day 619: When Yes Means Yes

"My yes means yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no."

I've written before that I think one of the worst phrases spoken in business is, "I don't disagree." I wish that when we heard that we would all push back on the person saying it and ask, "So, you agree, is that what you are saying?" Not being strong enough to say "yes" or "no" is not the sign of a decisive and confident person or a leader. Leaders say "yes" when they mean it and "no" when they disagree. And best, if they are undecided, then they are confident enough in themselves that they can say so and then go seek new information or data to help them make the decision. Those who flip-flop back and forth from yes to no to yes again only add confusion into a situation and ultimately hurt their own reputation and standing with their peers and bosses. In times of stress and turmoil, we don't need wishy-washy decisions. We need firm and convicted yeses or no's. Those who build that reputation are the ones who will move up and become counted on for more.

As we strive to bring glory to God in our work, as our purpose, we will be well served to follow Paul's example on being decisive. Paul rebukes those that criticized him for changing his mind. He does not say that we can't change our mind, when we haven't yet made up our mind, but he makes it clear that when we say yes, we need to stick with it and be like the example of Christ who never wavered between yes and no. In this time we live in it is hard to be firmly in a yes or a no camp as the pull to change is great. Today, know what is yes and what is no and stick with the decision. Be firm if you have to, it's okay. At the end of a day where you stick with the decision made, you will have been more of a shining example than you know.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:17-19 (New Living Testament)

day 610: The Meaning of Yes and No

"You may be asking why I changed my plan. Hadn't I made up my mind yet? Or am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no?"

It can sound like a harsh question, but it is effective; "What part of no don't you understand?" While none of us like to be told no, the best leaders know how to say no as well as they do yes. In fact, for these leaders, the word no is an absolute and others around them can count on them to be focused on getting rid of the extraneous and keeping alive only the important and critical. The single-minded approach to those things that matter and rejecting the rest is a real skill. I think highly of leaders who are comfortable with the word no. What I have also recognized is that these leaders carry with them a level of respect and experience that those who are being said no to don't whine or cry, because they know that there was thought and fairness that comes with the answer. I worked with a CEO who was like that and how I wish every CEO had the same trait.

We are so much better off truly saying no versus allowing others to think that we meant yes, or that we come back later after precious time and effort has been put into a project and change our minds to no. Let us understand that the word no can carry with it a level of caring, respect and deliberate thought that others would far prefer. It is better to be leveled with and just have no said. When we earn that credibility with those that we work with, it gives us even greater opportunity and impact to hold up an example that they would like to follow and know more about. This is all part of us bringing God to work with us and being the role model that He wants us to be.

Reference: 2 Corinthians 1:17 (New Living Testament)