Introduction
In today's fast-paced business world, it's easy for Christian leaders to feel torn between their faith and their professional responsibilities. Richard Stearns' book "Lead Like It Matters to God" offers a refreshing perspective on how to integrate Christian values into leadership roles. Drawing from his extensive experience as a CEO and his deep faith, Stearns provides practical advice for those seeking to lead with purpose and integrity.
This book is not just another leadership manual; it's a call to action for Christians in positions of influence. Stearns challenges readers to view their roles through a spiritual lens, reminding them that their ultimate responsibility is to be ambassadors for Christ in the workplace. Whether you're leading a small team or a large organization, this book offers valuable insights on how to align your leadership style with your faith.
The Christian Leader's True Calling
Stearns begins by addressing the disconnect many Christians feel between their Sunday worship and Monday work. He argues that compartmentalizing faith and career is not the answer. Instead, Christians should strive to integrate their religious values into every aspect of their professional lives.
The author emphasizes that a Christian's primary job, regardless of their title or position, is to be an ambassador for Christ. This perspective shift is crucial for maintaining one's identity and purpose in the workplace. Stearns reminds readers that leadership is not just about achieving business goals; it's a spiritual responsibility that matters deeply to God.
He points out that even small groups of people can make a significant impact on the world. This observation underscores the importance of leadership in any context, whether it's a small team or a large corporation. The author draws parallels between leadership responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for leaders to either unite or divide their communities.
Surrender and Sacrifice: The Foundation of Christian Leadership
Stearns shares his personal journey of faith, illustrating how surrender and sacrifice are essential elements of Christian leadership. He recounts his own experience of surrendering to God's will, which led him from a successful career in the business world to becoming the CEO of World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization.
This transition required Stearns to sacrifice his personal ambitions and comfort, relocating his family and taking on a role for which he felt unprepared. However, this act of surrender allowed him to make a significant impact on the lives of the world's poorest children.
The author argues that surrender and sacrifice are particularly important for those in leadership positions. A leader who has surrendered to a higher purpose is better equipped to handle daily pressures and maintain perspective. Similarly, experiencing sacrifice helps leaders put aside personal ambitions and remain calm and focused during challenging times.
Stearns emphasizes that cultivating these values is not a one-time effort but a daily commitment. He encourages readers to continually reflect on how they can surrender their own will to God's purpose and be willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
Loving Leadership: Seeing Coworkers Through God's Eyes
One of the central themes of the book is the importance of love in leadership. Stearns suggests a practical approach to the popular "What Would Jesus Do?" question by asking instead, "What would love do?" This simple shift in perspective can guide Christians in their daily interactions at work.
The author reminds readers that the Bible is essentially a love story – the story of God's love for humanity. Jesus' primary message was one of love, emphasizing the importance of loving God and loving one's neighbors. Stearns argues that this principle should be at the core of Christian leadership.
Practical applications of this loving approach include:
- Focusing on coworkers' positive attributes rather than their shortcomings
- Showing genuine interest in team members' aspirations and offering guidance
- Treating all employees with equal respect, regardless of their position
- Learning about colleagues' lives and interests outside of work
By acting with love and kindness, Christian leaders can create a positive work environment where people feel valued and respected. This approach not only aligns with Christian values but also leads to improved work relationships and overall job satisfaction.
Encouragement and Humor: Tools for Positive Leadership
Stearns draws inspiration from Jesus' leadership style, which emphasized praise and encouragement over criticism. He points out that encouragement is a powerful and cost-free tool that can be used at all levels of an organization.
The author shares his own experiences of using encouragement to motivate his team at World Vision. He found that by consistently praising good work and offering positive feedback, he saw improvements in performance, loyalty, and motivation among his staff.
Humor is another tool that Stearns recommends for effective leadership. He emphasizes the value of self-deprecating humor in particular, as it helps leaders appear more relatable and human. Stearns shares anecdotes from his time at World Vision, where he would use humor to lighten the mood during stressful periods, such as dressing up in a Santa costume during the busy fundraising season.
The author notes that while the Gospels don't explicitly describe Jesus as humorous, they do portray him as a warm and cheerful person who brought people together through his welcoming nature. Stearns encourages Christian leaders to follow this example by creating a positive atmosphere in their workplaces.
Integrity: The North Star of Christian Leadership
Stearns emphasizes that integrity is the most crucial quality for a leader, describing it as the "North Star" that guides an organization in the right direction. He illustrates this point with a personal anecdote from his time at World Vision, where the organization faced an integrity challenge related to a fundraising campaign.
The author recounts how he discovered that promises made to donors were not being kept, compromising the organization's integrity. As a leader, Stearns took immediate action, launching an investigation and calling an all-staff meeting to reinforce the importance of ethical behavior.
This incident highlights the responsibility of Christian leaders to set a positive example for others to follow. Stearns encourages readers to consider what kind of example they're setting in their own leadership roles, reminding them of the biblical exhortation to "let your light shine before others."
The book also addresses the consequences of leadership without integrity, citing examples from various industries where unethical behavior led to disastrous outcomes. Stearns warns against compromising values for financial gain, emphasizing that for Christian leaders, integrity must always come first.
Vision and Courage: Motivating Teams and Overcoming Challenges
Stearns draws parallels between Jesus' leadership and the importance of having a clear vision as a modern leader. He explains that God uses leaders to transform and redeem organizations, making it essential for them to create compelling visions that provide clarity and foster unity.
The author outlines a process for vision-setting:
- Assess the current reality
- Identify necessary changes
- Articulate the desired future
- Develop a plan to bring about change
- Embody the vision by setting an example
Stearns shares his own experience of implementing a vision at Lenox, where his personal commitment to improving sales of fine china led to significant market share increases.
The book also emphasizes the importance of courage in leadership, particularly when facing challenges. Stearns recounts a difficult period at World Vision when the organization faced opposition for its work with AIDS-affected children in Africa. Despite criticism from other Christian organizations, Stearns remained committed to the vision and values of World Vision, ultimately helping millions of people across the continent.
Humility, Self-Awareness, and Active Listening
Stearns advocates for leaders to cultivate humility, self-awareness, and strong listening skills. He recommends regular 360-degree performance reviews as a tool for leaders to gain honest feedback and improve their leadership.
The author shares his own experience of receiving candid evaluations from his direct reports at World Vision. While sometimes uncomfortable, this process helped him become more aware of his weaknesses and grow as a leader.
Stearns emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in addressing unconscious biases. He shares a personal anecdote about misjudging a Ugandan woman's qualifications based on her appearance, highlighting how biases can negatively impact leadership decisions.
The book also stresses the value of active listening in Christian leadership. Stearns argues that by truly listening to others, leaders can benefit from collective wisdom and create a more committed, caring organization. He cites research showing how groups often outperform individual experts, underscoring the importance of valuing diverse perspectives.
Redefining Success: Faith Over Conventional Metrics
In the final sections of the book, Stearns challenges readers to reconsider their definition of success. He shares the story of Jackson, a Kenyan boy who benefited from World Vision's support and eventually became the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Kenya. This story illustrates how small acts of faith can lead to significant, long-term impacts.
The author contrasts the world's obsession with conventional success metrics (such as revenue, income, or job titles) with Mother Teresa's famous quote: "God called me to be faithful, not successful." While acknowledging that hard work and achievement are important, Stearns emphasizes that faith should be the primary focus for Christian leaders.
He argues that true success lies in staying true to Christian values like love and integrity, even when they conflict with personal ambitions or societal expectations. Stearns reminds readers that their fundamental purpose as Christian leaders is to act as ambassadors for Christ and work towards creating a better world.
Final Thoughts
"Lead Like It Matters to God" offers a comprehensive guide for Christians seeking to integrate their faith with their leadership roles. Richard Stearns provides practical advice grounded in biblical wisdom and his own extensive leadership experience. The book serves as a reminder that Christian leadership is not just about what one believes, but how one acts.
Key takeaways from the book include:
- Christian leaders should view their roles as spiritual ambassadors in the workplace.
- Surrender and sacrifice are essential foundations for effective Christian leadership.
- Leading with love and kindness creates a positive work environment and aligns with Christian values.
- Encouragement and appropriate use of humor can be powerful leadership tools.
- Integrity should be the guiding principle for all leadership decisions.
- Having a clear vision and the courage to pursue it is crucial for motivating teams and overcoming challenges.
- Humility, self-awareness, and active listening are essential qualities for Christian leaders.
- Success should be defined by faithfulness to Christian values rather than conventional metrics.
Stearns challenges readers to go beyond simply believing in Christian principles and to actively embody them in their leadership roles. By doing so, he argues, leaders can make a significant impact on their organizations and communities, ultimately contributing to the creation of a better world.
The book serves as both an inspiration and a practical guide for Christians in leadership positions. It encourages readers to view their work as a calling and to lead in a way that truly matters to God. By following the principles outlined in this book, Christian leaders can navigate the challenges of the modern workplace while staying true to their faith and making a positive difference in the lives of those they lead.