A Christian business leader should lead with four principles.
- Lead with Christian ethics.
At the heart of effective Christian business leadership is the dedication to lead with Christian ethics. This means embodying the teachings of love, compassion, and integrity in all your interactions. When Christian values are prioritized, a leader fosters the kind of workplace culture that attracts and retains people, and more importantly brings glory to God.
- Steward God’s gifts.
Recognizing that our resources are from God, Christian leaders act as stewards. We are not the owners, but the caretakers of what we have been given. Therefore, Christian leaders, being stewards to God Himself, approach responsibility for managing financial assets, human resources, time, and all aspects of leadership at a higher level of commitment.
- Seek God’s will.
Christian leaders are primarily disciplines of Christ. God guides the way in business as in any other area of life. Christian leaders ask for God’s guidance on a daily basis. One practice I keep is to start my day with prayer. I aim to dedicate at least 10 minutes solely to prayer, giving what is on my calendar that day to the Lord. I pray for the key people in my life at home and work. I humble myself before the Lord. You may approach your prayer time in another way. Regardless of the approach, God is looking for a surrendered heart that trusts Him with every aspect of life.
- Make God known.
Christian business leaders must share their faith in a way that does not break the law or offend people. At our organization, we take every new staff member through a growth plan session during orientation. I ask them, “In which areas would you like to grow over the next year?” And I ask them to choose 3-5 areas. I have taken hundreds of people through this session. The number one area people usually share is a desire to grow in is their spiritual life. If you are a Christ follower, you have the answer. Share your faith in a way that respects people and their backgrounds.
My prayer is that we do not shy away from integrating faith into our work. While it is not easy, it should be a must for all Christ followers.
