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One of the hardest things to do as a leader is to figure out when it is time to leave one situation for another. Many leaders find themselves in situations that they are not best for them, or their family/team. They are usually in that situation because they feel a sense of debt to someone associated with the situation. For example, a leader may find himself sticking with a certain company just because that is where he got his chance, even if the situation is no longer best for him.
In Chapters 30 and 31 of Genesis, Jacob finds himself in such a dilemma. Jacob had traveled to "the land of the eastern peoples" in search of a bride. He found the one he wanted in the family of his uncle Laban. Jacob was so in love with Rachel, he agreed to work for Laban for 7 years to gain her hand in marriage. At the end of seven years, he was tricked in to marrying Rachel's older sister Leah by his uncle Laban. Jacob committed another 7 years in order to gain the hand of Rachel in marriage. That's 14 years of investment that Jacob committed to reach his dream. Jacob also began having children with his new wives shortly afterward. In total, Jacob spent 20 years in the labor of his Uncle Laban.
Through all of this, Laban continually took advantage of Jacob and the relationship that Jacob had with God. Laban had Jacob run his flocks, and since God found favor with Jacob, the flocks prospered. Jacob was in a tough spot. He was very grateful to Laban for his wives (even though Laban used treachery with the marriage of Leah). Jacob was also very thankful for the opportunity to work and gain wealth. (even though Laban kept most of it for himself). Finally, Jacob was shamed into staying because Laban kept holding the need to see his daughters and grandchildren over Jacob's head for reasons not to leave.
As time went by, Jacob had to make a decision that was going to be right for his family. It is an important step in leadership to know when it is time to make a bold move. Jacob saw signs in the way that Laban and his sons had been treating him. He also missed his family. As Jacob was making this decision, he made sure to include other important people who would be affected by the action. After he consulted with his wives, and they agreed that it was time to go, Jacob made the next significant step... He took action. One of the biggest mistakes that leaders make is in overanalyzing the situation. Colin Powell talks about the perils of waiting for all of the information to come in before making a decision. He suggests that once you have 70% of the information necessary, you will lose any advantage you have by waiting for more information.
Jacob made the decision to leave Laban and return home. Jacob made sure to talk to the Lord before he left. He waited until the Lord said "Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you." (Gen. 31:3) This is a very important step. If you are in contact with the Lord through prayer, you will astounded how willing He is to lend His guidance in major decisions. He may not come out and speak to you, like he did with Jacob, but more often then not, you will understand his will.
Just because Jacob made the decision to leave did not mean that there would not be obstacles to overcome. In this case, Laban pursued Jacob across the dessert. Think about it, Jacob, through his relationship to the Lord, had made Laban a very wealthy man. Laban was not willing to just let him leave with his flock, his daughters, and his grandchildren. When Laban overtook Jacob on the journey things got contentious. Leaders can learn something from how Jacob handled the confrontation.
Jacob explained to Laban why he left. He also challenged Laban to give him a reason why he should not be free to return to his family. Laban and Jacob agreed to an oath which would insure that Laban would no longer pursue Jacob after that day. This piece of closure is very important in the process. This was a way that both parties knew the rules of the relationship moving forward.
Let's review what lesson we have learned:
1. At some point leaders will have to make a decision on whether or not they are in the "right" situation.
2. Leaders should construct logical framework around the decision to keep from being emotional. They need to collect the information necessary to move forward, being cautious not to over analyze.
3. Leaders should consult with others, especially if they will be impacted, before making big decisions. This includes asking the Lord for guidance.
4. Once a decision is made, take the necessary action.
5. Be prepared for obstacles and "fall out" after the action is taken.
6. Be ready to create an official agreement with other parties to make sure that everyone is clear about the new relationship.
Hopefully the lessons learned will help you evaluate your decision next time you need to evaluate your current situation.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Genesis Chapter 29 Leadership Lesson: Weigh the cost
Part of being a leader is being able to make and plan for decisions. There needs to be a process that is gone through when a large decision needs to be made to insure that the cost of the decision is weighed appropriately.
What type of investment is it going to take in order to reach your goal?
Who else will need to be involved in order to reach your goal?
Are the "players" trustworthy?
What are the potential downsides?
What delays or obstacles should be considered?
If the goal is reached, was it worth the cost?
These are just some of the questions that you should consider when entering into a venture. Jacob lived the consequences of not being prepared with answers to these questions. Jacob went to Paddan Aram to search for a wife. When he entered town, the first woman he saw was Rachel. She was very beautiful and Jacob was instantly smitten. He found out that she was the daughter of his uncle, so she was available for him to marry.
This is where Jacob began to make decisions on his emotions and not his logic. He approached Laban and asked what it would take to have Rachel as his wife. Laban said that Jacob would have to work for him for seven years, and then Rachel would be his.
If the questions above were used as a filter, the first would be, "What type of investment is being asked for?" In this case it is seven years of Jacobs labor. At least Jacob was aware of what was being asked. Second question, "Who is involved?" In this case, Jacob assumed that it was only Laban, Rachel and him. This is a good example of what happens when we make decisions without all of the information. In this case, Rachel's older sister, Leah, was also a player. The third quesiton, "Are the people trustworth?" is the changing point of this series of quesitons. While Laban is Jacob's uncle, Jacob was not familiar with him. He blindly trusted Laban to be willing to be fair and treat him like family. We find out later that Laban is not a trustworthy partner in this agreement. The fourth question is, "What are the downsides?" The easy answer is that Jacob will miss out on seven years of his life and other opportunities. The topic that Jacob did not consider was what would happen if after seven years, he did not get what Rachel as his wife?
That is exactly what happened. At the end of seven years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, instead of Rachel. This leads to the next question, "What delays or obstacles may occur?" Jacob had now given seven years of his life in labor for a prize he still didn't have. Laban agreed to give Rachel to him if he worked an additional seven years in his fields. This is where Jacob had to answer, "Is it worth it?" Jacob decided that in this case it was. He could have walked away with Leah as his wife and continued his life, but he decided that Rachel was worth the additional sacrafice to stick it out.
So many times we make decisions as leaders by taking certain assumptions for granted. In this story, Jacob assumed that his uncle would be a trustworthy partner. He also assumed everything would go as planned. The second area that needs to be addressed is our propensity to make emotional decisions and rationalize away potential issues. Jacob was so smitten by Rachel, that he was willing to jump in, with both feet, without considering the consequences.
Next time you find yourself wanting to make a decison that is based in emotion, try to catch yourself before your decsion is made and run yourself through the above questions. Then, at least you will have tried to apply logic to your decision process.
This is where Jacob began to make decisions on his emotions and not his logic. He approached Laban and asked what it would take to have Rachel as his wife. Laban said that Jacob would have to work for him for seven years, and then Rachel would be his.
If the questions above were used as a filter, the first would be, "What type of investment is being asked for?" In this case it is seven years of Jacobs labor. At least Jacob was aware of what was being asked. Second question, "Who is involved?" In this case, Jacob assumed that it was only Laban, Rachel and him. This is a good example of what happens when we make decisions without all of the information. In this case, Rachel's older sister, Leah, was also a player. The third quesiton, "Are the people trustworth?" is the changing point of this series of quesitons. While Laban is Jacob's uncle, Jacob was not familiar with him. He blindly trusted Laban to be willing to be fair and treat him like family. We find out later that Laban is not a trustworthy partner in this agreement. The fourth question is, "What are the downsides?" The easy answer is that Jacob will miss out on seven years of his life and other opportunities. The topic that Jacob did not consider was what would happen if after seven years, he did not get what Rachel as his wife?
That is exactly what happened. At the end of seven years, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, instead of Rachel. This leads to the next question, "What delays or obstacles may occur?" Jacob had now given seven years of his life in labor for a prize he still didn't have. Laban agreed to give Rachel to him if he worked an additional seven years in his fields. This is where Jacob had to answer, "Is it worth it?" Jacob decided that in this case it was. He could have walked away with Leah as his wife and continued his life, but he decided that Rachel was worth the additional sacrafice to stick it out.
So many times we make decisions as leaders by taking certain assumptions for granted. In this story, Jacob assumed that his uncle would be a trustworthy partner. He also assumed everything would go as planned. The second area that needs to be addressed is our propensity to make emotional decisions and rationalize away potential issues. Jacob was so smitten by Rachel, that he was willing to jump in, with both feet, without considering the consequences.
Next time you find yourself wanting to make a decison that is based in emotion, try to catch yourself before your decsion is made and run yourself through the above questions. Then, at least you will have tried to apply logic to your decision process.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Genesis Chapter 27: Jacob Gets Isaac's Blessing; Leadership Lesson: Trust Your Gut
Isaac was getting old, and it was his time to give his blessing to his oldest son Esau. He asked Esau to go out and catch some venison, prepare it for him, and then come and get his blessing. Rebekah overheard Isaac and came up with a plan. She went to her favorite son, Jacob, and told him to go get two "choice young goats" so she could prepare them the way Isaac liked. She was going to have Jacob pretend that he was his older brother, in order for Jacob to get the blessing. Jacob was worried that his father would figure things out, because Esau was hairy and Jacob was smooth. Rebekah covered Jacob's arms and hands with goat fur to make him feel like his older brother. Then she dressed him in Esau's clothes, so he would smell like him as well.
Jacob presented the meal prepared by his mother to Isaac. Here is where the leadership lesson, trust your gut, begins. The first thing that Isaac mentions is that Esau had returned so quickly. It seemed odd to him that the meal could be prepared that fast. Jacob explains it away as the Lord blessing him.
The next "gut check" came when Isaac asked to have "Esau" come close so he could touch him. This leads me to believe that there must have been something in the voice of Jacob that raised suspicion in Isaac. Isaac says "the voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are of Esau."
Then, Isaac asked Jacob, "Are you really my son, Esau?" and Jacob answered, "I am."
They ate and drank together preparing for the blessing. When they were done, Isaac asked "Esau" to come close and kiss him. When Jacob did, Isaac smelled the clothes of his brother and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed..." This was yet again another sign that Isaac was unsure of the identity of the son that stood before him.
At that point he gave Jacob his blessing.
Once Esau came home and presented his meal to his father, Isaac figured out the mistake he had made. The problem was, that once a blessing was given, it could not be taken away. The chapter continues, but we have heard enough to make a point.
1. When something does not seem right to you, do research. In this Chapter, Isaac asked multiple questions to Jacob, because his "alarms" were going off.
2. If you are still unsure, come up with an alternative solution. If you were Isaac, what alternative could you have developed? How about asking others to be present to witness the blessing. This would have easily uncovered Rebekah's plot.
3. Once you make a decision, you are responsible for honoring it. As a leader, there are no excuses for poor decisions. You are accountable for what you say and implement. That doesn't mean that there are times that changes can be made, but at the end of the day, you are where the "buck stops"
4. Don't assume people with their own agendas, no matter how close to you they are, won't try to manipulate you for their own gain. Isaac's own wife and son deceived and outwardly lied to Isaac in order to get what they wanted.
Next time a red flag goes up around a decision you need to make, trust your gut, do some research, develop safeguarding solutions, and treat everyone with the same sense of scrutiny. More often than not, you can be confident with your result.
Jacob presented the meal prepared by his mother to Isaac. Here is where the leadership lesson, trust your gut, begins. The first thing that Isaac mentions is that Esau had returned so quickly. It seemed odd to him that the meal could be prepared that fast. Jacob explains it away as the Lord blessing him.
The next "gut check" came when Isaac asked to have "Esau" come close so he could touch him. This leads me to believe that there must have been something in the voice of Jacob that raised suspicion in Isaac. Isaac says "the voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are of Esau."
Then, Isaac asked Jacob, "Are you really my son, Esau?" and Jacob answered, "I am."
They ate and drank together preparing for the blessing. When they were done, Isaac asked "Esau" to come close and kiss him. When Jacob did, Isaac smelled the clothes of his brother and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed..." This was yet again another sign that Isaac was unsure of the identity of the son that stood before him.
At that point he gave Jacob his blessing.
Once Esau came home and presented his meal to his father, Isaac figured out the mistake he had made. The problem was, that once a blessing was given, it could not be taken away. The chapter continues, but we have heard enough to make a point.
1. When something does not seem right to you, do research. In this Chapter, Isaac asked multiple questions to Jacob, because his "alarms" were going off.
2. If you are still unsure, come up with an alternative solution. If you were Isaac, what alternative could you have developed? How about asking others to be present to witness the blessing. This would have easily uncovered Rebekah's plot.
3. Once you make a decision, you are responsible for honoring it. As a leader, there are no excuses for poor decisions. You are accountable for what you say and implement. That doesn't mean that there are times that changes can be made, but at the end of the day, you are where the "buck stops"
4. Don't assume people with their own agendas, no matter how close to you they are, won't try to manipulate you for their own gain. Isaac's own wife and son deceived and outwardly lied to Isaac in order to get what they wanted.
Next time a red flag goes up around a decision you need to make, trust your gut, do some research, develop safeguarding solutions, and treat everyone with the same sense of scrutiny. More often than not, you can be confident with your result.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Genesis Chapter 26 Leadership Lessons: With Power Comes Conflict
In this Chapter, a famine is taking place in the land and Isaac takes his family to Gerar for the duration of the famine. During this time, the Lord blessed him and he was very prosperous. His herds and flocks grew and he became very powerful. Because of that power, the Philistines became afraid and jealous and asked him to leave their territory. They also filled in all of the wells that his father, Abraham, had dug. Isaac agreed to move his people away from Gerar. As he moved, he would dig a well. There continued to be fights over who the well belonged to, so Isaac would always leave the well and move on. Finally, he dug a well and no one fought him for it. He then knew that this was the place to stop.
As he began to prosper again, the king, Abimelech, and his advisors sought him out to form a treaty. Isaac was confused. He wondered aloud why they would want to form a treaty with him after they had sent him away. He was told that it was obvious that he was blessed and that they wanted to form a treaty with him so that war would never break out between them.
As always, the above summary pales in comparison to actually reading the chapter. There are sections before and after the referenced story, but this is the topic I was hoping to cover.
In leadership there are always struggles with other groups of people. In business, there are competitors that are trying to get your market. In sports, there are other teams trying to beat you. In this case, Isaac was being harrassed by people who were jealous of his wealth and prosperity.
Isaac had different options that he could have taken when he met this situation:
1. He could have defended his ground and fought for his wells. The problem with this option was that the land was never his in the first place. He came to this place due to a famine. What he was able to accomplish here was a gift to begin with.
2. He could have negotiated a deal to stay where he was. The problem with that option was that there would need to be policing of the agreement. As wells continued to be filled in, and other potential action taken, who would be responsible for monitoring the situation? What energy would have to be taken, just to monitor the agreement.
3. He could thank them for the opportunity, take what he had learned (and earned), and move to a different location, where there wasn't as much competition.
So many times, leaders allow their ego to get in the way. It is easy to think that the first two choices are the best ones. Isaac had done all the work, he should enjoy the benefits. However, what would the long-term chance of success have been? He would have always been dealing with confrontation. Instead Isaac decided to find an environment where he and his people could prosper, over the long term. There he was able to establish new wells and become more successful than he could have been where he was, because he now had room to grow. He grew so much, that the king who had initially sent him away, sought him out to form an oath with him.
What are the learning opportunities from this story?
1. Trust that the Lord will guide you to the right place.
2. Don't let your ego get in the way of making the right choice
3. When presented with a problem, consider the long term impact of your decision
4. When given the opportunity, do not make enemies. Don't quarrel over the "small wells"
5. Be open to forming partnerships, even if they come from people who you've delt with in the past.
6. When conflict arises, look for the opportunity to grow.
Isaac saw this as an opporutnity to establish his family in a place where they could prosper and grow. He looked to the Lord for guidance and then he followed the path. Where do you see conflict that could lead to opportunity? Should you leave an area of conflict to establish yourself in a better place for you to grow? Where can you make a partner where there used to be an adversary?
As he began to prosper again, the king, Abimelech, and his advisors sought him out to form a treaty. Isaac was confused. He wondered aloud why they would want to form a treaty with him after they had sent him away. He was told that it was obvious that he was blessed and that they wanted to form a treaty with him so that war would never break out between them.
As always, the above summary pales in comparison to actually reading the chapter. There are sections before and after the referenced story, but this is the topic I was hoping to cover.
In leadership there are always struggles with other groups of people. In business, there are competitors that are trying to get your market. In sports, there are other teams trying to beat you. In this case, Isaac was being harrassed by people who were jealous of his wealth and prosperity.
Isaac had different options that he could have taken when he met this situation:
1. He could have defended his ground and fought for his wells. The problem with this option was that the land was never his in the first place. He came to this place due to a famine. What he was able to accomplish here was a gift to begin with.
2. He could have negotiated a deal to stay where he was. The problem with that option was that there would need to be policing of the agreement. As wells continued to be filled in, and other potential action taken, who would be responsible for monitoring the situation? What energy would have to be taken, just to monitor the agreement.
3. He could thank them for the opportunity, take what he had learned (and earned), and move to a different location, where there wasn't as much competition.
So many times, leaders allow their ego to get in the way. It is easy to think that the first two choices are the best ones. Isaac had done all the work, he should enjoy the benefits. However, what would the long-term chance of success have been? He would have always been dealing with confrontation. Instead Isaac decided to find an environment where he and his people could prosper, over the long term. There he was able to establish new wells and become more successful than he could have been where he was, because he now had room to grow. He grew so much, that the king who had initially sent him away, sought him out to form an oath with him.
What are the learning opportunities from this story?
1. Trust that the Lord will guide you to the right place.
2. Don't let your ego get in the way of making the right choice
3. When presented with a problem, consider the long term impact of your decision
4. When given the opportunity, do not make enemies. Don't quarrel over the "small wells"
5. Be open to forming partnerships, even if they come from people who you've delt with in the past.
6. When conflict arises, look for the opportunity to grow.
Isaac saw this as an opporutnity to establish his family in a place where they could prosper and grow. He looked to the Lord for guidance and then he followed the path. Where do you see conflict that could lead to opportunity? Should you leave an area of conflict to establish yourself in a better place for you to grow? Where can you make a partner where there used to be an adversary?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Genesis 22: Abraham and Isaac: Leadership Lesson: Trust, Dedication, Responsibility
At the beginning of this chapter God calls Abraham and tells him to take his only son to the top of a “mountain to be named later” and sacrifice him in a burnt offering. Abraham does not ask any questions, packs some wood, a couple of servants, and his son Isaac, and heads to the mountains. At the given time, the Lord tells Abraham what mountain to head toward, and Abraham tells his two servants to wait with the donkeys, that He and Isaac will go from there. Isaac is starting to get suspicious and asks his father “we have the wood, but what are we going to sacrifice?” Abraham responds, “God will provide himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” When they get to the top of the mountain, Abraham builds the altar, binds his son, and prepares to kill him with a knife. At the last moment, an angel appears and tells Abraham to stop what he is doing and let his son down. Abraham notices a ram struggling in the bushes off to the side and prepares the animal to take his son’s place.
You may ask yourself, “Why would a leader ask one of their followers to do something like that?” Or “As a leader, what can I learn from this Chapter?” Let’s focus on the second question. Only a very strong leader could have one of their people follow these instructions, without even a second thought. Imagine the thoughts that could be running through Abrahams mind. He had waited 90 years for a son, and now he was being asked to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Here is what I think put Abraham’s fears to rest:
1. God had built trust with him over time. God had always delivered on his promises to Abraham, and Abraham always ended up better than when he started.
2. God had promised Abraham more descendants, then stars in the heavens. Why would God do anything to harm Abraham or his family?
3. Abraham had hope. When asked where the sacrifice was, Abraham responded, “God will provide himself the lamb…” Abraham held to the hope that God would find a better solution.
4. He was thankful for the gift. Isaac would never have been in Abraham’s life if God hadn’t worked a miracle. Therefore, Abraham was just thankful for the time that he had with his son, and if God wanted to take him back, then so be it.
So far we have discussed the attributes of a great follower. Wouldn’t we all want someone like Abraham to do as we ask….Well, perhaps if we follow God’s lead we can.
1. Build and foster trust with your people. The leader/follower relationship is forged with trust and experience. That doesn’t mean that you have to be in command for a set amount of time, but you do need to prove to your followers that you are going to treat them with respect, integrity and honor.
2. Help your people get what they want. Find out what your people’s goals and dreams are and do your best to help them accomplish them. In this case, God helped Abraham and Sarah have a son. For that, the couple would always be grateful and honor their leader.
3. Don’t be afraid to make a “Big Ask” of your people. Let’s pray that you will never need to ask someone to give up a life for you, but there are other things that you may need that seem like they are too much to request. Evaluate how the result will impact the relationship and make the “Big Ask” if appropriate.
4. Always try to have an alternative option if the situation changes. In the above example, God had a ram caught in the bushes that was made available when Abraham was asked to let Isaac down. When you make a request and later decide to change the course, which may impact someone, do your best to give them alternatives.
In this chapter, God asks for the ultimate sacrifice from Abraham, the sacrifice of his only son. Abraham doesn’t even blink before he is willing to offer Isaac up, if that what the Lord wants. We find out later in The Bible, that God is never going to ask someone to do what he is not willing to do. (Anther great attribute of a leader) God sacrifices his only Son, because it was needed to save the world.
When hard decisions arise and tough requests have to made, ask yourself: “Have I built up the necessary trust to make a ‘Big Ask’?” “Are there any alternatives that I can offer that still get the goal accomplished?” “Would I be willing to do the same thing if it were requested of me?”
The answers to these questions, along with prayer, will guide you to make the best decision possible.
You may ask yourself, “Why would a leader ask one of their followers to do something like that?” Or “As a leader, what can I learn from this Chapter?” Let’s focus on the second question. Only a very strong leader could have one of their people follow these instructions, without even a second thought. Imagine the thoughts that could be running through Abrahams mind. He had waited 90 years for a son, and now he was being asked to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Here is what I think put Abraham’s fears to rest:
1. God had built trust with him over time. God had always delivered on his promises to Abraham, and Abraham always ended up better than when he started.
2. God had promised Abraham more descendants, then stars in the heavens. Why would God do anything to harm Abraham or his family?
3. Abraham had hope. When asked where the sacrifice was, Abraham responded, “God will provide himself the lamb…” Abraham held to the hope that God would find a better solution.
4. He was thankful for the gift. Isaac would never have been in Abraham’s life if God hadn’t worked a miracle. Therefore, Abraham was just thankful for the time that he had with his son, and if God wanted to take him back, then so be it.
So far we have discussed the attributes of a great follower. Wouldn’t we all want someone like Abraham to do as we ask….Well, perhaps if we follow God’s lead we can.
1. Build and foster trust with your people. The leader/follower relationship is forged with trust and experience. That doesn’t mean that you have to be in command for a set amount of time, but you do need to prove to your followers that you are going to treat them with respect, integrity and honor.
2. Help your people get what they want. Find out what your people’s goals and dreams are and do your best to help them accomplish them. In this case, God helped Abraham and Sarah have a son. For that, the couple would always be grateful and honor their leader.
3. Don’t be afraid to make a “Big Ask” of your people. Let’s pray that you will never need to ask someone to give up a life for you, but there are other things that you may need that seem like they are too much to request. Evaluate how the result will impact the relationship and make the “Big Ask” if appropriate.
4. Always try to have an alternative option if the situation changes. In the above example, God had a ram caught in the bushes that was made available when Abraham was asked to let Isaac down. When you make a request and later decide to change the course, which may impact someone, do your best to give them alternatives.
In this chapter, God asks for the ultimate sacrifice from Abraham, the sacrifice of his only son. Abraham doesn’t even blink before he is willing to offer Isaac up, if that what the Lord wants. We find out later in The Bible, that God is never going to ask someone to do what he is not willing to do. (Anther great attribute of a leader) God sacrifices his only Son, because it was needed to save the world.
When hard decisions arise and tough requests have to made, ask yourself: “Have I built up the necessary trust to make a ‘Big Ask’?” “Are there any alternatives that I can offer that still get the goal accomplished?” “Would I be willing to do the same thing if it were requested of me?”
The answers to these questions, along with prayer, will guide you to make the best decision possible.
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