Dare Great Things For Christ

DGT Episode 162 - The Web Weavers - Gregory The Great Rule Of Shepherds Book 3 Part 5

Let’s face it, leading other people is always hard.  If we say the wrong thing in the wrong way, we can actually discourage the people we are supposed to encourage.  On the other hand if we just tell them the truth like it is, we can leave them without any motivation.  Speaking the word of truth correctly is the art and essence of good communication and leadership.  But how do we do this?  Pope St. Gregory the Great offers us some amazing insights in his book, “On The Rule of Shepherds – Book 3.”

 

DGT Episode 160 - The Secrets Of Silence - Gregory The Great Rule Of Shepherds Book 3 Part 4

The Bible has a lot to say about talking.  The Letter of St. James, for example, says the tongue is the key to all virtue.  The Lord Himself says that every idle word we’ll have to account for on the day of judgement.  And all of us who manage people know the power of words to edify and destroy.  But what is the value of silence?  Is it possible to talk too much?  How do we know when to speak and what to say?  Pope St. Gregory The Great has some valuable insights.

DGT Episode 159 - Juggling The Jealous - Gregory The Great Rule Of Shepherds Book 3 Part 3

As anyone who has ever had to manage people can tell you, jealousy is one of the most dangerous passions to rule in the workplace.  Where people are jealous division will ensue and teamwork will corrode.  We who are in charge of our teams needs to watch for jealousy and ward against it.  Pope St. Gregory The Great in his “Rule Of Shepherds” Book 3 gives us some valuable insights we can apply as we try to lead our workplace with Christ. 

DGT Episode 158 - Warring At Patience - St. Gregory The Great The Rule Of Shepherds Book 3 Part 2

Anyone who has had to manage any kind of organization – from a business to a family – know that patience is called for.  But how do we build it up?  How do we grow in our patience?  How do we know when impatience actually could be a good thing?  Pope St. Gregory The Great gives us wonderful insights in his tenth admonition in his third book “On The Rule Of Shepherds” written for pastors of the Church but applicable for business leaders and family leaders alike.

DGT Episode 157 - The Angry And The Meek - St. Gregory The Great The Rule Of Shepherds Book 3 Part 1

Ask any organizational leader what the hardest part of their job is and they will all say the same thing: managing people.  You cannot win at business without your people but your people can often be the reason why you lose at business.  Becoming an excellent manager is an art and a skill as much as it is a natural talent.  In Chapter 3 of his work, On The Rule Of Shepherds, Pope St. Gregory The Great gives us insight that can help all of us with this difficult task.

DGT Episode 156 - King Saul, Falling From Fear - The Anti-Leaders Part 14

The one who rules by fear will also fall by fear.  This saying was never so true as in the life of King Saul.  In this fourth and final episode of our commentary on Saul as an anti-leader, we see the end of his life.  He ends his life in the same way that he led it:  fearful, controlling, and inconsistent.  Saul’s life is a wonderful pattern for us to avoid.  He shows us that the temptation to control ends in folly.

DGT Episode 155 - King Saul, Of Insecurities, Intrigue, and Insanity - The Anti-Leaders Part 13

While seeing how leaders fail is never pleasant, it can also be very instructive.  The rise and the fall of King Saul in the Bible presents us a good example of a life gone awry in authority.  His jealousy over David is the most well known symptom but the cause of his downfall is rooted in something much deepers.  Not only character flaws but a stubborn pride that keeps him from accepting God’s will.  Here’s part three on my series on King Saul.

DGT Episode 154 - King Saul, Goliath, David, And The Wages Of Temerity - The Anti Leaders Part 13

Most of us remember the life of King David in the Old Testament but few of us have ever studied the life of King Saul.  Just as the life of King David is an example to us of great leadership, the life of King Saul can be seen as an example of what I call “Anti-Leadership.”  In 1 Samuel 18 and 19, this anti leadership is on full display.  Saul is not only afraid to fight Goliath but gets jealous of David.  And his fear and jealousy have a lot to teach us about our own leadership today.

DGT Episode 153 - King Saul, A Rise To A Fall - The Anti-Leaders Part 12

When it comes to leadership, I think you can learn as much from bad leaders as from good ones.  It is certainly the case in the life of King Saul.  King Saul ruled over Israel for forty-two years, beginning when he was 30 years old and his life spanned in 1 Samuel 9 all the way to 1 Samuel 31.  During his remarkable rule his faults become more and more evident.  And by studying them we can learn to avoid them in our own lives.

DGT Episode 152 - Being Realistic - Flexibility, The Art Of Power Part 4

Anyone who has ever successfully led a project to its completion can readily attest to the fact that leadership is as much of a challenge from the inside as it is from the outside.  Leaders not only have to adjust to changing circumstances and vicissitudes beyond their power, but leaders also have to play the mind game of being ready to pivot.  Being able to let go of the ideal that can sometimes keep us from success.  Our faith can help us here.  Not only by inspiring us but by keeping us realistic.