Despite my best efforts, sales were off and I was perilously close to being fired.
Many years ago, I was hired as General Manager of an automobile dealership. My job began with such promise. At first, everything seemed fine and our sales were beginning to improve. But it wasn’t long before old problems reappeared and sales began to drop. Yet, I was working harder than ever. What was going wrong?
My boss, Tom Riddle, would have been justified in finding someone else to run the dealership but instead chose to have a meeting with me. Our talk became one of those turning points that changed my philosophy of leadership and helped me understand the importance of becoming a tough encourager.
At one point, Mr. Riddle said: “I notice you are usually on the sales floor talking to customers.”
“Yes, sir.” I answered, thinking he would be pleased. “I try to meet everyone personally.”
Mr. Riddle paused for a moment and then said something, I will never forget. “That’s fine but tell me something: Why do I pay the salaries twelve sales people when you are doing all of the work? Unless something changes, I will either have to fire twelve sales people or I’m going to have to fire you!”
What could I say? Mr. Riddle found my critical weakness. By insisting on doing most of the selling I was limiting our sales efforts to my capabilities and energy. One individual no matter how talented can only do so much. However, one person leading a team can accomplish miracles! A critical point that is true in business, family relationships, sports and especially our walk with God.
The writer of Hebrews sums up the whole purpose of being in God’s church: Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
In other words, our calling as Christians is to hold tightly to our faith and encourage others to outbursts of love and good deeds! But how do we do that?
Encouragement is more than merely giving a compliment. Funk and Wagnall defines encourage: “To inspire with courage, hope or resolution.” What I received from Mr. Riddle was definitely not a compliment (The compliments came later.) but what he said inspired me with courage, hope and resolution. I call it tough encouragement. I left his office that day determined to be a team builder and a tough encourager. A valuable lesson I would never forget.
As a manager, I learned to spend more time encouraging sales people to treat people honestly and fairly. I still enjoyed meeting the customers, but selling became a team effort utilizing the best of all our gifts and talents for the good of the business. Being an encourager also helped me stay employed.
As a church leader, it is still important for me to foster teamwork and offer tough encouragement. Like most organizations, churches have plenty of hard workers, but need more people who are willing to encourage others to outbursts of love and good deeds. Only then will we begin to act as a team filled with the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
This is important: We are all called to be tough encouragers.
I still enjoy working with others, but my ministry has become a team effort utilizing the best of many gifts and talents for God. Paul said it clearly: “If your gift is to encourage others, do it!” (Romans 12:8)
By the way, being a tough encourager still helps me stay employed.
