THE WORK ETHICS OF AN EMERGING LEADER

MAZI SAM I OHUABUNWA Managing Consultant/CEO STARTEAM CONSULT

By

Presented at

THE EMERGING LEADERS CONFERENCE

ORGANIZED BY THE FGBMFI SOUTH WEST REGION

Lagos, NOVEMBER 21, 2015

A.Jn 9:4 " I must work the work of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work”

-Every one on Earth has specific assignments which he must accomplish- And there is given time to accomplish

this. - There is a time limit

- We are accountable for the accomplishment of our assignments as shown in the parable of the Talents: Mt 25: 14-30 (Note that the time for utilization of the Talents was limited and had a fixed limit)

B. How are we to do this work? ?

. WITH ALL OUR HEART

1. Eccl 9:10 " whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest”

. REAL HARD

2. Pr 10:4 " He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand but the hand of the diligent maketh rich”

. TAKE SOME CALCULATED RISK3. Eccl 11:4 " he that observeth the wind shall not sow and he that regardeth the cloud shallnot reap"

4. MANAGE TIME EFFECTIVELY~ Eliminate Time Wasters~ Plan and Stick to Plan~ Schedule all Activities~ Delegate Appropriately~ Prioritize

5. BE COURAGEOUS AND DETERMINED - Adopt Can do attitude

- Gen 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the Lord?

- Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.

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6. ACTIVATE A THINKING MIND~ A Mind perpetually ready to revolt

against its earlier conclusions.~ A Mind that is Open to any Possibility

including Impossibility, noting that, with

God, Nothing shall be Impossible.

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~ A Mind of Democratic Hospitality to

Other Views~ A Mind that is Profoundly Questioning

but Buoyantly Hopeful~ A Mind that is willing and able to bring

established processes, procedures and

Empowered People to Judgment.

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7. LEVERAGE RESOURCES

~ Pull Resources to Gain

Strength~ Share Resources/Services~ Share Risks~ Utilize Network~ Seek Strategic Allowances~ Consider Mergers and

Acquisitions

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8. Ask FOR WISDOM- Critical for quality decisions- Pr 4:7 “Wisdom is the Principal

thing. Therefore get wisdom and

with all thy getting, get understanding”.

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- Lu 16:12 “And if you have not been faithful in that which is

another man's. Who shall give you that which is your own”.

9. WE MUST AVOID THE FOLLOWING:* Breach of Trust

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* Dishonesty

- Pr 21:6 “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death”.

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* Extortion . Amos 5:11; For as much as your treading is upon the poor and ye take from him burdens of wheat; ye have built houses of hewn stones, but ye shall not dwell in there, ye have planted vine yards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.

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* Fraud- Lev 19:13 “Thou shalt not

defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him; the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until morning”.

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* Unjust Gain- Jer 17:11 “As the partridge

sitteth on eggs and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days and at his end shall be a fool”.

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10. ADOPT CHRISTIAN BUSINESS ETHICS

(a) BE A JUST EMPLOYER * Pay fair and living wage

- Mal 3:5 “And I will come near to

you to judgment, and I will be swift

witness against the sorcerers

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and against false swearers and against those that oppress the hireling in wages, the widow and the fatherless and that turn aside the stranger from his right and fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts”.

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* Prompt Payment of Wages- Due 24:15 “At his day, thou

shall give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor and setteth his heart upon it, lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto thee”.

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* Consideration for Employees

- Job 31:13-14 “If I did despise the cause of my manservant or not of my maidservant, when they contendeth with me, what shall I do when God riseth up?. And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

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* Refraining from Threats- Eph 6:9 “And ye masters do

the same things unto them , forbearing threatening , knowing that your Master also is in Heaven, neither is there respect of persons with Him”.

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* Not exacting service without Payment

- Jer 22:13 “Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong; that useth his NEIGHBOUR'S services without wages and giveth him not for his work.

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* Just Dealing- Col 4:1 “Masters give unto

servants that which is just and equal , knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven”.

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(b) BUILD A GOOD PRODUCT- Pr 22:1 “A good name is to be

desired than great riches, favour is

better than silver and gold”.

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(c) MAKE A FAIR PROFIT - Pr 16:8; Better is a little with

righteousness than great revenues without right.

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(d) BE A GODLY LEADER- A life free from Sin and

Corruption- Must not demand or receive

bribe. Lu 12:2; .... there is

nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known.

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- Must not cut corners . Eccl 12:14 “For God shall bring every work into judgement, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil”.

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- No compromise with evil. Rm 1:28 “And just as they

did not see it fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper”.

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- 2Tm 2:19 “Those who name the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity”. - No cheating in any form or shade

- Pr 20:17 “Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man but afterwards, his mouth will be filled with gravel”

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 - Avoid hypocrisy like a Plaque- Practice what you Preach- Lead by example-Be Principled in conduct, maintaining

consistency - Take a stand outside and live with it

- inside.

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. Thou therefore who teacheth another, teacheth not thyself? Thou that preacheth a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

- Must always remember that:......Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this World,

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and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and rainment, letus be there with content, ….But they that will be rich fall into temptations and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which draw men into destruction and perdition;

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for the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many arrows. - 1 Tim 6:6-10.

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C. BUT HOW CAN THESE THINGS BE?

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- Not by Power. Not by Might

. Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, saith the Lord of Hosts”.

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- Because we are weak in the flesh .For that which I do, I allow not, for what I would, that I do not, but what I hate that I do. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

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Now then, it no more I that do it, but SIN that dwelleth in me.....for the good that I would , I do not, but the evil which I would not, that I do.- Rm7:15-19

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LET US PRAY