Christian Business Consulting (Part 4)

(Read Christian Business Consulting, Part 1 First)

Christian Business Consulting - Regularly Exhort Team Members
"Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2). Exhortation is the art of graciously calling people to a greater success. When a team is committed to continual improvement, exhortation is the power to inspire to greater success. It is the power to help others see more in themselves and the team -- to believe that a greater success is possible. It is the power to help others comprehend that HE "is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).

When Necessary, Lovingly Rebuke Team Members
"Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him" (Luke 17:4). Although few of us enjoy rebuking others, it will be occasionally necessary to enforce the culture of the Christ-led business. Despite our hesitancy to rebuke (under the belief that the rebukee will not take kindly to us), the Bible tells us otherwise. "He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor -- than he who flatters with the tongue" (Proverbs 28:23).

How do we lovingly rebuke? Colossians 3:12-17 provides some Godly insight. First, a Christ-led executive must forgive the team member for the action, word, attitude, etc.. Loving rebuke cannot occur when offense/unforgiveness/bitterness is held toward the other. Second, rebuking should be done in a spirit of humility -- not with a spirit of self-righteousness. Third, rebuking should be done in the spirit of gentleness -- coming to restore, to bring what is missing. It should not be done in anger with the "rod" -- such anger will only produce strife and returned anger (Proverbs 15:1; 30:33) -- it will not produce God's righteousness (James 1:20). Fourth, rebuking should be done in the spirit of compassion -- coming to help the other move from defeat/failure toward success -- not to shame or embarrass the other. Fifth, rebuking should be done in the spirit of kindness -- recognizing that we "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) -- for it is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Finally, rebuking should be done in private (Matthew 18:15).

Give Team Members Opportunities for Promotion
A commitment to make others successful requires that team members are promoted to greater responsibility when they have demonstrated the requisite faithfulness and ability. On the other hand, promotion before the requisite faithfulness and ability will not set up the team member for success. If the organization lacks an appropriate role for a team member, then it should help the team member find an appropriate role outside the organization. To keep a team member solely for the organization's sake -- against the best interest of the team member -- is selfishness. The Christ-led executive must believe that, in the long run, God will honor this sacrifice. To the world, this is foolishness -- but the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Terminate Team Members Care-fully
If it is necessary to terminate a team member, the termination should be carefully executed. When is it appropriate to terminate a team member? We propose the following three-part test based upon John 15:1-11. First, is the team member faithful -- i.e., has the team member been a team player? Does he/she honor the business' Organization Foundations? Is he/she faithful in pursuing his/her role? Second, is the team member fruitful -- i.e., is the team member successful in his/her role? Third, is the team member fulfilled? Is the team member experiencing the personal success that he/she desires? If the Christ-led business has worked with a team member and has been unable to achieve a positive answer to each of these tests, then termination would appear to be proper.

However, even in the event of such a termination, the Christ-led business must continue to love the former team member regardless if he/she has any negative attitudes, spoken hostile words, or taken inappropriate actions against the business. We are called to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to bless those who curse us (Matthew 5:44). How does a Christ-led business love a terminated team member? It should attempt to help the terminated team member move forward in their quest for success.

Extend God's Love to Team Members Outside the Business
Perhaps the greatest way to demonstrate God's love to team members is to touch their lives outside of the business. A genuine concern for their lives outside the business is "going the extra mile". Simple things can show great love - e.g., an interest in their spouses and children, birthday cards, anniversary cards, flowers for new children, flowers sent to the hospital, visits to the hospital, meals delivered at home, etc. The more a Christ-led business extends itself to team members outside the business, the more team members will realize that the business is committed to them and not just using them.

If you like these concepts and want help to implement them, Click here to Go Deeper in HIS Business!