There has been a switch in leadership recently…a good switch. To put it plainly: much of leadership in the past was about “getting stuff done,” often without the slightest inclination of feeling for the other person/people. The bottom line was the bottom line. No deviation. In the grand scheme of things it was not about people but production. Leadership was from the top down with very little concern given for the bottom rungs of the ladder. I am not exaggerating.
And I am not exaggerating when I say it crept into the church. I grew up in the era of the “pastor-heavy” church. Not the heavy pastor (although there were some of those). No…I am speaking of the pastor who became the CEO, if not in title then in action. The leadership model for the church was the corporate world. I am not bluffing you…I rejected that. I was old school enough to know the pastor was a shepherd, not a corporate junkie who ran roughshod over his constituents (no longer sheep). I remember hearing Charles Stanley once say, “Shepherds don’t beat sheep; they feed sheep.” Many forgot that on their road to the corporate mentality of operating a church.
There has been change-a change to influence. That is one good thing coming out of this current generation. But that is also the principle by which Joel Manby operates. The influence is love. His view is clearly stated on page 22: “leading with love is the best way to run an organization. Any organization.” I can jump all over that!! Love is clearly how Jesus led His disciples. He didn’t beat them into submission. He loved them, even Judas. Love should be how the church is lead as well. Pastor, elder, teacher, whatever the position of leadership one is given should be done by love. True there is a bottom line. A church does need to make ends meet, but careful oversight needs to be given to meeting needs-spiritual and physical. All done from a perspective of love.
I know the knock. Ooy gooy, mushy gushy. Love is too soft. Love is taken advantage of. But in reality love is a verb. Unconditional love does not roll over and play dead. It has discernment. It has its point of “enough.” Loving leadership has those qualities. it is not just feeling and emotion. It is about actions. Frankly, my marriage is that way. After almost 40 years, I guarantee there have been times I we have not “felt” love. But we worked through those non-feelings and chose to love.
Joel manages Herschend Family Entertainment with love. Over the next 8 weeks (plus one) Jon Stolpe and I will be doing a discussion of Love Works. I welcome your input on my post. What are your thoughts about love “running” an organization? Have you seen it or have you seen it more another way?
As soon as you got started I thought “love is something that can be and is taken advantage of”. Then you raised this flag yourself. I guess whether I agree with you depends on what you mean by “love”. People in any organization need careful leadership. Sometimes the margins for success are so slim, that coddling and allowing folks to play the system can bring it under. Love might not be the best corporate strategy for long term success. Certainly companies need compassion and caring and fairness, but love? That seems a bit much and a bit unnecessary.
Daniel, I guess this is where you’ll have to pick up the book or wait to see what Bill and I talk about on a weekly basis related to this book. But I can also give you a sneak peak. Love Works as Joel Manby describes does NOT suggest coddling or allowing folks to play the system.
I am out if town for my best friend’s birthday/retirement party so I am late in responding. I would agree w/ Jon on this Daniel. Read the book but also hang in there w/ us. I believe your answers & concerns will be answered.
Bill, I had a pastor a few years ago who admitted that his job was to get his people on all committees so that he could push his agenda through. My wife was on one such committee. When he wasn’t getting what he wanted, the team simply quit meeting. It didn’t matter what the church wanted or needed.
He is WRONG Larry. Dead wrong. That is pure selfishness & certainly is not the spirit of Christ. Suspect he failed?? Or church blew apart?
Bill, Here’s the link to my post for this week: http://www.jonstolpe.com/2013/01/16/love-works-wednesday-link-up-week-1/
Thanks Jon. Read and commented.
Being a leader requires a lot more than just being a nice guy. I agree with Daniel that “love” is probably not the secret to successful leadership. A good plan is far more important for success than a charismatic leader in corporate America. Yes, the qualities in the book are good ones to have. But they fall far short of the qualities needed for successful outcomes. Qualities like fairness, competence, intelligence, forward thinking, and inspiring.
See my response to Daniel’s comment. When I get back this afternoon I will give a better answer. It is no fun commenting on a phone w/ a small view & keyboard.
Two things: I believe Joel and the Herschend Family would disagree with you about a good plan taking precedence over love. True there are charismatic leaders who pull the wool over peoples’ eyes (Case in point TV evangelists). They would also disagree (I think) that your qualities given trump love. Those qualities are nothing if not guided by love. Second, my post was primarily looking at churches. I prefer a loving shepherd than one who has all the plans and runs roughshod over the flock.
Probably very valid for Church leadership. Maybe less so as head coach in the NFL. All the love won’t overcome incompetence and a bad plan. But I look forward to learning more about the love angle.
“Love is unselfishly choosing for another’s highest good.” – C S Lewis
As a Christian we must let love guide ALL our actions and decisions (It’s what the Father does). Does it fit a business model? I believe it should, we don’t stop being Christians when we go to work do we?
Can it be taken advantage of? Yep, sure can…so can my idea of fairness, company policy, etc. The difference is that when I am fueled by love for people, my plans, my policies, my agendas and even my business model is wrapped up with a heart like God’s.
Anyways…just my view point. I look forward to reading more down the road!
i agree Jay with love guiding all our actions…business or church. I stated it can be taken advantage of and you brought up a good point about the other qualities as well. Thanks for your view point.
Love is the best way to lead, but we really have to define love properly. So often, love is twisted into blind tolerance of everything. But at some point love has to step up with some tough love.
totally agree Loren. Joel would do so as well. Hopefully, some of those thoughts will come out in the next weeks.
I think love is the perfect term and definition of how anything should be run. The problem of course comes in how we define love.
As an example of what people call love, but isn’t love at all, is the way our society has defined love in dealing with children. In love they let a child do whatever they want, they strive to be friends with their children at a young age. When it comes time to do the right thing or the hard thing, they don’t do it. In that choice they deny the power if true love and succumb to the weakness of the flesh and tear down a life they are called to build up.
We tend to forget that God doesn’t describe all of love as a feeling, it is “the assent of our will.” It takes strength of character to love. To do the hard thing in love isn’t always the popular decision, but when it’s done with compassion and without anger knowing the outcome will honor God, that’s true love.
I guess I was overdue to ramble… You know it happens ever so often…
Great point about love! Defining love is good and putting boundaries on it is essential. Love cannot be seen as weakness and pandering. Love loses any power then.
I absolutely believe that God wants to take away those false divisions for His people that say “Christian principles don’t work in the business world” or in organizations of any variety. Love does work and the Church should be a model of that. Jesus’ body is just that, a body. It’s living, it’s spiritual, it’s organic (not a machine or simple system). We get too far away from His heart and His word when we turn our back on that truth. Thanks Bill.
Agree with you Jason. If all businesses operated on Christian principles, it would be interesting to see what would happen. Thanks for coming by Jason.
I have been interested in this book since you mentioned it, so am looking forward to what is revealed. I would think the church should definitely be one place it would work. God bless you!
Hopefully you will not be disappointed Deb.
I downloaded the book today from Amazon.com and started reading right away. I think too love can work in any situation, at any level. But it is totally oposite then what the world says is important to get ahead. This attitude has spilled over into the church which spills over into the lives of so many Christians. I have been disappointed greatly by not seeing love in so many leaders, business and church.
Disappointed more in myself when I do not act with love toward others. Thank God He came to heal the broken hearted and the disappointed by giving with His love to depend on when needed. That kind of love is far from weak, it has power to give us courage to do what is right.
I was reading it today while Ace drove us home from three days of meetings. As I have said before our last year in PNG was difficult due to love not operating in some some of the leadership. Have seen the opposite of love much more then love itself being in charge. Ok back to the book….and prayer for God to help me listen better. Blessings brother.
Love has the power to give us courage to do what is right. Great statement Betty. Praying you and Ace are healing from the tough year you had.
I read this book and was so mesmerized. What a way to run a company! And I never thought, but what a way to run a church.
mesmerized is a good word. I felt that same way David. It captured me. Love will make a difference.
In the past couple years I have notices a switch as well. CEO’s, executives, managers, and pastors are realizing the need to show care, add value, and even love the people below them (On all levels).
When people feel loved they will be more committed and produce better results. It’s a win win for everyone.
Great thoughts Bill!
You are spot on Dan. People who know they are loved and cared for will be more committed and produce better results. They have something to look forward to. Thanks.