How to Lead Your Business from a Faith Foundation: Lessons from Daniel
This article was written by Jim Miley and published by Crossroads Professional Coaching.
Do you ever stop to thoughtfully consider what example you provide to the people around you?
Crossroads provides business coaching to our clients from a foundation of our Christian Faith so it stands to reason that we often discuss what leading a business from a foundation of their Christian values actually means in practice.
New clients will have an aha moment when we share thoughts on the principles of Christian business leadership. Some seem to expect Bible verses everywhere all the time.
Others question how they should change their business behaviors to align with their faith. The aha moments are those when people recognize leading on a foundation of your Faith is really just being yourself and letting the Holy Spirit guide you along the way.
What It Means to Lead from a Christian Faith Foundation
I don’t think the answer to how do you lead from a foundation of Christian values should be complicated.
The challenge to keeping it simple is often a product of worldly or cultural influences. Many people have been intimidated by secular pressure to suppress their Faith as a factor in how they conduct themselves or make decisions.
But I’m not suggesting it’s necessary to evangelize your peers or subordinates to let your Faith guide your steps; it’s not.
Leading by example means you behave, believe and act in a way that is consistent with how you would like those around to behave, believe and act. Leading from a foundation of your Christian Faith in simple terms means you lead in a way that is glorifying to God.
Some things are simple, but not easy. Leading by example can be one of those things; therefore, leading from a foundation of your Christian Faith can also be one of those things.
Why Christian Leadership Is Simple but Not Easy
Why is leading by example simple but not easy for so many Christian business leaders?
Because the path is narrow for those who follow Christ and few will find it. Said another way, Christ set the bar pretty high for us to model after Him. It’s simple to acknowledge that Christ will lead our steps; it’s hard when measure our actions against Christ’s example.
This shouldn’t be a discouraging concept, it’s what drives strong leadership. Simple, not easy.
Daniel’s Leadership Lessons for Christian Business Owners
I’ve been studying the book of Daniel lately and noticed it is full of applicable wisdom for business leaders. I had fun considering all of the people in Daniel’s orbit as various players in my business world past and present.
Daniel began serving in captivity around 600 BC when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took Daniel as a slave, the spoils of war. King Nebuchadnezzar planned to assimilate Daniel and several others into the Babylonian culture to have them serve in the King’s court.
Daniel served under 4 kings over many years. And though he was employed under the terms of enslavement by the kings, Daniel was all in on fulfilling his duties with excellence.
Daniel 6 describes the account of Daniel serving under King Darius. Daniel was loved by Darius and was elevated as a high official for the king. King Darius had made a decree that no one could make petition to any authority other than King Darius in all of his lands.
As Daniel continued daily prayers to God, people envious of Daniel’s position challenged him before Darius leaving no choice for the king but to throw Daniel into the Lions’ Den.
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Leading with Integrity When the Stakes Are High
This Biblical lesson shows two men leading by example. Both Darius and Daniel were in tough spots.
Darius had decreed that no one should petition any authority other than his or be cast into the Lions’ Den and even as Darius loved Daniel, the king had to be a man of his word.
What Business Owners Can Learn from King Darius
Darius’ situation mirrors a challenge many business owners face; being bound by a decision, policy, or obligation you personally oppose, yet leading with integrity by honoring your commitments.
Think of a time you had to deliver difficult news to a loyal employee, enforce a company policy you disagreed with, or honor a contract that cost you. That’s the Darius seat.
Character is built in exactly those moments.
Daniel knew that prayers and petitions to God could be in conflict with the kings’ decree and put himself in harms way. Daniel could not behave in any other way but to honor God above any man including Darius whom Daniel served loyally.
Both Daniel and Darius led by example in spite of great risk to their livelihood and personal preferences. Daniel’s life was threatened while Darius was risking the life and service of someone he loved.
Daniel was ultimately spared from being eaten by lions and retained his place in leadership with honor and respect.
How to Lead by Christian Example Without Preaching
None of us are likely to face lions or death as a result of leaning on our Faith in our business lives; nevertheless, there are consequences to our actions that can allow fear well up inside.
Daniel didn’t demand that others behave the same has he did; he was simply true to himself as God inspired him to be. That’s the simple part. Just be who God has called you to be under the guidance of Jesus as your teacher and the Holy Spirit as your counselor.
Leaning on your Faith and leading by example don’t mean you have to preach the Gospel to everyone you encounter through the work week. It does mean you behave, believe and act in a way that is glorifying to God.
Like Daniel, we can choose discipline in our daily behaviors. Our language, our actions, our respect for others; all should be glorifying to God. Daniel did not let the actions or words of others change his character.
The fact that Daniel stayed steadfast and true to the man God called him to be in all circumstances is his greatest testimony.
What does this look like on a Monday morning?
On a Monday morning, Christian leadership might look like responding to a difficult client with patience rather than frustration. It may require speaking honestly with a struggling employee rather than avoiding the conversation. Sometimes it means making a pricing or contracting decision you can be proud of even when pressure says to cut a corner.
None of those moments require a Bible verse. They just require you to be the person God made you to be.
Let Your Actions Be Your Testimony
Lean on your Faith and let your actions speak for you just as Daniel’s actions spoke for him. Simple, not easy.