A challenge means it's not going to be easy. If a challenge seems too daunting many people feel haunted and they run away scared of the very challenge that promises to make their life more fulfilling and content. But if you don't commit to overcoming the challenge you will fail. Determine if you have a team of people committed to one another or don't take on the challenge. There is no shame in failing with a team of committed people. That is considered a learning experience. It is when you take your team into a challenge when there is a lack of commitment that exposes poor leadership. So, what? I hate failing but I have failed often. But it only takes that one success to make me want another challenge. People don't mind a challenge if they believe in and trust those on their team. In fact before you accept a challenge you must determine if you have a team or just a group of people. Trust and courage make a team. The lack of trust and the fear of losing something means you only have a collection of people. It is the latter group that has no vision and will certainly perish.
God has a vision for his people but let's look at just one of those people, Saul. He was riding high in his horse feeling powerful, strong, and righteous in his pursuit to defeat those nasty and cultish people called the Way (early Christians). His vision carried him on until he was knocked off his high horse by the greatest vision caster ever, Jesus! Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me Jesus asked? Saul's response was interesting, especially given the fact that he (Saul) was not a believer in this phony, good teacher they called the Messiah. Saul's first words after being knocked off his horse and blinded were, Who are you Lord? It was on this road to Damascus that Saul was given a vision with meaning and purpose and eternal ramifications. His transformation included a name change from Saul to Paul and a leadership role change from leader of the ruling religious crowd, the Pharisees, to one of the greatest disciple makers in the history of the church. Paul also became the writer of 67% of the New Testament. Jesus cast the vision to Paul and introduced him to truth while on the road to Damascus. This experience gave Paul the faith, trust, and courage to go on this journey. It was a vision so compelling and heart capturing and he, like you and me, were included in changing the world. But Saul said yes to the vision. He was fully committed.
A vision and a team (trust and courage) have the potential to change the world and to live a meaningful and purpose filled life. Today, many companies have written mission and vision statements but few have a clue what they are. The leadership of these companies acknowledge that they have statements but they stay on the wall or on the desk rarely to be lived out in the workforce. These should be the guiding principles for everything a company does. Most companies have employees living out their job descriptions disengaged from their jobs and their coworkers with the typical response from those leaders; raise wages, increase benefits, and offer work from home opportunities. This is not a vision and this is why so many in the workforce are perishing. If you want to turn your workforce around and retain more people do five things:
Build Trust
Improve Communication
Cast a compelling VISION and live it out everyday
Make every decision in your company with your Vision, Mission, and Core Values as your guide posts
Include your workforce in the decision making process by giving them ownership of their job.
This will require your time and courage. The clock is ticking and your people won't wait forever.
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