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When it comes to management we have a deep sense of need. Some have not really understood what is management. We spend our life learning how to do work, not how to manage people. We can fill out every form, handle every situation in our job, but don't know where to start with people. We have many degrees to manage our job, things…. but reading the Bible and putting into practice, is the best way to manage people.
1. Be Gracious
Exodus 18:13-16
13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening.
14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"
15 Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will.
16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws."
Why did Moses live his life this way? Simple, because the people went to him. It's time to learn some new tricks, to think about things in a different way. We need to think about how to move people, not about how to use our computer more efficiently. Why do we work so hard in our jobs? May be because of insecurity, or future worries or we get self-esteem from work. It's like an addiction. Without a problem, we don't have an identity.
Note that Jethro doesn't beat the living tar out of Moses with a baseball bat. In order to motivate people, they need to be believed in and encouraged. How do we respond when our closed ones mess up? Do we get the bat out, or do you have a spirit of grace? You can speak directly, just as Jethro does, but there needs to be an attitude of grace
Exodus 18:17-23
17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.
18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him.
20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.
21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you.
23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."
Isn't that what we want? We want joy in our families, in the ministry. Teaching and training are mentioned here. Do we get trained to do something which we desire for? It may cost both money and time. It costs lots of money to send people on accounting courses, events coordination courses, etc. It's worth it, though. They feel valued, appreciated, believed in.
We don't want to just leave all the training to a technical company, but to manage and supervise ourselves. We need a weekly time, to ask them how they're feeling and identify problems. We can have massive results from effective management and supervision like this.
He also says show them the way to live. An organizational chart is helpful to understand the "big picture". It's so encouraging to people when they feel involved in decisions and planning issues. The chart also helps people to know what they're responsible for, and to whom. We can think it's clear to people, but it's not. That causes confusion and frustration for them. Another key is to make sure we don't snatch the responsibility back from people once it's given.
Next it says "select capable men." We have to make sure we have the right people in the right slots. They have to be both spiritual and capable. Find the very best people you can find. Hire the best, and you won't be disappointed. It's frustrating to try to manage and motivate people who aren't motivated.
Everybody must be treated as an individual. Test people with less responsibility, and give more or less. The difficult cases will always come back to you. Never get rebuked for waking the captain. He's responsible, and he'd rather be woken prematurely than receive a court martial. Be prepared to take on the difficult cases. It's always going to happen, you'll always have to jump in
Making people feel appreciated is super-important. Have great retreats, give gifts, get the elders involved Thank people. Send notes, gifts, take lots of time to encourage. Have reasonable expectations. Communicate clearly in advance, give sufficient notice so people can be successful
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