Bossing vs. Blessing

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Bossing vs. Blessing
“I’ll show ‘em who the boss is!” he said. So began a process that angered every person in the sales group. It also led to the resignation within thirty days of the first- and fourth-highest annual producers for the last year. “I hope he’s satisfied now,” said one of the team members who stayed - only because of a tough employment market in her field right now. “He proved he could have the last word on everything. He also cost us the biggest accounts our company has had for years and put the rest of us in an impossible situation for this year’s bottom line. We’re all looking for ways to get off this sinking ship.” Friends, does the scenario I’ve just shared with you sound familiar? Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation? The unpleasant reality is that insecure/selfish people just don’t make good leaders. Whether in business, family, or church situations, the rise of that woman or man to a position of authority means trouble for everybody in the bunch. The reason why this is so seems obvious: Most people seem to understand power in terms of the right to boss, browbeat, and bully others. It is also true that people with that deficient concept of leadership tend to put distance between themselves and their group. And they worry a lot about “image.” Most of them are also big on intimidation tactics. So they are stingy with praise and generous with criticism. In their own words, they like to “keep people guessing” about what comes next. Unfortunately there tends to be a lot of turnover in business run that way, lots of divorce in families run that way, and lots of divisions in churches run that way. Occasionally, however, you learn about an environment that operates by a different set of leadership principles. Even better, you are sometimes fortunate enough to teach at that school or work for that person. In this environment, people feel empowered rather than micromanaged. They sense trust rather than suspicion. They are treated with respect rather than contempt and condescension. In these environments, they both thrive at their tasks and remain intensely loyal to their leaders. A lot is being said these days about value-driven leadership, servant leadership, or spiritual economics. Whatever we call it, it is simply the modern re-discovery of the Golden Rule and the leadership style of Jesus. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,” (Mark 10:45) Friends, if you want to upgrade your environment, learn to use the power you wield for blessing instead of bossing. And the reason I suggest this is because it is a strategy that honours both God and others. So if you’d like some help in regard to how you can live your life serving others rather than self-serving, I invite you to write to me for a FREE booklet titled “LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE.” Email me or write to me at P.O Box 1540, Albany W.A 6331. Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418

“I’ll show ‘em who the boss is!” he said. So began a process that angered every person in the sales group. It also led to the resignation within thirty days of the first- and fourth-highest annual producers for the last year.

“I hope he’s satisfied now,” said one of the team members who stayed - only because of a tough employment market in her field right now. “He proved he could have the last word on everything. He also cost us the biggest accounts our company has had for years and put the rest of us in an impossible situation for this year’s bottom line. We’re all looking for ways to get off this sinking ship.”

Friends, does the scenario I’ve just shared with you sound familiar? Have you ever had to deal with a similar situation? The unpleasant reality is that insecure/selfish people just don’t make good leaders. Whether in business, family, or church situations, the rise of that woman or man to a position of authority means trouble for everybody in the bunch. The reason why this is so seems obvious: Most people seem to understand power in terms of the right to boss, browbeat, and bully others.

It is also true that people with that deficient concept of leadership tend to put distance between themselves and their group. And they worry a lot about “image.” Most of them are also big on intimidation tactics. So they are stingy with praise and generous with criticism. In their own words, they like to “keep people guessing” about what comes next. Unfortunately there tends to be a lot of turnover in business run that way, lots of divorce in families run that way, and lots of divisions in churches run that way.

Occasionally, however, you learn about an environment that operates by a different set of leadership principles. Even better, you are sometimes fortunate enough to teach at that school or work for that person. In this environment, people feel empowered rather than micromanaged. They sense trust rather than suspicion. They are treated with respect rather than contempt and condescension. In these environments, they both thrive at their tasks and remain intensely loyal to their leaders.

A lot is being said these days about value-driven leadership, servant leadership, or spiritual economics. Whatever we call it, it is simply the modern re-discovery of the Golden Rule and the leadership style of Jesus. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,” (Mark 10:45)

Friends, if you want to upgrade your environment, learn to use the power you wield for *blessing* instead of *bossing*. And the reason I suggest this is because it is a strategy that honours both God and others. So if you’d like some help in regard to how you can live your life serving others rather than self-serving, I invite you to write to me for a FREE booklet titled “LOOKING OUT FOR NUMBER ONE.”

Email me
or write to me at
P.O Box 1540,
Albany W.A 6331.

Telephone / Fax (08) 98 418 418