Innovation and growth are at the forefront of many business leaders’ minds.
How can a Christian business leader foster innovation that leads to growth?
Focusing on some core Christian perspectives is a great onramp to discovering how innovation and growth are possible for your team and your business.
Place Your Values First When Making Decisions
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Making high-pressure decisions and confronting change is inevitable as a leader. Things fall through the cracks, miscommunications lead to setbacks, employees need guidance, and customers back out. Businesses cannot always be predictable and making hard decisions is a part of a business leader’s job description. An important question to ask yourself is, “What is my WHY?” Your ‘why’ will be grounded in what you value – do you value and live out biblical principles and His purposes when it comes to your business AND your personal life?
Personal values that orbit around God’s love and His word are essential to ground yourself and remind yourself why you do what you do. Wise counsel, a peer group focused on business excellence, life-long learning, and accountability will help you live out your calling and your ‘why’ as a leader.
Surround Yourself with Good People
Philippians 2:3–4
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Build a team of people around you that share your values and goals. To grow a business, show humility as a member of the team whose role is to serve. To operate as a singularity isolates oneself from the greater interest of the team. Surround yourself with people you can trust.
Be A Servant Leader
Peter 5: 2-3
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Honoring the people who work with you as a part of God’s flock under your care is a key part of the proven Christian perspective: servant leadership. A servant leader works to support the growth of others. A servant leader does not operate through power, but through leading by example and investing in the well-being and growth of those around them. To grow your business, listen to those around you and emphasize the value of each employee.
Plant Many Seeds and Reap What You Sow
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Countless Bible verses encourage Christians to sow bountifully and reap the rewards from God. Reaping and sowing in your business can simply translate to investing. The first investment for growth a leader can make is an investment of their time.
Invest in yourself by learning continually. Invest in others by listening, guiding, and teaching them. Invest in your purpose by trusting God, staying in His word, and leading with love. Good investments help businesses grow, and great value lies in the time leaders are willing to invest.
Focus On Things That Stand the Test of Time
James 1:12
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
Searching for pathways to grow and innovate sets a leader’s gaze on the future. It can be difficult to predict the trials and challenges you and your company will face. A great Christian perspective to lean into when thinking of the future is the sure permanence of God’s plan. At the same time, Christians’ trust in God’s plan is constantly being tested. Ask yourself this: “How can I focus on the things that stand the test of time?” If you want to improve the future of your business, focus on practices, values, and achievements that are long-lasting.
Adapting and strategizing in the day-to-day flow of your company is crucial. But where can you foster consistency and reliability in your leadership style and business strategy? A great place to begin is by consistently seeking God’s wisdom to meet your potential, reach your goals, and serve your purpose.
Learn From the Challenges You Face
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Every day is a new beginning. God continually makes us new, and this mindset of Grace brings peace. A constant fresh start gives Christians the chance to live freely, knowing God’s plan is eternal life. As a leader, a chance to renew and move forward is an opportunity to foster innovation and growth in your team dynamic. Renewing oneself in the eyes of God allows us to move forward past trials that could otherwise hinder personal development. It is important to look at what lies ahead rather than what remains in the past. By moving forward with a clean slate, you can determine the type of person that you want to be every single day.
Use Your God-Given Gifts
Peter 4: 10-11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
It’s your mission to use your God-given gifts in a manner that blesses you, your family, your business, and society. Gifts of God should not be wasted but employed to prove the love and faithfulness of God and His plan for us. A leader will take their strengths and make them an advantage of their duty. A good leader will rely on what they’ve been given and make the most of it, which is God’s intention. Use your gifts to their fullest extent as a form of praise toward God and his love.
To further develop your role as a Christian leader, join a Convene Team. Convene members meet monthly with other Christian business leaders to grow their businesses with excellence, share personal experiences, discuss with ‘a council of advisors’ their challenges, and grow in their faith. Join in on the deep, confidential conversations Convene fosters and bring biblical principles to life on your journey to building an excellent business. Convene also offers business consulting, executive coaching, and member events where you can focus on your business performance while maintaining an eternal perspective to make an impact on the world.
