it drains our checkbooks.

3. Expertise and Ability - we as leaders are not necessarily coaches and trainers. We may be able to stand up and produce a vibrant inspirational oracle on vision, mission, and success. But getting leaders into a room to coach others to new levels (asking questions to drive self-determine answers) or train others through interactive adult education principles is something of an impossible task. We leaders like to tell, preach, speak, but not listen, ask questions, support, and interact. We lack ability, let alone expertise in training and developing others.

Development, Training, Coaching.... they are missing in the theoretical side of self-development and fulfillment.