Lovingsworth.com
Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Willing is not enough; we must do.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Lovingsworth.com
PO Box 3641
Johnson City, TN 37602
United States
Lovingsw
Articles
Developing Organizational Values Through Collaboration
Within the framework of the organization of the future, there should be a certain level of consistency inside the understanding of expressed values. In order for a discipline or competency to be embodied and expressed as a natural organic way of being within an individual or an organization, a criteria of values must be in place that in one way or another are extracted into the forefront of consciousness so as to be on the upper-levels of priority. Because, we generally behave and do things that are deemed important according to our standards. As humans we behave in certain ways that we have deemed right and proper according to our experiences and our processing filters of perception. In order to treat anyone, especially employees, with dignity and respect an environment needs to be created within the organization that encourages growth and personal development for long-term success. Jim Kouzes in a speech given for Google (Leading@Google on YouTube) presents that one of the most important keys to success is remaining in a state of love. By virtue of the leader being in a state of love, an intention is set for desiring the best for all concerned that is aligned with respect, care, and a yearning to serve. Living in integrity, empathy, confidence and service are all buzz-words that only attain the meaning we associate to them. Each of us understand integrity and confidence in different ways, thus being able to dialogue about our intended meanings within given communication settings will prove to be helpful in the context of: (a) knowing more clearly the frame of reference of another person, (b) develop more openness and trust in the organizational culture, and (c) learning more about one’s co-workers. The organization of the future must be willing to examine the human condition and find out the ‘how’ to implement key skills, and the ‘why’ for even desiring to have the skills or behavioral qualities implemented. Knowing what a company stands for is the prerequisite for implementing the values, attitudes, skills and learning’s that makeup the company’s criteria of beliefs which in turn are necessary for long-term success.
The relationship between engaged employees and an organization maximizing productivity, innovation, and growth is a sense of shared vision. The idea of maximizing productivity can carry overtones of overworking employees, but it does not necessarily have to carry that meaning; because maximizing productivity can be accomplished when employees are functioning at peak performance where they feel loved, appreciated and respected for the work they produce.
Creating an Inclusive Environment & Workplace Culture
For great leaders to be equally concerned with their people as well as their product or service, it must be generative in nature, thus it must rise internally in order to be expressed externally. Generating this care and concern comes from a strong sense of self-identity. Having a strong sense of self-identity can create a closed system in a static state of being, but what I am saying is that when someone is comfortable with who they are as a person and the content of their own character, they will be more likely to reach out to others and develop a sustainable bond of friendship. Creating an inclusive environment for other people must go beyond the surface words of asking how people are doing, and thus requires intentional listening to what another person is saying and a genuine respect for human dignity.
If people have the impression that they are not cared for nor respected then why would they want to be a part of an "inclusive environment strategy?" Creating an inclusive environment starts with action and appropriate behaviors that follow the words uttered; thus a need must be recognized and then organizing a strategy to get from ‘here’ to ‘there’ will begin to set in motion inclusive awareness. One key area for creating an inclusive environment for employees in the workplace is: (1) setting high standards of inclusiveness, (2) communicating those standards to everyone clearly, and (3) to embody those standards by consistently expressing those ideals on all levels. Going through the rote motions of saying, “Hi, how are you” can foster an outer veneer of inclusiveness with the aroma of shallowness. Thus, by digging deeper and discovering more about another person can become exciting, and where people feel at home and can give their best not out of competition, but from a heart that cares and is cared for. Therefore, the work of a great leader is to be a wayshower for modeling the desired inclusiveness by being inclusive. Certainty and congruence must be expressed when communicating a new shift in an organization, because if you don’t believe in what you speak—you will radiate that from yourself and it will become apparent through your non-verbal signals. Framing the intended change in a way that uses language codes that people can understand without feeling that their world is coming to an end will be a useful skill for leaders who seek positive change.
A Deeper Understanding of the Divine Image
"No one comes to the Father except through Me" (Jn. 14:6b). This statement is obviously true if one accepts that Jesus is in fact—"the truth" (Jn. 14:6a). However, Jesus had to make this claim, because Christ is, "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His holy ones" (Col. 1:26), and the only way back to the pristine state as Adam was first formed is through the "last Adam" (1 Cor. 15:45; cf. Rom. 5:14) Jesus the Christ. Thus, Jesus Christ had to be born of a virgin and born of the Holy Spirit, because just as Adam was born from the breath of God (i.e. Spirit of God; Gen. 2:7) and the womb of the earth (i.e. dust) so too the "last Adam" had to be born of the Spirit of God (Matt. 1:20). This was done in order to reconcile the fallen state of man when he died a spiritual death (cf. Gen. 2:17; 3:6-7). Genesis 2:17 says, "For in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." It is clear from the biblical account that Adam lived some 900 years later (cf. Gen. 5:4-5) after "the day" when he partook of the fruit; however, the Rabbinical tradition took the Hebrew words mot tamut to literally mean, "dying, you will die" which in turn represents a Hebrew double idiom for a physical and spiritual death. It is this spiritual death that Jesus tells Nicodemus, "he must be born from above (born again) of the Spirit to see the Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:3-8; cf. 1 Pet. 1:22-23). However, the Spirit renews all who are "born from above" back into the "image of His Son" (Rom. 8:29), back into the "image of the Lord from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18), back into "the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:24; cf. Gen. 1:26-27), and back into "the image of Him who created Him" (Col. 3:10b).
Since the prophets of old, before Jesus was manifested in the flesh, received the Spirit of Christ (cf. 1 Pet. 1:10-11), and even Moses "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Heb. 11:26) there is a clear picture that is formed which centers on the work of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:1-4) before His earthly mission. This reveals a consistent thread or tapestry throughout the Bible that the revelation of the Christ is to also partake in the process of "Christ being formed within" (Gal. 4:19) or as David says, "I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness" (Ps. 17:15). Coming to the Father through Christ must necessitate a transformation by the Spirit of the Lord "to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 4:6b), because the "new man is renewed in knowledge..." (Col. 3:10; cf. Prov. 11:9b). Essentially, Paul uses the metaphor of the “new man, inner man, inward man” to refer to the process of being transformed into the Image of Christ (Rom. 8:29), who is the Image of God (2 Cor. 4:4). The Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, Yahweh, because Christ represents the original birthright that humanity was originally created in. This is seen in "the glory of Christ who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4), "He is the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15), and "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person" (Heb. 1:3). Thus, to reiterate, since humanity was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), and Christ is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3), and those who have been “born from above” (Jn. 3:3) are being transformed into the “same image of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18), and “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29) as the “inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16) through the process of “Christ being formed within” (Gal. 4:19). Therefore, we must ask ourselves and take a good look by examining ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5) to see how we are expressing Christ in all domains of our lives. Therefore, are you expressing Christ’s works in and through your life, not to even mention the greater works that we are promised we shall do (Jn. 14:12)? How are you “bringing every thought captive through the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5b), or is this even a concern for you? What is life all about, and are your actions and words aligned with the values you say you hold dear?
Now, what does all of this mean in the daily faith walk of each believer? All of this reveals, "The power of Christ may rest (lit. tabernacle, or abide upon) upon us" (2 Cor. 12:9b). However, it is when we discern what it actually means to "have Christ in you" (Col. 1:27), and "you in Christ" (Gal. 4:28) that we can appreciate the spiritual language with its richness and depth by "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Cor. 2:13). When we get off the "milk" of the basic 101 spiritual teachings and dogma (and yes they are necessary), and enter the realm of embodied direct experience with God then we can partake of "the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come" (Heb. 6:5), yes, even in this life. Thus, as leaders our work is to be embody God's Word as the righteous script as "epistles of Christ" (2 Cor. 3:1-3; cf. Col. 3:16) and to train others (cf. Matt. 28:20; 2 Tim. 2:15) to put aside the lower games of the flesh that masquerade as culturally acceptable spirituality. Because, "those who belong to Christ *have already* crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:24), so “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20). Where is this in the Church today being actively expressed? Let us reason with what the Scriptures tell us. What does living as Christ look like, what does it live like, and what does it sound like? What does it mean to be a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1)?
© 2010 Lovingsworth.com
Lovingsworth.com
PO Box 3641
Johnson City, TN 37602
United States
Lovingsw
