Undercover Boss

Last night my wife and I watched parts of Undercover Boss. It is amazing that from this correct leadership strategy, a boss actually putting himself or herself in the workers' shoes, that CBS is making millions. Besides learning that this is an all too infrequent practice,I learned some other things as well.....

1. Jesus went "undercover" for 30 years according to Luke 3:23. He spent much time in research and development.

2. We should always consider ourselves working for God, not a boss. Colossians 3:23 states, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." This attitude is helpful in many ways. If you work for God, you'll never call your boss an idiot to his or her face.

3. As leaders we must spend time with all of our people. Jesus did. He spent time with even the tax collectors and sinners. Mark 2:15-17.

4. Listen to others - the Bible commands this. "He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame." Proverbs 18:13. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Matthew 11:15).

Enjoy the week getting to know your employees better. It may just be the salvation of your company.

Winning!

Ashley Paige - "Dear Pop Culture"

Romans 12:2 New International Version (NIV) 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A response to my previous Blog from William M. Hobbs - I thought this was applicable.

The watering metaphor is an apt one. It reminds me of Isaiah 58:11-- "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."

I've learned something from my yard. Grass thrives on water, but so do weeds. Weeds grow like crazy if you let them. In the garden of the soul, grass is virtue, weeds are vices. The trick-- and it is tricky sometimes-- is to tell one from the other and feed the good stuff, starve the bad.

W. M. Hobbs is a professor of English and Wabash College graduate.

Are you watering your people?

I saw a sign the other day that read "Everything that grows needs water." I thought, "That is certainly true!" Then I began thinking about my 'growing' children. Am I watering them? Am I giving them the right amount of water - love, life lessons, attention, affection, discipline? I thought about my 'growing' marriage as Samantha and I approach our ten year anniversary. Am I watering the marriage? Is it 'growing' emotionally and spiritually because of my time, care, and concern, or is it becoming parched and dried up from neglect? Then I thought about the people around me. Am I 'growing' the leaders around me? Do I spend the necessary time 'watering them?' Trying to get to know them better? Loving them? Showing them they are valued? Investing in them? Building their emotional bank account? Appreciating them?.....Nope, not yet.

God has a sense of humor. Two days ago, the morning that it rained, I spent 20 minutes watering and 'growing' four Hostas that I transplanted earlier this spring. That was 20 minutes of concentrated time that should have been spent 'growing' the people closest to me. I heard God's laughter in the thunder that day. But the lesson is this, if it takes 20 minutes a day to grow Hostas, I should really rethink how much focused and conscious effort it takes to grow people. And it is important that I 'grow' some of these people more than others. As a leader I must strategically decide this, for it is God's calling for me to use the skills he gave me for his glory. The Bible states: “So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15, 16.

Brent Compton, a well respected business man and basketball expert in Indiana, gave me some great advice. He added to a popular phrase and stated, "Grass is greenest where we water it the most." I encourage you to water, grow, the people you serve. If you don't they will perish just like most of the plants I've tried to grow in my house.

For those of you who wonder how you will fill up your own watering can....John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Give someone a drink of thirst quenching water today. Make them SHINE!!