With Malice Toward None

We have talked a lot about forgiveness in this blog, partly because it is a major tenet in Christ's teachings, but also because the world in which we live needs forgiveness more than ever. As we race towards the End Times (No, this isn't one of "those" blogs. And yes, Christ's Disciples were racing towards the End Times just as truthfully as we are today and our grandchildren will be tomorrow - Matt 4:36)

But a real part of forgiveness as a servant leader is how to handle failure or what to do about a bona fide performance problem. Do we just forgive and forget, or is there some Biblical principal that directs how we correct performance issues?

Honestly, performance is not the problem. Yes, we have to address poor performance, but the servant leader shouldn't just try to fix the performance issue - we should help with the root cause of it. That leads to intent, which is the real topic for today's post.

Merriam-Webster defines "intent" as a noun meaning, "1. a usually clearly formulated or planned intention; 2a the act or fact of intending" especially when "the design or purpose [is] to commit a wrongful or criminal act, 2b the state of mind with which an act is done" as in a "violation," or as an adjective meaning, "having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose." So, intent is the clear choice to act.

But if we peel the onion a little further, we realize that intent can fall anywhere along the spectrum between positive and negative, as in a person's intent can be to do good, or to do evil. Moses frames intention perfectly when arguing with God in Exodus.

"Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people." (Exo 32:12, NIV)

The opposite is also demonstrated in scripture, in the Song of Solomon.

"He brought me to the house of the wine, and his intention was love toward me." (Song 2:4, LEB)

So, you see, Servant Leader, it is the intent with which we should concern ourselves. And intent, like many other shades of gray, is rarely black and white. But how does that apply to business? Shouldn't we, as stewards of our company's resources, focus on ensuring our teams are delivering the best performance possible at all times? Shouldn't we fix the performance issue first as the most expedient way to improve profit?

If we ask Sir Richard Branson, the answer is, not necessarily. Right about now you may be asking yourself why, in a blog about Godly principles, do I bring up the very hedonistic Sir Richard Branson? Well, because the founder of several hundred companies under the "Virgin" brand has one thing to say about profit and loss - build the best and let God take care of the rest. Ok, I'm paraphrasing, but really, Branson says to focus on the foundations and the results will be positive. How does that apply to our concern with intention?

Intent is the foundation of decision, and decisions drive performance. Therefore, if someone's intention is good and their performance is off, we can now focus on performance and work to make things better. However, if someone's intention is less than good (remember, it's a spectrum), then we need to fix the intention first before worrying about performance.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?" (Luke 14:28-30, NKJV)

You see, Servant Leader, intent is the foundation for performance. Tying back to forgiveness, it is our job to forgive wrongful intentions and correct them at a foundational level so that the performer himself can right his performance. It all works together - but we as servant leaders must show wisdom and patience to make it work. On the other hand, there is nothing to forgive when someone's intentions are honorable but their performance is lacking. In this case we just attack the performance problem head on and guide them to improvement. As an effective steward of the company's resources, that's the right response.

The next time your boss asks you how you are going to deal with subordinate poor performance, tell them you're handling the problem at its core. By repairing the foundation, the team's structure can support improved performance.

Finally, what happens if you can't fix bad intentions? Jesus has an answer for that too.

"If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet." (Matt 10:13-14, NKJV)

Have a blessed week, Servant Leader, and remember always that God provides where hate divides.

(The book on Amazon is by Jack Levin, the quote is by Lincoln.)