Think About It

One of the more common themes for people who teach about leadership and camaraderie is to offer help to people who need it; however, have we ever given much thought to the flipside of this?  This may sound odd, but have you ever thought about how asking for help can help build teamwork and unity?  Self-sufficient people may be low maintenance, but they also tend to be silos – also known as islands unto themselves.  Sure, they get their jobs done, but how much do they add to the collective nature of the organization.  Again, it may sound weird, but I believe that people who are humble enough to ask for help can bring a sense of cooperation to a group.  First of all, people who ask for help tend to have a greater appreciation for their abilities and their limitations (this is also called humility).  Yet, maybe even greater, is the fact that people who ask for help give others a chance to utilize their talents.  Most of us who care about other people are ...

How reliable are we?  Can people depend on us?  I hope the answer to these questions is that we are willing to follow through with our commitments; but I want to challenge us to take this to the next level.  In addition to being reliable enough to do what we promise, what could happen if we are committed to being there for people over-and-above what we’ve agreed to do?  Can we be counted on to be a last-minute fill-in for someone who might have to cancel?  Are we willing to stay that extra hour to make sure the job gets done – and gets done well?  Are we good teammates that bring out the best in the group and other team members even if it means going beyond our assignments and areas of focus?   When Jesus was teaching the earliest believers about their relationships with other people, He decried revenge, then took it a step further by saying, “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other...

When I was growing up, I was often told, “Don’t toot your own horn”.   It was considered declassee to proclaim your own value and successes.   If they were really that noteworthy, someone else would highlight them for you.   Maybe it has always been this way, but it seems like this advice has become passe.   We can’t seem to rely on others to spotlight us, so we take it upon ourselves to do it.   After all, isn’t it good advertising to tell others how good we are? Now, while this might provide our businesses with directions for our marketing plan, I am not sure it is appropriate for individuals.   The fear of tooting our own horn is that we might begin to believe our claims and develop arrogance.   I mentioned that this has become a modern problem, but the reality is that people have faced it for a long time.   Even early Christians were warned, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in th...

The Old Testament Jews were known for their relationship with God. They had a special connection with Jehovah that took them through thick and thin. Their relationship with Him morphed from a nation in Egyptian captivity to a time when they were nomads worshipping in a tabernacle to a more urbanized time centered around the temple. Throughout that time, they were giving some pretty specific instructions about how they should worship God. Yet, as they developed as a people, so did their religion. In addition to offering the proper “items” during worship, they were called to have the proper spirit. By the times of the prophets they were told, “Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:7-8). ...

Happy May Day!  Do you have anything special planned for the day? Many people have never heard of May Day, but there are actually some interesting traditions associated with the day.  For some, May Day focuses on workers and/or workforce issues.  For others, it involves dancing around a Maypole.  Yet, for most of the people I have been around that have celebrated it focused on doing simple acts of kindness (often, going to great lengths to remaining anonymous).  These May Baskets can be ornate containers filled with colorful gifts or as simple as a plastic cup filled with inexpensive candy.  Yet, at the heart of the gift is letting someone know you care about them! While this tradition of showing kindness to others on May Day is a regional thing, showing kindness to others every day is a Christian thing!  The Apostle Peter challenged early believers, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not re...

Often, when I do a presentation on leadership, I talk about how leaders are positive influences on the people around them – period.  I believe the true definition of leadership is helping other people become the best they can be.  Inevitably, someone will bring up the influence Adolph Hitler had on people and say that even though he was evil, he was an effective leader.  Folks, you will never be able to convince me he was a leader, much less an effective one.  Sure, he had a bunch of people he manipulated and threatened into doing what he wanted, but he wasn’t a leader!  At the end of his life (which occurred with his suicide on this day in 1945) he left a wake of devastation and destruction.  He convinced his people to sellout their prosperity for lie … a deception that cost the lives of millions of people.  Was Hitler powerful – yes!  Was he influential – yes!  Did he leave a legacy – yes!  Was he a leader – absolutely not! I think the...

How good are we at giving advice?  (I would imagine that the easy answer is that we are better at giving advice than we are at taking it – but that is another story for another time.)  Advice is one of those interesting things where too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.  Whether it is in the amount we give or the amount we get, moderation is the best bet. The reason I bring up the topic of advice is something I found in a book of wisdom – the Old Testament Proverbs.  The wise king, Solomon, warned, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, or he will despise the wisdom of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9).  In other words, don’t waste your words on those who won’t appreciate them.  Giving advice can be a delicate issue.  The more we do it, probably the less people will want to hear from us.  Additionally, if we try to advise people when they don’t want to hear it we run the risk of having them tune us out – not just at that moment but in the futur...