The Inspired Leader: 101 Biblical Reflections for Becoming a Person of Influence (30 page)

Henry Ford loved his son Edsel, yet in a horribly misguided effort to toughen him up, Ford constantly humiliated his son, trying to arouse his anger. Ford pitted his henchman Harry Bennett against Edsel and routinely took Bennett’s side. Eventually Edsel’s fragile health collapsed under the constant pressure. Charles Sorenson, one of Ford’s chief lieutenants, observed that Ford’s mistreatment of his only son was the greatest mistake of his life.

Andrew Mellon was a fabulously successful businessman but he constantly struggled to relate to his son Paul. Near the end of Mellon’s life, after having given millions
’
of dollars worth of paintings to the National Gallery of Art, he wanted to dispose of two paintings which he felt were of inferior quality. When his son asked for them, Mellon offered to sell them to him for $50,000. According to Paul, his father did not “seem to care about how I really feel about anything.”

John Rockefeller was a brilliant businessman but he struggled to relate to his daughter Edith once she became an adult. For the final 20 years of her life, Edith could not bring herself to visit her father.

J.P. Morgan liked his son Jack but worried he “lacked fire and grit.” Living with such a domineering father, Jack suffered numerous insecurities. His biographer observed, “Another son might have rebelled. Jack sulked and pined, waiting for approval.”

Are businesspeople truly successful if they develop fabulously profitable companies but fail to lead their children to love and obey God? God promises,
‘As for Me,’ says the Lord, ‘this is My covenant with them, My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put into your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants’, says the Lord”
(Isaiah 59:21). Are your children impressed by your business success or by your walk with God? What is it about you they are most likely to emulate?

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Where do you receive your most accolades and sense of accomplishment? At work or at home? Where are you shown most respect, at work or at home?
   

2. Many people confess that they give their best efforts at work where they are striving for bonuses and promotions, and then give leftovers to their family when they arrive home at the end of the day. Have you done this? If so, why?
   

3. Working people often become so focused on their responsibilities and pressures at work that they fail to view their families the way God does. Take a moment to pray for each person in your family. Ask the Lord to show you how you can specifically bless them this month.
   

JOHN ROCKEFELLER'S BUSINESS acumen is legendary. He raised Standard Oil to such heights that he ultimately surpassed the business luminaries of his day such as Astor, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Morgan. What is less widely known, however, is that though Rockefeller’s name was synonymous with his company, he never owned more than 30% of it. He always encouraged his colleagues to purchase stock in the company, giving his lieutenants a vested interest in its success and making it necessary for him to cooperate with others when leading the business. In the process, men such as Henry Flagler, John Archbold, and Henry Rogers became enormously wealthy along with their boss. Rockefeller always claimed the primary reason for his success was the confidence he placed in people and the loyalty toward him and the company it generated in return.

Outstanding business leaders surround themselves with extraordinary people. J.P. Morgan was known for enlisting the best business talent of his day, including Harry Davison, Tom Lamont, Dwight Morrow, and Russell Leffingwell. In 1901 George Perkins, an up-and-coming executive for the New York Life Insurance Company, came calling on Morgan to request a donation of $125,000 for a charitable cause. Favorably impressed by Perkins, Morgan gave $25,000, but declared he would donate the entire amount requested in exchange for a favor. Perkins asked what that might be, to which Morgan replied, “Take that desk over there.” Morgan always demonstrated a keen eye for talent as he built his famous bank. Henry Ford had executives such as James Couzens and Charles Sorensen to help him build his auto empire. Under Jack Welch, General Electric teemed with executive talent who were regularly being recruited to serve as CEOs of other companies. GE used to publish a book annually that listed its top managers, with pictures and bios. It stopped doing so when it discovered that executive headhunters were using it as a directory for new clients.

King David took the defeated, war-torn, divided nation of Israel and fashioned it into a Middle Eastern empire. One of the keys to his phenomenal success was the “Mighty Men” he gathered around himself (2 Samuel 23:8-39; 1 Chronicles 11:10-47), including Adino the Eznite who had killed 800 men. Jashobeam and Abishai each killed 300 men at one time. Benaiah was renowned for his strength and bravery. Scripture indicates these valiant warriors, “
strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom”
(1 Chronicles 11:10). As they loyally served and fought for David, they also “
strengthened themselves.”
David became a powerful king with these warriors at his side, and they gained renown while in his service.

The question is: how do you attract outstanding men and women to work with you? Mighty men are not attracted to mediocre leaders. In today’s business world, talented employees are crucial for business success. But where will the most gifted employees choose to direct their allegiance? Money alone doesn’t motivate such people. They will work for those they respect and who maximize their full potential. Are your people becoming great under your leadership? Do you bring out the best in those around you? Have you developed your own cadre of outstanding associates? Are other companies constantly trying to hire them away from you? What does the caliber of the people around you reveal about the quality of your leadership?

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Evaluate the caliber of the people who are working with you. What does the quality of the people on your team suggest about your leadership?
   

2. Do you feel threatened by colleagues who are more skilled or knowledgeable than you are? Or are you comfortable finding the most outstanding talent to work with you? What is it you look for in selecting team members?
   

3. Why would anyone want to work with you? What advantage is it to people to work with you as opposed to working with others? Do people enjoy working with you?
   

SOME PEOPLE ARE a lot of fun to be around! Laughter follows them wherever they go. Such leaders make it fun to come to work. Richard Nixon was not one of those leaders. He always felt uncomfortable around people. He used to schedule White House staff parties on dates he knew he would be out of town. Nixon’s cynical view of others influenced the attitudes of his associates as well. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, had a knack for making people laugh. After his death, a White House aide recalled that he always knew when the president had returned from a trip by the sound of the laughter pealing down the hallway. When Reagan was shot by would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr., a bullet lodged dangerously near the president’s heart. When Reagan first talked with his wife Nancy, he joked, “Honey, I forgot to duck!” Such humor endeared the president to his friends and even to some of his foes.

Daniel Goleman in his work on emotional intelligence demonstrates that people pick up their emotions from the people who are around them. Those with the strongest personalities or greatest authority tend to exert the most influence on the emotions of other people. When leaders wring their hands with worry, the staff is understandably nervous as well! When leaders remain calm or are filled with joy, their emotions become contagious. It is up to leaders to interact with those they lead closely and often so their positive outlook rubs off.

One evening, after a hard day’s work, Jesus and His disciples departed from the crowds and sailed across the Sea of Galilee in some small boats. Jesus was so weary that he lay his head on a pillow and fell fast asleep. Suddenly a violent windstorm swept across the sea and it appeared that the boats were in imminent danger of sinking. Jesus continued to sleep. The disciples, in a panic, woke Jesus and asked if He cared that they were all about to perish. In response, Jesus said, “Peace, be still,” and calm prevailed. Jesus had such a profound sense of heavenly peace in His life that it prevailed upon those around Him.

Just as gloom and despair can quickly contaminate the ranks, so confidence and optimism are also contagious. After difficult fighting at the Battle of Shiloh, during the Civil War, an officer asked General Grant if he wanted to prepare the men to withdraw at daylight. Grant replied, “Not at all sir…we’re whipping them now!” Grant’s forces ultimately gained the victory. After years of having Union forces led by negative or worrisome generals, the northern forces finally had a leader who, though perhaps not a brilliant commander, was a confident and optimistic one. The change in attitude altered the war.

Max De Pree, Chairman of Herman Miller, suggests, “Joy is an essential ingredient of leadership. Leaders are obligated to provide it.” There may be times when we are struggling with our attitude. We may not feel very joyful ourselves! Yet we have a stewardship of influence. Our attitudes will affect those around us. People will either have a miserable time working around us, or they will be encouraged. It depends on how we act. If everyone you worked with took on your attitude, what would your workplace be like? Before you walk into work tomorrow, take a moment to examine your attitude. Ask God to make any necessary corrections in you before you impact others any further.

REFLECT FOR A MOMENT

1. Are you a fun person to be around? What is the evidence? Do people like to work with you? What is the evidence?
   

2. Do you laugh often? When was the last time you laughed with gusto? Are you known for your joy? What is your prevailing mood at work? Do you think that is what God wants it to be?
   

3. Do you struggle with your attitude at work? Do people or situations irritate you easily? If they do, take some time with the Lord and ask Him to fill you with His joy. You cannot have the joy of the Lord filling your life and not be someone who is fun to work with!