31 - RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12a

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

Paul underscores again his emphasis on relational leadership and management - not distant, lauding, demanding or command and control rank or position. It’s not about age or the wisdom of years but rather about engagement, care and involvement. He told them he believed in them, saw their worth and value as people, recognized their potential and saw a bright future for his ‘children’. 

And his ‘methods’ to help them ‘get there’, to achieve the goals, epitomized the devoted father … encouragement, nurture, support. When life became a struggle he comforted, consoled and cared.  Literally the Greek here means, ‘beside-encouraging’, ‘beside-comforting’.  Like the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the One Who Comes Alongside, Paul walked the road with his people.  As a father would, he also challenged and urged and no doubt ‘pushed’ them to higher things – but as we have seen already, he pushed them ‘up’.  

It’s a challenge, for as managers and leaders, to strike a balance between  ‘being’ the authoritative Father Figure (by position and wisdom, not necessarily by age), the arm-around-their-shoulders Encourager, the Disciplinarian and Inspire-er. Among the Top 5 reasons why people feel valued, give more and stay longer with an organization is that their boss has instilled in them a certainty that their contribution has value and worth and how their work ‘fits’ and has meaning in the bigger departmental or organizational picture.  And then to support, affirm, acknowledge, give consistent feedback, praise and help them set goals that not only meet company objectives but also stretches them to greater achievement … just like a good father would - but sadly, like most performance evaluation meetings - don’t!

PRAYER ACTION

Lord, Abba, Papa … you accepted, and accept me, unconditionally.  No strings attached. Wow!  I’m not sure I can do this with others in my role and job.  You have your work cut out for you … have mercy on me; be patient with me …. but don’t let me dodge learning more about this.

“In business, you succeed by helping other people succeed. The more people you help, the more success you have. Pushing up people is a way of life!”

(Art Williams – Pushing Up People)