Power to Change » workplace

When Right is Wrong

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:58:53 +0000

I’m a driven individual. I’m passionate and single-minded about what I do. When I look at the organization I’m responsible to lead, I want us to be the best we can possibly be. I want us to do the right things, the right way. I like to be right.

Sometimes being right is wrong. This is a lesson I’ve learned as a leader. I can come up with an amazing idea, a great system, a brilliant solution to a problem. I can figure out the most efficient, productive way to handle a project. I can see all the flaws in how other people are coming at an issue. I can be absolutely, one hundred percent right. And still completely wrong.

Say you’ve expressed your opinion. You’re convinced it’s the right call. But the people around you aren’t so sure. They see things differently. They’d rather do it their way. You can stick to your guns, and insist that everyone adopt your proposal. You can throw logic and arguments at them until they recognize they’re mistaken. This is one time when you might be right. But you’ve alienated everyone around you. You’re on your own. You’re right, but you’re also wrong.

What I’ve learned as a leader is that being right doesn’t matter unless your relationships are right too. Does this mean you abandon your great idea? No. It means that you make relationships your highest value as you move ahead. You invite your team into the process. You let your idea be shaped by the people leading with you. Does this involve compromise? Does it require humility? Definitely. But what I’ve found is that more often than not, the people around me shape my idea into something even better. I’ve stood amazed as together, we went much further than I could have alone. It’s possible to do the right things, the right way, with relationships that are right too.

And there is nothing wrong with that.

What about you? How do you handle the tension between the need to be right and the need for healthy relationships?

What Would My Co-Workers Think?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:32:31 +0000

Who are you and why do you do the things that you do? Harvey realized at his former job that he was allowing his coworkers’ opinions of him to control his decision making. His self-esteem depended what his peers thought about him. When he realized that this wasn’t the right way to live, he decided to make some changes in how he made decisions. Have you ever struggled with a need for approval from others?

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Finding Meaning in a Gift Shop

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 22:43:42 +0000

The simple act of placing a book in front of a cash register can change a life forever. But it’s not just any book but a book that provides answers to people’s needs for intimacy, destiny and meaning. It doesn’t take much to change someone’s life but it means the world to them. How can you use “Soul Cravings” in your workplace?

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Standing For Injustice

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:44:34 +0000

One of Rod’s coworkers was acting inappropriately with some of the female staff members, and Rod knew it. But he hesitated in speaking out, because the person was Rod’s boss. Eventually, that man ended up hurting many people and was fired for his behavior. This incident made Rod reconsider his approach to conflict.

Be An Influencer

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:41:35 +0000

They say that you are the one that drives change in your world. We all have the power to be an influence for Christ, it doesn’t matter if you work in a recycling plant or a high end architecture firm, you can be a light in a dark world. Can you start praying for your co-workers? How can you be an influencer for Christ?

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What’s Your Dream Job?

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:45:12 +0000

What do you love to do? Unfortunately many people get stuck in jobs that have nothing to do with their passions. Paying the bills is the first priority, and so often we take whatever job we can get. But ideally, what would you love to do? John has found a way to work at a job that he loves, even working beyond usual retirement age. What would you love to do with your life? Do you believe your life has a purpose, a destiny that it’s possible to realize?

The Wrong Job

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:48:27 +0000

Many young people think that when they graduate university or college that they will quickly obtain their dream jobs and start really living the life they’ve been preparing for. Some achieve this dream, but many do not. Samuel found himself working in a job he hated just to pay the bills. Can you relate to his story? Do you desire meaning in life and feel unfulfilled with the 9-to-5 slog?

Starting A Prayer Group

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:40:16 +0000

Do you feel compelled to pray for your co-workers and your employer? Start your own prayer group in your workplace and see your co-workers lives transformed one day at a time.

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Dead-end Dream Job

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:44:17 +0000

When Willy graduated university, he experienced one of the biggest let-downs of his life. He found his dream job but discovered that the working world wasn’t everything he thought it should be. His experience mirrors that of many others who graduate and then feel unfulfilled: “I spent all those years in school to do THIS for the rest of my life?” Can you relate? Do you relate with people who crave destiny in their lives?

Switching Jobs

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 15:16:58 +0000

Although Brent was good at his job, he started feeling uncomfortable and knew he needed to start doing something different. Although he was anxious about switching careers, it forced him to think carefully about who he is, and what he needed to spend his time doing. He was rewarded for his diligence with a new career. Have you ever thought carefully about your own identity?