Weekly Thought – June 3, 2025
Fred believed in the development and use of his God-given gifts. As a teenager a traveling evangelist came to his church and left Fred with words which created a lifelong mission. “Fred, I want you to always remember this paraphrase of Proverbs 18:16: “Take the gift that God has given you, and use it, and you will stand before great men.” The framed words always hung on his office wall.
Creating a Winning Environment
When I saw the old wrangler on whose life the movie “The Horse Whisperer” was based I felt that he was a kindred spirit. He used empathy rather than dominance to achieve his goals. He transformed both the role of the wrangler and the experience of the horse by moving from a hierarchical system, which was tyrannical to a team, or mutual benefit, program. He no longer depended on the horse’s fear but on its friendship. His orders became friendly suggestions that he knew would be accepted.
The famed “winningest coach,” John Wooden of UCLA basketball, used his own nondictatorial system. Reportedly, he never mentioned the word “win” to any of his teams. He simply emphasized the concept of doing one’s best. This was an entirely different emphasis from the usual pre-game pep talk in the locker rooms of his day. Wooden’s philosophy excluded using dirty tricks, bending the rules, violating recruiting regulations and falsifying grades, all of which winning teams often rationalize. Wooden made it possible to win even when losing (which wasn’t often) as long as the men on his teams did their best. He had an eye for talent and for men who would grow in an atmosphere that demanded their best. He built teams of honorable men.
The goal of leadership is to accomplish the vision of our calling. We optimize our associates’ gifts and passions as we work to attain what we genuinely believe is the will of God, and for the glory of God.
We work to find the uniqueness in others and then to develop, encourage, and reward it. We work to find and use our own giftedness so that one day we may hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Catching a vision and then creating an atmosphere in which talented men and women thrive in the role of the leader. Working together in tandem, not operating in an authoritarian system is the sign of a healthy organization.
This week think about:1) What is my uniqueness, as Fred would say? 2) What is my response to a tyrannical workplace? 3) Who can I encourage to find their giftedness and develop it?
Words of Wisdom: “The goal of leadership is to accomplish the vision of our calling.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Then they will realize this is your work, and that you, LORD, have accomplished it.” (Psalm 109:27 NET Bible)