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Leadership in Perilous Times
by Calvin D. Brown In times like these were the opening words to a song I remember hearing my three brothers sing in church when I was growing up. The song was written by Ruth Caye Jones,better-known as "Mother Jones." The words to the song came to her during the difficult days of World War II, but the inspiration for the song actually comes from II Timothy 3:1, "This know also that in the last days perilous times will come." Perilous times have been here before and much like the perilous times we have now, they will come again. By God's design there exists an essential relationship between perilous times and a Savior. As leaders we need to understand this on an operational level, flowing in and with this relationship. Peril by its very nature has the following affect on our dominion: it reduces our strength, redirects our focus, and minimizes our impact. In perilous times we tend to focus only on the peril, but the Apostle Paul is talking about much more than peril. He is talking about perilous times. The word for time used in his original statement is the Greek word kairos. Kairos or kairos time is not a succession of minutes but a period or season which time gives for or to opportunity. In other words there comes a season of time, that carries within it a condition that is right for peril, and is full of opportunity. How do we engage perilous time in such a way as to benefit from the opportunity in the timing and not be diminished by the season of peril? Hence the next line in the song" we need a Savior." A simplistic description of the role of a savior is to provide salvation. Salvation has 5 primary dimensions help, deliverance, being saved, victory, and welfare. To move from peril to safety requires help, deliverance, salvation, victory and welfare. Since these things must come from outside the one in peril, the one delivering them is known as the "Savior." The key to developing an effective leadership strategy during a season of peril is in inquiring from your Savior, identifying what He has said and/or is saying. Once you, the leader have it, you must crystallize it and communicate it to your entire organization. It is more than just telling them a few words. Strategy that is clear, crystallized, and communicated properly creates a linking that produces a shared sense of purpose. David, who was both a leader of men and a head of state, models for us as heads of organizations, a relational dynamic that he practiced from his youth. When David was in both peril and safety, his nation would see him acknowledge or inquire of the Lord, his Savior, and allow his Savior to make his path straight and successful. In one instance just before fighting Goliath, a giant, David makes this statement to the soldiers around him, "Is there not a cause? The word "cause" is the Hebrew word dabar. The word dabar has a very rich meaning, part of which is "matter, word, or business". In other words, David was telling those around him, through a question; don't you know God's word, His dabar on this matter, don't you know God's dabar on our business. I find it very interesting that in Saul's army nobody knew God's dabar on the matter and as a result of not knowing they were paralyzed in their perilous time. When David was leading the Mighty Men and ultimately his nation, they all knew God's dabar, His word, on the matter. David also would speak to his enemies about the relationship between him and his Savior. He tells Goliath "this day the Lord (his Savior) will deliver (a dimension of salvation) you into my hands..." The events following that declaration to a giant were exactly as David said. What are you communicating to the giant you are facing, to your staff, to your organization? Effective organizational communication creates an organization that moves as a single entity with a shared sense of purpose creating a well disciplined and well trained staff. A staff that learns by watching your relationship with your Savior becomes innovative, functioning in a coordinated manner, executing commands with precision, forming and reforming themselves into various configurations to meet the evolving needs of the organization. The staff becomes capable of managing change to the next level, leaving little or nothing to chance and making success predictable, stable and repeatable, even in perilous times. Calvin D. Brown is a teacher, trainer, executive coach, and business consultant. He is Founder of Technically Inclined a consulting firm that exists to partner with organizations, helping them to create their preferred future. www.TechnicallyInclined.com [email protected] Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |