Month: July 2024

July 24, 2024

Serving leaders surrender their business* or organization and see their role as stewards. They shape the organization by focusing on the value they bring to the world, by developing people and creating a culture of excellence. They also serve the organization by taking time to work on the business. Many leaders spend nearly all of their time working in the business, doing the daily tasks that need to be done. But serving leaders find ways to step back and focus on strategic planning, building leaders and long-term development of the business.  They consider scriptures like these:

“Where there is no revelation [KJV “vision”] people cast off restraint (Proverbs 29:18a, NIV).

²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish’ (Luke 14:28-30).

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty (Proverbs 21:5).

¹⁷ Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. ¹⁸ You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. ²¹ But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. ²³ If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (Exodus 18:17, 18, 21, 23, NIV).

Serving leaders serve the organization by clarifying direction.

Effective organizations have clarity on vision, mission and values. Without clarity on vision people will “cast off restraint” or live carelessly. Leaders who spend all their time in the daily tasks that need to be done fail to provide the direction the organization needs to thrive. Serving leaders take time to work on the organization by clarifying vision, mission and values. They often spend time reminding people of these core elements that bring meaning and purpose to the daily tasks. This clarity results in purpose and meaning in the work and increases the engagement of the hearts of people in what they are doing. Only leaders can clarify direction.

Serving leaders serve the organization by careful planning.

Some leaders are so busy doing the work that they don’t take time to plan for the work. They are too busy to “sit down and estimate the cost.” But serving leaders recognize that part of their role as a leader is to ensure that plans are properly made and carried out. They look down the road and anticipate future challenges and make plans to prepare the organization for long-term success. Only leaders can ensure that adequate planning takes place in an organization.

Serving leaders serve the organization by creating leaders.

Moses was a classic leader trying to do all the work himself when his father-in-law gave him great leadership advice to develop leaders from the people. Some leaders focus on getting the work done through people. But serving leaders focus on developing the people that they have. They understand that they will never have too many leaders in the organization and that only leaders can ensure that the organization is producing leaders.

Remember, it’s not your business! Serving leaders serve the organization by working on it.

For further reflection and discussion:

• How clear in my organization is our vision (why we exist)? Our mission (what we do that benefits the world)? Our values (How we relate to each other and those we serve)? What do I need to do to make these directional pillars an integral part of our daily work?
• Do I naturally focus on planning or execution? What does this indicate about who I need to work closely with on my team? Do we take enough time for strategic planning in our organization? If so, reach out to your team and thank them for their work in effective planning and point out how it benefits the organization. If not, when will I schedule time for this?
• How effectively do I focus on developing leaders in my organization? What is my plan to keep developing leaders? What steps can I take to create an organization that focuses on developing leaders?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

*Note: In this series we use “business” to apply to any type of organization whether for profit or non-profit. The principles of this series apply to for-profit enterprises, non-profits (such as churches or NGO’s) and any other domain of work and service. 

If you would like a PDF of this series in one document, click here to download.

Beginning with the next issue we will update our branding for this newsletter. The content will remain the same but we will have a new look!”

July 10, 2024

 We saw in the previous issue that serving leaders recognize that the business* is not theirs, they are stewards. Yet, stewards are not passive bystanders, they are active participants in the work of building and growing an organization. They are called by God to shape the organization as indicated in these verses: 

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28, NIV).

[Leaders are] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12).

²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:23-24).

Serving leaders take these, and other scriptures, as their mandate to make things happen. God’s original mandate for humans was to “Be fruitful and increase…fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over…” They are called to work hard with their whole heart in the place where God has allowed them to be a steward. Leaders are called to shape their worlds!

Serving leaders shape the organization by building a kingdom focus.

As stewards of a business or organization, serving leaders see their role as building the organization to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. They see their organization as contributing value to the world through the services and products that they offer. Builders create homes where people can live peacefully in safety and security. Bakers make food that sustains the lives of those they serve. Bankers provide opportunities for investments and financial stability. Every honorable profession is a part of God’s plan for a flourishing world! Some leaders are focused on building their own kingdoms, seeking to obtain wealth for themselves and their offspring. But serving leaders focus on a much larger picture. Serving leaders see their work as a small part of a much larger vision of what God is doing on the earth.  They craft a vision statement of how they bring value to the world. Their mission is focused on building and serving others. Their values reflect God’s heart for the way people should relate to each other. They build teams that demonstrate God’s purpose for the variety of strengths He has given. They delegate power and authority in ways that reflect God’s design for human development and flourishing.

Serving leaders shape the organization by building people.

Most leaders are focused on shaping the business or organization they are leading for success or profit. Serving leaders shape the organization by building people. They understand that as they build people and create a healthy culture the organization will grow and succeed. They see their primary role as “to equip” people for work. Serving leaders shape the organization with a focus on the people. 

Serving leaders shape the organization by building a culture of excellence.

Some leaders focus their organization towards profit and are willing to sacrifice quality when it appears to strengthen their bottom line. But serving leaders see themselves as stewards and all they do as an act of worship since they are “working for the Lord.” They honor God with the best product and service they can produce. They strive to create a culture in which people bring “their whole heart” to the task at hand.  They expect and reward excellence.   

Remember, it’s not your business! Serving leaders serve the organization by shaping it.  

For further reflection and discussion:

• How does my business or organization fit into God’s grand purposes for the
  world? How do our services/products make the world a better place? How
  effectively do I communicate this to the people inside and outside our
  organization?
• In what ways am I growing people in my organization? Do I provide salaries
  that allow people to grow and flourish? Do I align people with their own
  strengths and giftings? Am I continually delegating responsibility and
  authority that builds leadership capacity in my organization?
• How highly do we value excellence in the organization or team I lead? Are
  there areas in which we do not view our work as an act of worship to God and
  worthy of our best effort? How well does our work environment reflect God’s
  desire for beauty and order? What steps can I take this week to encourage and promote a culture of excellence?

Until next time, yours on the journey,

Jon Byler

*Note: In this series we use “business” to apply to any type of organization whether for profit or non-profit. The principles of this series apply to for-profit enterprises, non-profits (such as churches or NGO’s) and any other domain of work and service.  In the next issue, we’ll look at how serving leaders serve the business.