day 599: Hindering

When someone feels like they can't grow or develop in their job then they may also feel like they are being hindered by their boss, by others, or by the company culture itself. No one wants to feel hindered by anything. We want to have unbridled opportunities and anything that holds us back or tries to bring us down we want to rebel against, push away, or even run away from. But sometimes we are being hindered by others and we don't even recognize that it is happening. Careers are sometimes made or ruined in the conversations that take place behind the closed door. Not much we can really do about it other than be pure in our intention, pure in our actions, and pure in how we treat others consistently with support, dignity and respect. If we get caught up in office politics and we have done all the right things then we can hold our head high. But, if we have contributed to being hindered then some of it falls in the category that we get what we deserve. What no one deserves is to have others, either through actions or examples become hindered. If we do anything that causes someone to stumble or miss out on an opportunity then shame on us. If we cause anyone to not want or not be able to reach their full potential then the same should probably happen to us. I have worked with many a person who had in one form or another hurt and held back others by leading them in the wrong direction or setting a bad example that they then followed. I have seen teams be let go because the tone and culture of the team that was set at the top did not any longer conform to that larger culture that was being created and the entire team got caught up in what the leader created and could have avoided. It is a hard thing to watch. We each have a responsibility to not hinder others in any way. If our actions are causing that to happen then we need to change and change now. Paul speaks of hindering others in their pursuit to walk with the Lord but that can be expanded to the other areas in one's life that will, over time, accumulate into something that could also hinder their finding the Lord. The examples we set can be very long-lasting. We read in 2 Corinthians, "We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way that we act..." What could we be doing in how we act, talk, or treat others that could be hindering others?

Reference: 2 Corinthians 6:3 (New Living Testament)