Authentic Leadership

Yesterday, marked our third workshop installment from Tim Hoerr, CEO of Serra Ventures. This workshop focused on our leadership and the three main areas we need to continue to focus our energies for authentic marketplace leadership; setting foundations, executing with excellence, and loving people.

"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living." 

Eph. 1:11 (MSG)

Leadership begins and ends with self-awareness. Some of the questions we should be asking ourselves:

1. What's your personal story? (Workshop 1)
2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
3. What accountable relationships are you in?
4. How is your health? spiritual? physical? emotional?
5. How well aligned with your organization are you?

Setting Foundations comprises of understanding your 

• Mission - why does your organization exist?
• Vision - where is your organization going?
• Values - what are the most important guidelines in doing business?

Executing with Excellence

• Strategic Excellence
• Operational Excellence

Loving People

• By creating a TGIM (Thank Goodness it's Monday) culture
• By communicating 
• By caring

Some of these topics aren't new but we can get so wrapped up in doing our work that we don't assess these to make sure we are leading intentional and with authenticity. For me, the workshop left me with some practical take aways that I need to concentrate on to make sure my life stays aligned and what I pour my time in to is authentic with the life that I've been created for. Thanks Tim for another great workshop.

If you missed this one or others and would like more information, please contact me at carla@mergebusiness.com.

Right Place at the Right Time - For the Sake of Others!

^"If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

Esther 4:14

Many times in our work we question why we are in a certain job or why we have to work with certain people. 

Our study of Esther this month demonstrated how God's favor can place us in a position that allows us to be most effective in God's Kingdom. Sometimes we mistake God's favor for work that should look effortless and without conflict. Queen Esther had tremendous favor on her life but her destiny was not without problems. She faced death for her own life as well as extinction for her people. She was given the opportunity to save her people.

Our work may not be as dramatic as saving an entire nation of people from genocide, but God can use us in our work to bring salvation and freedom to many. We are the light of the world. You may be in your position for such a time as this.

Many of us stop there with our sentiments that are life has meaning but don't realize the precious treasure of how God wants to work through us. A careful read through Esther will show God's strategy for better position in your workplace.

For example, Esther fasted for three days before she went before the King to present her case. Many times I have fasted with the hopes of changing a situation. Esther's situation never changed, the King never reversed his decision. The Book of Esther shows us how strategically to work with God to bring solutions. I believe her three day fast was an incredible strategy session with God on how to solve the problem. The problem was solved in a unique way without the King reversing His decision.

Before we question how or why God would use us for His purposes. Remember Esther came off the streets as a Jewish orphan and became a Queen that was given authority to save her people. A great rags to riches story or better yet, orphan to royalty story.

Read and study Esther for strategic leadership lessons that will help you right where you are!