Does God speak to your team members or just to you? I think we all believe He speaks to everyone, but if that’s the case, why are you still deciding everything at your company? In other words, does the brochure REALLY have to be the size and color you want? Or can your team member decide the size and color? After all, God made them creative too! He made them in His image, he gave them natural talents, he gave them spiritual gifts….and he wants them to use them, so why not let them?
Does God have anything to say on this matter? Let’s find out.
God reminds us that people are created in the His Image (Genesis 1). That, of course, includes your team members. Let’s peer into some leadership principles that flow from this truth.
First, since God is the creator, and people are created in His image, people are also creative. It follows then, that as leaders we should:
Value the input from people into their own work and into our work.
Provide opportunities for people to express feedback on how they view their work.
Be creative in our utilization of the creative talents of others.
Be promoters and sponsors of the potential of the people we lead.
Secondly, since God intensely values each person, people are his most valued creation. Therefore people have value (Psalm 139:13) and as leaders we should:
Treat people with respect and dignity.
Lead people, as we want to be led.
Serve the people we lead, seeing them as ends not means in accomplishing work.
Help people be something as well as do something.
Finally, God created people with certain gifts. Those gifts and talents don’t get erased when they punch your company clock only to be re-instated when they punch out and go home! It seems reasonable and biblical then, that as leaders we should:
Recognize God-given gifts in those we lead.
Help them develop these gifts to become all that God meant them to be.
Your role as the leader of the firm is to create and maintain a culture that values and honors people, encourages individual growth and allows creativity so that people can develop their talent at work as well as when they’re not at work.
How’s it going at your firm? How about a quick survey asking your team members how they feel about this? Maybe you’ll discover you’re doing great! Maybe you’ll discover there’s latent creativity just waiting to be unleashed. Maybe it’s time to ease into the “people are created in the image of God, therefore they are creative” space.
Here’s an idea. Next time a team member comes into your office to have you decide something earth shattering like which coffee service to use, why not try the phrase, “You decide.” C’mon! Give it a try! The only thing you have to lose is another team member to the competition.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Greg Leith is the CEO of Convene. He was born in Canada and lived in all four corners of North America. His career spans over 35 years of senior leadership roles in corporate, non-profit and academic sectors. Recently, he served as Director of Strategic Alliances for 13 years at Biola University in California.