day 1390: Setting Your Tone

While I am on a pilgrimage walk on the Camino de Santiago (St. James Way) in Spain, I have asked some of the most committed and courageous faith-driven business leaders I know to guest contribute to Purposed worKING.  Enjoy! - Rusty

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." -
James 1:19-20

Business leaders shape their organizations everyday by what they say and do.  Sometimes the tone they set has as much to do with how results are achieved as the strategic direction they set. Every leader must set high standards and achieve results but some do not utilize the power of their teams to achieve exceptional results.  Some leaders seem heavy handed and dictatorial, which demoralizes their people and in the end paralyzes creativity, teamwork, open dialogue and effective decision-making.

Many executives are unwilling to listen to anyone else when making decisions. They are smart and they think they have all the answers. How do they get away with this?  Simply, they get results. Teams become desensitized and conditioned to respond even though they believe they could help make better decisions if asked. The first time results go south the house of cards can begin to fall for the leader. The leaders begin to recognize they need help to solve the complex problems they face. They don’t know how to effectively involve their people because they are used to dictating what should be done.

People want to be inspired. A few keys to effective team leadership are patience to listen, speaking only when the perspectives of all-important constituencies are understood and not yelling and blaming other people for the problems. Showing compassion, caring and extending Christ like understanding are not weaknesses.  They set the right tone for outstanding team oriented decision-making.

Anger, impatience, and contention block the Holy Spirit from guiding us in our daily walk with God. May we all be swift hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath so we may inspire and unleash the God given talents of our teams.

Dan Paxton

President, Organizational Leadership Resource, Inc.