Respecting the Impairments

I have an impairment, and I call it "directionally impaired." It means I don’t know North from South but East and West are between them - somehow. People who are "directionally impaired" immediately understand. They also know you can’t be something else. A whole industry is making big bucks because people with no sense of direction can now use G.P.S. and find their destination without turning around several times, stopping to ask directions, and being late. People that do not have this directional affliction are always wanting to offer help and suggestions on how to manage my problem. If I would only do such and such. This works for me, why don’t you try it and you’ll be fine. The list of helpful hints goes on and on but misses one important point: I am not you. They miss the point that I’m not doing this on purpose, it is actually something I was born with and can’t just "adjust or change" to make it better.

My example is a person who does not have legs. You can give this person useful tips on if you just put a little more effort into it, you will be standing. If you put one foot in front of the other, it helps balance. I always use my arms to help me lift upward and then stand. Given all the useful tips in the world on how a person with legs stands, it doesn’t do squat for someone who can’t help the fact they don’t have legs. One set of information doesn’t transfer to the other.

In these cases, the people giving the hints and instructions are simply thinking of themselves. Should they take a moment to listen to the impaired person, they would begin to realize the situation is different for each of them. Giving an impaired person hints based upon your success is disrespectful. It gives the impression if this person tried a little harder they wouldn’t have a problem. How arrogant! It also places the instructor in the position of assuming they have this superior knowledge, apparently much more superior to the slacker who could know their directions or stand if they would only listen.

I had a similar experience earlier this week. I cannot do this one particular thing. At my age, I have tried all the tricks and instruction - I can’t do it. This group of people continued to tell me if I would try what they do, I would be able to do it. I calmly explained I had difficulty but they continued to insist they have trouble too but they have managed to overcome it quite nicely. Finally, the comment was, "we’ll just have to manage the best we can and it will be all right." Well, easy for you to say since you aren’t the person who is going to be humiliated "doing the best you can."

Can you tell I’m more than a little frustrated and unhappy about this whole issue? This situation happens at work, too. Not everyone can master every task as equally as the next person. If a person is very insistent they cannot do something and you know them to be quality performers otherwise, then you need to take heed of their needs. You need to listen and stop talking about how you manage. However and whatever you do doesn’t mean this person’s problems are lessened. You are only setting about to humiliate them by pushing them toward a failure they have told you would happen. Arrogant and insensitive of you to say the least.

Pushing an employee into a task where they will fail will have negative results for the employee, you and the company. This employee will no longer feel you are a caring employer and they may become resentful toward your instruction. Their work may suffer if they feel humiliated. If you have pushed them into a public humiliation, you may see other employees reacting to them in an equally degrading way. Or, the employees may feel empathy toward this person and resent your handling. Either way, because you refused to listen, you have created a problem where it could have been avoided.

The next time you are faced with this situation, make sure you have opened your ears and listened to what the employee is actually saying. They may be reluctant to spell out their disability but you will be able to catch the situation if you care enough. Typically, people don’t have disabilities because they wish to have them. I’d love to be able to turn in the right direction on intuition. Treating those with these disabilities as if they are choosing to be less than smart, or are lazy, or uninformed is not going to make the disability go away. Explaining to the person with no legs how to use legs won’t make them grow legs. It only makes you less of a kind person and erodes the disabled’s confidence.

Psalm 74:20-21 "Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name."

Moral Courage

Two little words, “moral courage,” and so hugely difficult. There isn’t a day that goes by after reading or listening to the world news I don’t marvel at the depth of some people’s moral courage. On the flip side, there isn’t a day that goes by I don’t feel sad for the lack of moral courage in other situations.

Moral courage doesn’t drop on us during an emergency situation or during an important decision like a package dropped into our arms from the sky. There has to be a fertile and nourished place prior to the need. If our life is a hallow shell of an imitation of faith or only used at church or as so much window dressing, it will not be there when real moral courage is needed.

Read history in the Bible, in history books, during military operations, in the news and you find the people who displayed moral courage are the same people with a life dedicated to building their moral character.

God forbid you should need extreme moral courage in an emergency situation. But history, even recent history, shows over and over we can never wait until we need moral courage to begin building that reserve. Emergency situations, by the very nature, are unexpected. They are the horror that lands in our lap on a peaceful Tuesday morning. Emergencies are the call in the night, the wrong place at the wrong time incident, and the failure of human kind.

Moral courage is needed in emergency situations and needed in our day to day decisions that affect the lives of our families, friends, employees, and the total stranger. It takes a measure of moral courage to follow company procedures for everyone, even the good employee. It takes moral courage to turn off the TV when the shows or commercials provide temptation. It takes moral courage to decline to participate in events that compromise your relationship with Christ. It takes moral courage to step forward to do what is right when the reality is you might not survive.

Let me share an example of lack of moral courage. There was an employee who used alcohol to the extent it was affecting her work. She didn’t obviously perform her work duties impaired. She did fail her random alcohol testing one day. She did come to work with hangovers and extremely tired. She did adapt an attitude that “partying” was cool. She was reported to her supervisor about talking with a city government employee during the work day “reeking of alcohol.” She was warned, she was disciplined, and she refused to change her behavior. She was eventually discharged from the company.

Let me share an example of moral courage: The company’s precise rules on no tolerance for working alcohol impaired. The government official’s reporting the incident to her supervisor. The supervisor documenting, disciplining, coaching and finally administering ramifications for continued poor work behavior.

In the first example, the employee did not have a storage of moral courage. In the second example, there were many people who displayed moral courage. For the second example, these things happened as a result of having stored many years of moral courage. The follow-through on this employee’s discipline was a series of tough decisions. They were made because people responsible for the decisions had the moral courage built on their own personal character. They were not decisions reached on the fly, in a vacuum, nor without Godly principals. These souls had prepared to make tough decisions.

An example for lack of preparation is going by boat to the middle of a lake without the oars, or a life preserver or being able to swim. When the boat starts to leak, it’s too late to prepare for the emergency.

Prepare today by equipping yourself for the day when you need a full store of moral courage. I pray you will never need it but reality and history suggests you will. Whether it is the hero on the battlefield, the parent at home, or the supervisor in the workplace, store up your emergency supply of moral courage starting today.

Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Lonely at the Top

After the rush of your promotion settles down, you may find you have just entered a very lonely spot. It isn’t that you’re not busy anymore, it means you have been isolated from the comradery of the work force. Whether you have been promoted from within the business, just started your own business, or were hired new to the company, you may find the situation as follows:



1. Employees at your business or company may not trust management.

2. Employees may show respect for anyone in authority.

3. Employees may feel they no longer have things in common with you.

4. Employees may not have confidence in the business decisions of the company.

5. Employees may resent your promotion or position.

6. Employees may think you no longer care about them.

7. You will not be able to share everything you know about company operations.

8. You may have to fire or lay off employees.

9. You may be part of reorganization or takeover.

10. You may have to assign tasks that employees dislike.

11. You will have to administer company policy the same way to everyone.

12. You will be busier than before which will limit you time.

All these, and more, will isolate you to some degree. It isn’t the end of the world. It is simply part of the job. It can be an awakening to realize the employees you called friends may not be the same. Or, the realization you will never make close relationships with the people who now work for you. Catagorize it as one of the perimeters of your new job. Focus your attention on other things and move on.

A good balance for this new on-the-job isolation is to build relationships with new peers. You can accomplish this through outside organizations and associations. These organizations are actually all about peer support. They may charter themselves as philanthropic (Rotary, Jaycees, Lions, etc.) but typically they are all about people at the same level in their careers. There may be career specific organizations (engineering, teacher, and chef to name a few) where the commonality of education provides the bond. Think about fraternities, alumnus clubs, tailgating at games, they all have one thing in common. They all provide peer company for particular interests. Look hard enough and you will find many outlets that will bring you in contact with peers who have the same interests at work.

In the corporate world, I organized informal contacts with those at my level of management. Go to lunch, e-mail, stay in contact about what is happening to each other. Granted it takes some extra work, but the information and support you gain will make it well worth the effort. Small business owners can do the same with other owners in their community and in their particular line of work.

Don’t resent what you have lost, turn toward what you can now gain. It does get more lonely as you advance your career but it doesn’t have to be a total work cocoon. The amount of effort you put into making new and beneficial relationships will determine the amount of isolation you experience.

And, don’t forget the friendship that will never leave you lonely. Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”

America During the Tribulation

During the tribulation, all who have committed themselves to Christ will be taken off this planet. Where will that leave the strength of this nation, this protector of freedom and human rights in this world?

As much as so many criticize and want to eliminate any religious reference in American government, it has been the basis of how this country was formed. It is the basis of our protection, our decision making processes, and our greatness. You do not have to be a Christian to have a good heart for others but without God you will not have His strength and wisdom behind your decisions. Without dedication to the word of God, America will not have the ability to balance decisions that benefit mankind. I realize these statements sound "right wing" or "the religious conservative." I disagree with labeling right or conservative (or whatever) simply because I accept the Biblical prophesy as truth. I view that belief much as I would review, evaluate and make a decision in business. For example, review our founding fathers’ statements regarding the importance of God in their decisions and in their life. Unlike today, the media didn’t label and discredit them for standing in God’s word. Even though there were opposing political parties, they didn’t feel the need to make flat statements based solely on if you lived your life for God.

I’m grateful I won’t be here during the time of the final Tribulation. I feel horror for those who will remain. This grand nation will no longer be anything but another land whipped by evil and suffering. Decisions will not have the moral truths as their guide thus allowing Satan to influence and destroy. As we count our blessings today, think through what God-based government decisions have formed in your world. What part of your world (government, home or business) functions well today because someone, at one time, based the formation on God’s word. Take the example of nations who currently have none of God’s word in their formation and function. The slaughter, the suppression, and the moral decay run rampant without God’s touch and balancing power.

Because all of God’s saved will be gone from America after the Tribulation, it will become just another land of the unjust and unholy. This should sober all Christians to work harder at bringing others to Christ. You are the influence God put in your work place and in others’ lives. While you are working on your career, remember to work on God’s plan for his children. You have chosen not to be here during this horrendous time. Work hard at showing others this option for their future. It is the only one for the wise.

I Thessalonians 3:11-13 "Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

Applying for That Job

Applying for jobs can be drudgery at best and a killer on the self esteem at worst. Here are some hints that I have gained from applying for jobs myself and from being the person who interviews others.

Spend time making a list of priorities for your next job. This is essential whether you are a first time applicant, wanting to take a step up, experienced and in demand, or a retiree looking for something new. You will need to answer the following questions. They must be comprehensive and honest. No one besides yourself will be using this list.

My expertise: This is where you list all your proven talents.
My schooling: List all degrees and classes that show expertise.
Additional training: List any training that may have been supplied by employers, community, memberships, and volunteer organizations.
Personal talents: List anything you do that might show a talent outside work such as hobbies, personal interests, volunteer, and physical activities.
Experience: List all jobs and the duties.
Memberships: List all social, volunteer, and work related clubs and association memberships. List any official positions, committees and other work performed.
Dislikes: List certain things that you simply would hate to do but might be included in your field.
Personality Traits: List if you are outgoing, an organizer, inventive, shy, etc.
Physical, mental or emotional limitations: List certified disabilities. List phobias.
Speculation: List jobs that you find interesting but currently have little experience.
Location: List where you wish to live and why.
Salary: List the minimum you think you could take for salary. List your preferred salary range.
Benefits: List what you must have to survive. List your preferred benefits.
Self Employment: If you are pursuing self employment through contractor or consultant work, you will need to do some really thorough soul searching to make sure you (and others whom you are responsible) can handle the financial and emotional pressures.

Once you have completed the above, review to see if there is a recurrent theme. Review each category until you have summarized it down to a specific idea. At this time, it doesn't need to fit together and it doesn't need to be the only things you will look for in a job. We are trying to bring out all the necessary information about you which will allow you to go into job hunting with everything you need. Too often we forget we have these accomplishments, experiences and talents. Too often we shop for jobs where we have no experience or talent simply because we haven't taken the time to assess ourselves truthfully.

Once you have an idea of what you want, get prepared to shop the many job markets. Make a list of the job markets in the location(s) where you wish to work. The internet is a good way of gaining access to job markets. This is especially useful if you are applying for jobs outside the physical location where you live. Here are a few of the avenues you may wish to pursue:

Newspapers: Most newspapers have their classified listings on line. Some organizations never list in the paper because they want to draw from exclusive listings. Still, it should be reviewed daily. The employer pays the fee. The jobs are generally within their subscriber area.
Headhunters: They take a fee. Many are specific to certain job classifications. They can be extremely in the know about jobs that are not listed to the general public. They often cater to middle to high management positions (including officer and board positions).
Employment Agencies: They take a fee and may be helpful. They may only have medium to lower level management positions. Check out other avenues and the specific benefits of each employment agency before signing a contract.
Web listings: Most specific careers have a general organization or association where worldwide positions are listed. An example would be the "The Chemical Industry of Illinois." More and more, businesses are allowing resumes and applications to be submitted over e-mail.
Word of Mouth: If appropriate, get out the word that you are "looking." Tell people you know in the industry, tell friends, tell fellow club, church, and association members. If you do not want your present employer to know you are looking, be very selective about doing this tactic.

Research how each employer wants their job applications submitted. Follow those instructions implicitly. Have your resume on paper and on line. Have several types of resumes. Have one specific for each kind of job you are seeking. Have one each consisting of (1) just the facts, (2) facts and experience and (3) conversational. You can get examples of these through business books or on line. There are templates of resumes in many Word programs or others. There are agencies that provide that service. These agencies charge for their services and often you pay for what you get. Top class agencies do a great job and free you of the task. Be aware you will be at their mercy for how it looks and what they will include. Always review and correct, if necessary. If possible, you should complete your own application and resume. Do not use cute templates or colored paper. Make it plain and factual. If you do not receive a response within ten days, call and inquire if they had time to review, if you can do something more to help, and thank them for their time. If they do not allow incoming applicant calls, send a follow-up letter.

Always submit a cover letter if the employer allows. Make it simple, brief and a summary of why you should be considered. Most resumes are not even read because applicants have not submitted a professional cover letter and resume.

Never let the representative of the company you are applying think you are impatient, unhappy, or desperate. Always be polite and thankful. They may need an employee but they want the best for their money. That includes someone who applies well and makes good first impressions.

Finally, remember you are a valuable person, both to an employer and to God. Consulting with Him about your applications and job prospects is wise. He will open doors or close doors as you follow His will for your life. Psalm 143:10 "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness."

The Mighty

I Corinthians 1:27 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound (confuse) the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound (put to shame) the things which are mighty.”

Speaking of this last week’s United Nations’ meeting. . .

Whether you are Catholic, Democrat, Islam, Republican, Born Again Christian, Independent, Jewish, or whatever faith and political bent, you have to just wonder about the comments and the mood of that UN meeting. An UN member calls for the death (in graphic terms) of the head of the Catholic church and no one became indignant, walked out, rebutted, or went to the media with outrage. At what point does one balance what the Pope said about Muslims versus the riots and public calls for his death. I’m not Catholic and I don’t always agree with the doctrine of that religion. If I weighed my emotional response on the past, the history of the Catholic church has been written with oppression of the non catholic. More recently, they’ve had some negative court cases which has affected their members and the church as a whole. Put those things in perspective, I still cannot imagine representatives of the other nations sitting on their hands and not calling this school yard bully what he really is, a terrorist.

As Christians in the work place, we may hear discussions about current events. Be careful at work about jumping on the political opinion bandwagon too quickly. World events are happening fast and many are ugly. Ugly for both the Christian and for people who might be in the wrong place at the wrong time. There may be a time in our future when we must take up the sword of our Christian faith but today cool heads will be needed by world leaders and in the business world. It takes a cool and rational person to stand up to the bully. It takes strong faith in our Lord Jesus Christ to hold strong when those around us are caving or rioting. It takes a strong Christian to know when to refuse an unethical deal at work or the blackmail of withdrawing oil supplies in the politically motivated UN. It takes a person thoroughly grounded in Scripture to understand the wise and mighty aren’t always on God’s side.

I Corinthians 2:5-6 “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (mature): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of princes of this world, that come to nought.”

Who's Your Coach?

Football is here and autumn will be arriving this weekend. Here in the Midwest, the weather is getting chilly, the skies are that “I’m bringing in cold weather” kinda blue, the flowers are making one last push, they’ve started harvesting the crops and school kids are back being school kids. Because I love the changes, I’m blessed to be living where we have four distinctive seasons. Just about the time I’m sick of one season, another slowly moves into the picture.

Now back to football and coaching! When I was in high school, our football team went undefeated for almost three years. We were a rather small rural school with rather small rural kids. We didn’t have big and tall athletic superstars. We just had kids who wanted to play football. The difference was the coach. Now deceased, Coach Jim Calloway was from Arkansas. He was built like a brick you know what and had a smile that would light up a heart. He was a family man and a Christian. Aside from those good qualities, he loved kids and he loved football. He was good at both. He brought a bunch of goofy unsophisticated farm kids in the 1960's to statewide fame. We were the stuff of movies such as “Hoosiers” and “Remember the Titans.”

What was this coach’s claim on this bunch of kids? He took a passion for a sport and performed his coaching and teaching as if he was Christ ministering to the flock. His picture would be in the dictionary under the word “coach.” He cared for the student first. He cared about them personally: their well being, their family, their place on this earth. He encouraged them one-on-one to be all they could be both on and off the football field. He understood you could not have top quality football players without having top quality hearts. He understood he was forming young men to have a lifetime of integrity and confidence in themselves and football was a means of teaching this to them.

His dedication to good sportsmanship not only instilled this quality in the football team, other students and adults knew if you were at one of his games, you had better display the same kind of sportsmanship. He didn’t preach or issue ultimatums, you just knew from Coach Calloway’s personal performance and demeanor. He led by example and by having high expectations and optimism.

Coach Calloway moved onto coaching at the college level and had the same success. But, our small town was forever influenced by this man. He forever changed a body of students, their families and the community. Almost forty-five years later, the high level of sportsmanship and community spirit continues as an example of what one loving caring person can accomplish.

My point for writing about this coach on a Christian supervisor/leadership BLOG? You are that one person at your place of employment. Through the same qualities, you can bring your Christian love for your employees to make a difference. You never really know what you are doing for Christ by showing His love and responsibility for others. But, as one little girl from a small Hoosier high school can attest, Coach made a lasting difference in multitudes. Step up to that goal line and coach as if lives depended on you. They do!

Proverbs 15:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”

Small Talk

We are heading towards holiday time and it’s also the time when businesses have office parties. I hear over and over how much people hate to make small talk at these events. Small talk means that meaningless superficial banter about nothing in particular. Some people are good at small talk and some would rather take a daily potion of poison than sit through a few hours of this kind of socialization.

I have a friend who is excellent in those situations. It’s not because he loves small talk, but, because he turns it into a different kind of social situation. He is from a group of few who turn small talk into conversations to learn about someone else. He asks questions that let the other person talk about themselves or their life experiences. He does it so well because he is genuinely interested in people and what they have to say. Once he gets people past small talk and into real experiences and opinions, it becomes interesting to both him and the other person.

Proverbs 18: 24 - “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

You see, that is what we miss when engaging in small talk. Small talk is so superficial, we leave the gathering knowing virtually nothing about anyone we just talked to for the last few hours. It is a colossal waste of time unless we choose to do as my friend and be interested in someone. Granted, you may find yourself talking with the community’s political nut, the company’s disgruntled employee, the person with the daily ailment, or the just plain bore. But behind each of these and literally everyone else, there is a story and it may just surprise you how interesting that story can be once you engage in caring about the other person.

I sometimes think of John, in the Bible, whose life had so many persecutions. He often talks of his friends and friendship. He knew he needed these friends and they lifted him. Our friendships can be of the same value to others if we can get beyond the surface small talk. John NEVER did small talk. He was not afraid to show interest, to instruct, to show love, and to write those things down for everyone to read. When he came to God, he became our model in so many ways. Not the least, you will be a model of how to engage in a caring friendship with others.

Here is one way to tell if you engaged in small talk or if you actually cared about the people at the latest social gatherings: When you leave the gathering, do you know something new about someone? If not, you weren’t trying hard enough to turn small talk into caring talk. Proverbs 27: 1-2 - “Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.” Like my friend, you can only be successful at this if you care more about what the other person has to say than talking about yourself. You can only learn about another by being quiet when they talk and listen to what they are saying. You can only make them want to talk more deeply by being genuinely interested. Is my friend just a person who only cares about others more than himself? Not totally. Does he always find every person interesting? Probably not. Does everyone open up to him? Of course not. Does he use the new information to gossip? I’m sure not. He enriches his own life by learning more about others. He gains understanding or respect for some new person. He allows someone to enjoy themselves more just because they were in conversation with him. A novel idea? No, just one that takes a little practice.

St. Luke 10:27 - “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.”

The Profession of Whining

We have become a world of whiners. We have allowed ourselves to be moved into being negative while running full speed ahead into meaningless activities and thoughts. We are so not grounded in what really matters and in the Blessings we continually experience. We focus only on what we don’t have that we are sure will make us endlessly happy on the day we achieve or receive. What to do? What to do?

Take a week and make a little tick mark on a small tablet or your calendar every time you think or say something negative to anyone about anything. Make that mark if the situation deserves your negative thoughts. Make that mark if the situation is merely an attitude for your day. At the end of seven days, tally that list of tick marks. I’m betting you will be shocked at how negative you have become. It’s not that we are all depressed, but we have just let ourselves become so terribly ungrateful.

As a Christian, you believe there will be a day when you will come before God for judgement. Have you considered that at that very moment He will be measuring your thoughts against His will/plan for your life? If you are living your life according to His plan, do you think it is ungrateful to complain _____(and insert the number of times you had negative thoughts during that seven days) number of times about your life?

As a supervisor, you know how it feels to try to provide the very best for each of your employees. You know what it takes to be their advocate, to plan, and to care. Have you ever met with an employee who totally disregards all you have done and spends her/his whole time complaining it’s not enough? It is disheartening to say the least. This is usually the employee who is not giving his/her all but still expects to reap bigger rewards than you have provided. Ungrateful whiners??? After providing so much for us, how must God feel when we spend time whining instead of doing His will?

You may think the amount of time you spend thinking and saying negative things does not take away from His plan for you. You would be wrong. Negative thoughts drag your entire state of mind down, it cuts productivity, it affects others, and it stifles innovation. Consider the measure of optimism God has planted in each of us from birth. Remember the child in you that skipped and laughed just to be outside on a beautiful day? God planted that attitude toward life. As we grow older, we let the optimism toward our life and the reward laid up in Heaven get stuck in the negative whining of today. Turn to Scripture for your boost of optimism.

I Timothy 4:6-16 "If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue to them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee."

Does this Scripture at any place even hint that whining is acceptable to God? As all great coaches tell their players, "Keep your eye on the goal!"

New Guy In Town

If you have been given the job assignment to enter a position where there needs to be some major changes, you may want to get your guns loaded and your flak jacket zipped. They used to call this person “the hatchet man” because he often was instructed to cut waste and/or jobs. He went from company to company as the steel hearted guy making tough decisions based entirely on economic needs. He had the reputation of having no heart or care for the plight of people. Even though this seldom happens this way today, employees still carry the dread of a new person coming into a bad situation to make things better.

If you are the person who has been chosen, it is best to do your research prior to entering that job place. Some things you may want to learn first:

What are the motives of the upper management in placing you in this position? You may think it is straight forward but asking some questions may help. Exactly what are their expectations - and is this in writing? If they can’t state the specifics of what they want from you and aren’t willing to commit in writing, is there a chance you are being sacrificed or made a scape goat? Do they want to “say” they are making progress but in reality, they want failure for other reasons?

Is upper management all or partly to blame for what happened? Did they provide the necessary goals, materials, and people for the previous person? Will they support your decisions or do they sabotage the middle manager’s work? Are they committed to success? You will probably not get answers from the board of directors or upper management if you ask these questions. But, you must gain the answers before you know how this job will go for you. Listen to what isn’t said or how things are said. Listen to that little voice in the back of your mind. Understand if something feels funny, it usually means there is something going on which isn’t being discussed.

Ask for the goals, the time line, the reason, their expectations for you, their commitment to you, their vision for the future, where your work/department fits into the future, and how they want you to keep them informed. Don’t leave anything to guess work.

Once you have accepted the position, make sure you have an outline of what you are planning to accomplish so you may meet with the employees the first day. They will be uneasy and curious. The longer you wait before telling them why you are there and what you hope to accomplish, the more rumors will take hold and sabotage your entry.

I would not entertain talk of the prior supervisor or this person’s management style, mistakes, highlights, personal tidbits, or gossip. This person was not your problem and not your employee. Taking that out of the mix right from the start makes a cleaner break and won’t badly reflect on you. Admit you don’t know the situation and you are too busy concentrating on what you wish to accomplish, starting today, to talk about this person.

It’s all right to talk to the employees you are to supervise but realize you may be hearing only a portion or one-sided view of what happened in the past. Encouraging too much of this kind of rehashing simply clouds your decisions. You will also find the very people most willing to talk with you about the past are typically the problem employees. Good employees prefer to keep working and keep their head down. The employees you will be supervising may not want to accept the need for changes because it might (or they fear it might) affect their jobs. Being open to comments in your new department is common courtesy but setting a limit on how much time or how much “stuff” you want to hear may be wise. You don’t want to immediately get the reputation of encouraging snitches. That reputation will only stop facts and important information from coming your way. You may want to initiate a policy of welcoming solutions but not welcoming rehashing the past or discussing who is to blame about the past.

You must walk the talk. Employees will be watching you closely to see if you are all talk and no action. Or, if you talk one story and are actually there to do something else. It is absolutely necessary that you build employee confidence in you. Your consistent high integrity and backbone in the face of change and adversity are mandatory. Your calm and cool head when your employees are in chaos will help level the emotions surrounding what may be happening.

Being able to honestly answer employee questions will go a long way in building trust. This is another reason to have answers from your boss before starting the job. If there are things you cannot discuss with employees, have the courtesy to tell them, "At the present time the company has not announced this plan." When they do, you will be sure to tell them.

I know a company where high level management often forgot to keep their supervisors informed prior to releasing information to the media or to other sources. This so undercut the respect supervisors gained from their employees. If you find yourself in this situation, consider why management does this to its supervisors. Do they just need to be reminded of how much this hurts the supervisory process or do they simply have a lack of respect for the supervisors? Some companies encourage an atmosphere of chaos by these tactics to keep employees off guard and insecure. They feel this level of a dysfunction actually helps them manage requests for more pay or more equipment. They slowly make employees feel “they” are to blame for all the problems and “they” should be satisfied with whatever crumbs come their way. It happens in a way as to make employees feel they have no other job/business they can go to because they have so little value to any employer. It’s a sad way to do business but not all that unusual especially in some blue collar organizations. I call it street bully management.

Telling employees over and over again what is happening, in different formats (memos, meetings, individual talk, etc.) is necessary to gain their confidence. If they become confident in your integrity and motives, they will be part of the solution. Although you will be very busy doing many things to get this department straightened up, still make sure you take time every day to talk with employees and be visible to your employees. Even if it is a simple walk through to say “hello” and “good morning,” it shows you are really there and caring.

Realize you will not be able to please all employees. To do this tough job, you may have to make tough decisions concerning how jobs are done, what equipment is provided, and who actually will continue to be employed. Again, integrity is the most important skill you can exercise. If you do your job fairly and with respect for the employee, you will be respected. Caring about the employee, personally, even when you must make tough decisions will let them know you are doing the best you can in the hard situation. There are times when you cannot make the best decision. You must make the best decision you can with what you have at the moment.

Expect this kind of job to mature you in many ways. If you handle the work with integrity and with a respect for your employees, you will mature and not become bitter. If you handle your decisions with integrity, you will come to the end of this position with valuable experience in the work place and in human nature. You will respect yourself for your decisions knowing you did it well. Note that I didn’t say you made everyone happy or even that every decision made you happy. I said, "You did it well."

II Corinthians 7:2-6 “Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations. For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”

Domestic Eavesdropping

While the issue of domestic eavesdropping is being debated by our leaders, it is necessary we all realize some facts that are constant in today’s world. Whether for or against this the type of governmental domestic eavesdropping, or whether you are Republican or Democrat, and no matter how you view your privacy or government’s responsibility, there are some givens.

Take this little harmless BLOG for instance. It appears it is monitored by a governmental agency simply cued by some key words I may use. I realize my BLOG, by it’s very nature, is a public domain and anyone anywhere can monitor my writing. I just hope if a real person reads my writing, it will do that person some supervisory and spiritual good.

I maintain a BLOG statistic gathering device. It helps a writer know if their words are reaching the targeted audience, if anyone is really reading, exactly what stories they are reading, where their computer accesses my site, what other site they may have previously reviewed, their IP address, how many times they visit, on what days, at what times, if they return, and etc. How does it gather this information? It is gathered from your computer. It is a small free service I use. Had I more commercial aims, I could contract a service that would give me much more information, compile the data and predict trends, uses, and assemble forecasts. I don’t know if you have ever accessed and ordered from the Amazon web site but they gather so much information through this access it is downright creepy. The point I’m making is any large (or small) internet sites can and does gather information on you every single time you go to a site. I am not at all surprised or offended that my government is taking advantage of that ability.

The down side is a fear that monitoring will become so invasive it could lead to my privacy and civil rights being compromised. We then have visions of nations, such as China, where it becomes oppressive and deadly. I, personally, feel if we allow large commercial institutions to monitor our internet actions (through cookies and other means) are we wanting to cripple our government’s efforts to protect us against terrorism by pretending it compromises are security sensibilities? Each American needs to be aware of what is really happening in the “whole” picture of monitoring before we make blind pretenses of indignation about the government. We should rebel and protest the invasion of our civil rights and our privacy. But to focus only on the government and not on the cookie placed on your computer when you ordered your latest toys are just wrong priorities. How many of us really know who owns the company that places that cookie on our computer? Have you researched their political and governmental affiliations? Do they make philanthropic contributions in a way that pleases your own standards? Simply because they do not come under the media’s scrutiny and because they do not posture to political party rhetoric doesn’t mean they don’t use the information gained from your personal actions to further a cause that could be as compromising to your personal safety as any government monitoring you may envision.

Surveillance is a touchy and complicated issue. No matter where you stand on the issue, make sure that stand comes from being fully informed. Naivety is only cute when in children. The public debate over domestic eavesdropping is good for a country that values free speech and privacy. The debate over what is right for our county has been what makes our county strong for all of us. But, realize there has been no debate about the compromising of your freedoms regarding commercial and retail monitoring of your activities. When a little BLOGger like myself can gain so much information about you from a simple free stat counter, can you imagine what others, more wealthy or more inquisitive, may gain on your personal facts.

As so much of America was horrified when information was possibly compromised about Veterans when a computer was stolen, have you stopped to think how much information you voluntarily give away every time you access the net? The internet is not a bad thing in and of itself. Using it properly and realizing just what you are giving away is important. Likewise, allowing your government the ability to use information to protect Americans is necessary but must be used properly. Make yourself aware of the boundaries of both and encourage those boundaries be public and be protective not only of the individual but our country as a whole.

And in so much as this is a Christian leadership BLOG, let me remind you of Scriptural comments in Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

A.k.a. Teacher

Did you ever think about going into the teaching profession? For many it wasn’t what they considered their "calling." You may have thought the pay was too low, dealing with youngsters too demanding, dealing with uninvolved parents a thankless task, and then the whole church and state issues. For those of you supervisors that have rejected teaching for whatever reason, let me break the news to you gently: YOU ARE A TEACHER!

Supervision has every aspect of teaching except some of the pay structures. Mess around with a few of the minor differences and you still have all the same needs and solutions. Think back to teachers who made a difference in your life. They were usually far and few between but you will always remember the really good ones. They are the ones that treated you fairly, had that gift of caring for everyone, could read your mind and know your specific needs, built you up instead of tearing you down, gave you inspiration and goals, lit the fire in your heart for something greater and they loved their job. These are also qualities of a great supervisor. Great supervisors are also few and far between.

Great supervisors are the kind that builds their employees’ careers by inspiring them to be more. They show them methods and paths that enhance instead of keeping it to themselves. They teach you the unknown rules when others may let you trip and fall. When you do fail, they make sure you understand the mistake, how to prevent next time and how it can be fixed today. They praise good work and good employees. They come into work with a joy for their job. Your success is a measure of how well they feel their job has been accomplished. Acts 20:20 is Paul talking to the Ephesian elders "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house."

Having been called to teach, even in the workplace as a supervisor or manager, is a high calling. Ephesians 4:1 "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called." And although this is talking about the unity of the Spirit, it is no less your calling if God has placed you in a teaching and supervisor position. Worthy as in doing this gift of a vocation as a pleasure and duty to God. Worthy as an example of God’s will for a Christian. As a description of the worthiness of a Bishop in I Timothy 3:2-4 "A bishop then must be blameless (above reproach), the husband of one wife, vigilant (orderly), sober, of good behavior, given (prone) to hospitality, apt to teach; not given (prone) to wine, no striker (scrapper), not greedy of filthy lucre (money); but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth (manages) well his own house, having his children in subjection (under control) with all gravity."

A teacher and a supervisor are both called to a higher standard. Your life both at work and at home are to be an example of how Jesus taught. We are given these gifts to use in a manner that glorifies God, follows His teachings, and benefits His children. You have been charged with making this life better for those you teach/supervise. Through your example you can bring others to Christ, yes, even as a supervisor.

A State of Mind

I interviewed an elderly lady recently who was recovering from a broken ankle. At almost eighty years, a break can be a life changing and crippling experience. She made the decision to work very hard (more and harder than prescribed). She had graduated from being in a wheel chair in a nursing home to using a walker and living at home. When I asked how she liked the walker, she looked at it disdainfully and said, "Beats laying in the middle of the street." I knew at that point this interview was going to be fun.

Her state of mind was a choice. It is no less a choice at any age. Although she physically looks her age, she seemed to appear younger as we talked. I asked her how she managed to appear so young. Her reply is the recipe for all of us, "I get up each morning and decide to be happy." So simple and so full of wisdom.

No amount of medicine, mood pills, or trendy advertisements can accomplish what this woman stores within herself. Proverbs 3:13-18 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding: for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."

We all hear the answer to happiness and so few take it to heart and practice the Scripture that enables us to be truly happy. It makes no difference whether you are pushing eighty years or if you are a working twenty year old. Waking up each morning and deciding to be happy is a choice no matter your circumstances. You do not have to be happy about your circumstances but being happy no matter the circumstance is the key.

What difference does this make toward your supervisory skills? It makes your mind sharper for the tasks of the day. It allows others to want to be around you and makes your ideas more acceptable to them. It sets the tone of the workplace. Your choice of attitude can actually transform your entire department. There may always be a select few who enjoy their misery but as you lead with an air of optimism, your department will be transformed by the image you portray. Even if you do not feel the direction of the company is something you can be happy with, your attitude toward the day, your work and your employees does make a difference. This very ability can get a department through crisis, changes, and upheaval.

The old saying, "You must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed" is talking about this very thing. People immediately know when someone comes to work with a positive happy attitude toward the world - or - not. If you are not a positive influence in your workplace, give it a try for a few weeks. As you are influencing others, you will find you are actually changing, too. You and your employees will become a more healthy workplace. Proverbs 10:28 "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish."

I woke today and decided to be happy - how about you?

A Prayer Looking Back & Forward

A poem by Rev. Greg Asimakoupoulos

Five years ago terror showed up unannounced.
It didn't call ahead.
And because it didn't,
when we opened the door to see who was there
we discovered three thousand were dead.
Instead of business as usual, Wall Street closed.
A street without walls took stock in what really matters.
Precious metals lacked their normal luster
when compared to precious lives.
The world traded naive security for open-ended war.
When the Big Apple was shaken to the core by jet-size bullets,
the entire nation quaked.
Caught off guard, Americans didn't fake courage.
Patriotic hearts beat as one but raced in fear.
Seizing whatever faith we had, we fell to our knees.
We could tell that pledging allegiance to a flag
could not take the place of calling out to God.
It was a day that proved that those who live
in the land of the free and the home of the brave
know how to behave when push comes to shove
and terror comes to stay.
We pray. But only then?
The 11th of September calls us to remember (and understand)
that a nation can only be indivisible under God.
We can't just fly a flag. We have to fold our hands.
Suffice it to say, We've been called to pray.
Not just when terror rings the bell. But every single day.


As a man who deals with politicians every day, Rev. Asimakoupoulos still manages to stay in Godly principals and never hesitates to verbally paint a very clear picture. His talent for describing the beating heart of America and it's leaders is refreshing and pertinent. As we look back five years ago to September 11th, may we remember we are still God's children. We still need God to protect American citizens, whether in New York, or any of our other towns and rural settings. Protection for our troops around the world and at our borders. We need each citizen's sincere and constant prayer. Prayer of thanks for God never leaving us. Prayer that we will not wander away from Him. Prayer of thanksgiving for the blessings he provides. Prayer for those who suffer at the handsterroristsists and prayer that terrorism will stop.

John 4:14 "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

The Quietness of Vacation

We have been on a week’s vacation. It was one of those do nothing much be odds and ends but we both made a concentrated effort to not do our actual jobs. A vacation of not doing the work of employment and not thinking about it either.

I used to work with men who did not take all their earned vacation days. Since my work didn’t allow you to accumulate vacation days not taken beyond the year end, they lost these chances to be away and get refreshed. They took pride that they were “too busy” and just couldn’t take the time off from work. They were needed! The place couldn’t run without them!

Well, HELLO, are you kidding me??? Even God took a day of rest after creating this earth and all that is in it; can you be so much more important? Does your work have a larger impact upon the mankind than God’s original work? As a Christian, do you really think you can pick and choose parts of God’s design for humans? God works on the whole person and you will be a better worker and better Christian by following His advice. Matthew 12:11 "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Two of the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20: 10-11 “but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

We are blessed to have businesses that provide vacation for their workers. It acknowledges the many hours we give to the organization. They understand a refreshed employee does a better job.

Job 34:29 “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:”

Think of your quietness of vacation as a gift given to you. Be thankful and enjoy!

Just Another Work Day

Labor Day, so what? It’s just a day you don’t have to work, right? No, dear supervisor, it is more than that and a good time to take you down a history lane.

It is about the only American holiday that does not celebrate a battle won, either as a country or as a religion. It is totally a National tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country. To use the day to simply celebrate not having to work just seems wrong.

Did you realize the little parade in your village or city with its military band, speeches, the tractors and big equipment, kids riding floats all stem from legislation? The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances in the years of 1885-86. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation, the first passing in New York in 1887. By the end of the decade, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September each year a legal holiday the District of Columbia and the territories. By these decrees, the form of the observance and celebration of Labor Day had a defined outline with a street parade, showing public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation of the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were instituted for more emphasis on economic and civic significance. In 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of labor.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has been the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is through the American workers that this nation has continued its strength, freedom, and leadership.

As you celebrated Labor Day’s gift of a day not working, you may want to consider the gift you have received from generations of American workers. Their hard work, their devotion to Godly standards at home and in the workplace, their values and ingenuity have all brought the gifts of a day without work to you on September 4, 2006.

Take a moment to count your Blessings and give thanks to the Maker who has allowed you and me to be in this great country, with its great work force, making products that improve the world and the choices to do just that!

II Thessalonians 3:7-14 “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they, work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, not that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.”

Through scripture, Paul told us we are to work and toil for our bread. Through that kind of hard work, Americans (you and I) can celebrate the bounty of God’s wondrous gifts on Labor Day and every day.

Working Mothers

There is no harder job than a mother who works outside the home in addition to her other responsibilities. Whether married or single, it is just plain, hard work. Although I could list two-zillion reasons, I think the hardest is the balancing where you dedicate your time. Then realizing that no matter how you divide your time you will feel you are short changing someone or something. Notice I didn’t say you WERE shortchanging anything, I said you will FEEL like you are short changing something or someone.

Again, I won’t go into whether you should or should not be working if you are a mother. Besides being none of my business, you have made the decision based on your own circumstances. Hopefully, you have prayed about it and understand God’s desire for your life. If married, hopefully, you have the support, help and love of your husband. There were times in my life when I enjoyed working while being a mother. I know there were times if I hadn’t worked my kids wouldn’t have had anything to eat. Then, there are times when I would have loved to devote more time to my family and home. There were times when I knew God had placed me in the work situation and didn’t want me to leave until His work was finished for me there. Not only is there no one answer to should women work, those reasons shift at different times in our lives.

If your children are young, the whole baby sitter thing is a huge issue. (I think I just heard thousands of women say, “Tell me about it!) If you have a trusted relative who enjoys watching your children - go for it. I was truly blessed last year to have one of my grandchildren come to my house after school. It allowed me to know her so much better than if we hadn’t been given this time. Grandparents will usually take your children if they are sick. When I first started working, no employer was nice about letting you stay home with sick children. They had the attitude, “If you want to be in the workplace, you better pretend you don’t have any home responsibilities.” It was an ugly time for the working mother; one that hasn’t totally disappeared.

Having child care facilities tied to your place of employment is one of those huge benefits you may not realize until you have children. If you are in a position to interview at such a place, place it high on your benefits’ list even if you don’t presently have children.

The best way to find out the best child care places is asking other women. In small towns, we have church-sponsored child care facilities and even at the for-profit agencies, you know everyone and if they are responsible. The church is another great place to find out who is good at watching children and whom you should avoid. If you cannot find any good responsible child care, I urge you to try to stay home with the children. Some places let mothers “flex time” to allow mothers and fathers to share child care hours. Often, part time work does not fit the hours you need care in your home but it is still worth investigating.

As a supervisor, I urge you to make your place of business “mother friendly.” You cannot give mothers preferential treatment but you can allow them to care for their children as God intended. When their child calls on the phone to check in or to ask permission, do you consider it a distraction? Or, are you secure that a woman who knows her children is safe is a better worker because she is able to concentrate on her work? Are you understanding when they must suddenly leave because their child is in an emergency or suddenly got sick? Have you made a plan on how these things should work including how they tell you, how the wrap up their duties, and how often is acceptable? Your rules for mothers must be fair to everyone and they must not be abused. To be fair to the mother, you must not assume she will abuse it just to have free time off work. Most women would rather play pitch with cow pies than have the pain of something bad happening to their children.

I have found working mothers are usually the ones that pull the work force together because they have the organizational skills and a world of common sense. They are the ones that think about the other person and how to handle situations. They are the ones who organize mentoring groups, employee clubs for families, laugh when you show up with two different colors of shoes, or say you don’t really smell like baby spit up. They are the ones who can organize your addresses and phone numbers because they’ve already done this for their family. Treated fairly, they will go above and beyond for their supervisor because it means so much to them. Treated fairly, work will not be one more hassle they must juggle. Treating working mothers with honor is no less demanded by God than how you treat your own mother. Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”