This is why you shouldn’t micromanage
Does God speak to your team members or just to you? I think we all believe he speaks to everyone, but if that’s the case, why are you still deciding everything at your company?
In other words, does the brochure really have to be the size and color you want? Or can your team member decide the size and color? After all, God made them creative too! He made them in his image, he gave them natural talents, he gave them spiritual gifts—and he wants them to use them, so why not let them?
Does God have anything to say on this matter? Let’s find out.
God reminds us that people are created in his image (Genesis 1). That, of course, includes your team members. Let’s peer into some leadership principles that flow from this truth.
First, since God is the Creator, and people are created in his image, people are also creative. It follows then, that as leaders we should:
• Value the input from people about their work and our work.
• Provide opportunities for people to express feedback on how they view their work.
• Be creative in our utilization of the creative talents of others.
• Be promoters and sponsors of the potential of the people we lead.
Secondly, since God intensely values each person, people are his most valued creation. Therefore people have value (Psalm 139:13) and as leaders we should:
• Treat people with respect and dignity.
• Lead people as we want to be led.
• Serve the people we lead, seeing them as ends, not means to accomplishing work.
• Help people be something as well as do something.
Finally, God created people with certain gifts.Those gifts and talents don’t get erased when they punch your company clock only to be reinstated when they punch out and go home! It seems reasonable and biblical then, that as leaders we should:
• Recognize God-given gifts in those we lead.
•Help them develop these gifts to become all that God meant them to be.
Your role as the leader of the organization is to create and maintain a culture that values and honors people, encourages individual growth and allows creativity so that people can develop their talent at work as well as when they’re not at work.
How’s it at your organization? How about a quick survey asking your team members how they feel about this? Maybe you’ll discover you’re doing great! Maybe you’ll discover there’s latent creativity just waiting to be unleashed. Maybe it’s time to ease into the “people are created in the image of God, therefore they are creative” space.
Here’s an idea: Next time a team member comes into your office to have you decide something earth shattering like which coffee service to use, why not try the phrase, “You decide.”
C’mon! Give it a try! If you don’t, the only thing you have to lose is another team member to the competition.
Photo source: istock
 | Greg's life mission statement focuses on his life passion, which is “to strengthen the great leaders, ideas and organizations of our time so the kingdom causes of Christ can be exponentially accelerated.” He is the CEO of Convene, which helps hundreds of Christian CEO’s meet regularly in small groups to live out their faith intentionally as they combine their love for business with the love for biblical truth. This article was first published on convenenow.com. Used with permission. Learn More » |
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