Throughout many years of professionally restructuring corporations as a consultant and while serving in various leadership positions in many others both for profit as well as in the non-profit sector I have come to note one common denominator of demise and decay that affects all entities where growth, profit, funding, acquisition of greater market share, name recognition, staffing, quantitative and qualitative customer base or morale has reached a maximum plateau or has begun a journey of relentless descent. But before we enter into conditions which will clearly expose this internal piranha, let me share briefly that this condition is not limited to those entities which are doing poorly. It hides well and also appears and lives and thrives in organizations that are flourishing. I have witnessed its existence alongside what appears to be healthy increase but in fact the apparent perceived success only serves to elusively shadow the same viral destructive animal feeding in the basement. New product lines or marketing concepts, added revenue streams and increased numbers do not hide the fact that the organization is dying or suffers from exposure and nurturing of the same self contained member whose appetite is ravenous. Consider the options and opportunities which could lie ahead for a potentially dynamic organization which removed its boundaries safely, with minimal if any risk, and exposed itself to generating and perpetuating a truly healthy expansion? Though this book seeks to identify and remove the greatest contributor to destructive forces upon any organization, in so doing, it also serves to alert others to the seeds of villainy germinating in corridors of successful beacons of business.
As my grid of personal study stems from work conducted in corporate America within many trades and industries as well as non-profits and churches with a Christian moniker, my illustrations will be of those experiences. I will use the Bible and Biblical stories to illustrate points both in the narrative and for the purpose of pursuing excellence as defined therein. Where I use a Biblical reference, I will attempt to follow with a practical business principle, analogy or experience to illustrate its inclusion.
Our country, the United States of America, was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. This book seeks to emulate Judeo-Christian values in practical insights and references to modern day actual and honorable business practice and principles which should serve to isolate hindrances to profitability or promotion within any organization as one learns to lead wisely and passionately; to build creatively and responsibly; to reach limitless boundaries in dreams and find that the journey thus lived has brought one so much farther than one ever could have imagined with greater ease, true integrity and genuine victories that contribute to the welfare of the human experience.
Excerpt from: Leadership In The Shadows of Tyranny: Understanding Leadership as an Equipping Function Marked by Selflessness
Ephesians 4:11-13
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
