Understand the situation and observe changes

【All-round Servant Leadership】1

"Whoever wishes to be first must be your servant. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:27 -28)

Whenever I think about the leadership qualities and leadership that this generation needs, I draw conclusions from multiple observations and search for information, and I see that the “servant leaders” described by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 20 are exactly in line with today’s needs.

With the opening of the "All-round Servant Leadership" column, I hope readers will join me in identifying - the changing new era, the call of Jesus as light and salt, what is All-round Servant Leadership, how to lead yourself, priorities and strategies Lead with vision and change the world through leadership.

First, let’s explore what kind of era we live in today.

A turbulent new era

In the past, every decade was used as a milestone to measure changes in things; since the 1990s, every four years has become a generation; now, the speed of generation update depends on how often mobile phones are replaced. As long as the pace slows down a little, you can't keep up.

And what is the world situation like?

After the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended in 1991, it was declared that "All the dragons are slain." and the U.S. economy continued to rise. However, at the turn of the century, the dot-com bubble burst. Immediately after the September 11th incident in 2001, the United States' politics, economy and military were severely hit. Because the FBI and CIA information were not connected, terrorist organizations took advantage of the situation. The anti-terrorism actions and preventive measures that followed have had a far-reaching impact, not only causing inconveniences during travel, but also completely shaking people's sense of security.

In this era, we also have new realities that we must face.

Some businesses that thought they would last forever are now either crumbling or no longer in existence. For example, Sears Roebuck in the United States has benefited countless pioneer families through mail-order catalogs since the pioneer days. Now it is gradually being replaced by the hypermarket Walmart. And how long can Wal-Mart, which is at its peak, last? Will it be replaced by a new company in the near future?

Another example is IBM, the technology giant in its heyday. Today, it is no longer prosperous, and even the personal computers of its flagship department have been ceded. Microsoft is all-powerful for a while, and Apple is the leader. How long can these companies maintain their dominance? No one can predict. I just saw one wave of excitement after another, and in the noise, the new and the old kept alternating.

Challenges of modern times

In such a changing era, some established images are constantly being subverted. What challenges are we facing now? :

‧ Virtual generation─It has only been more than a decade since the Internet became popular, and it is not difficult to see that we have entered a virtual era. We can get some clues from the meeting pattern. In the past, companies needed a physical "meeting room" where people participating in the meeting could sit around the table and talk. The current popular method is for people in various places to hold meetings through video and optical fiber. The "conference room" refers to a screen.

‧ e-generation─Digitalization and electronics are the characteristics of this generation.

‧ Satisfied customers become members─In the past, they pursued satisfying every customer. Now, retailers of all sizes launch membership cards to reward loyal customers.

‧ Tangible value vs. intangible value─The corporate world no longer just sells visible products, but also begins to promote invisible values. For example, American heavy-duty motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson and coffee giant Starbucks have both made it clear that what they sell is "life style." Therefore, many companies have begun to value company culture.

‧ Minority of blue-collar workers─Another trend is the sharp decline in blue-collar workers. Taking British dockworkers as an example, in 1970 it took 540 (108 people x 5 days) man days to complete the unloading of a ship. By 2005, it would only take 8 man-days to complete. The key to reducing so many workers and working days is the use of shipping containers. This trend is also seen in services and manufacturing. I have even seen robots introduced from Japan to make noodles in China. This trend will also affect the operation, leadership, and management model of enterprises.

‧ White-collar workers and professional service companies(Professional Service Firm, referred to as PSF) - It can be seen that many companies have only a few senior managers, and other accounting, information and other departments are provided by corresponding professional service companies. The backbone of the company, white-collar workers, are gradually being replaced by professional services. Employees do not have the guarantee of "commitment to the end". On the contrary, talented people are guaranteed employment.

It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity

In fact, every challenge of this generation can become an opportunity for Christ’s kingdom, depending on how we respond.

‧ Virtual generation─Since the Internet has become the main source of information in this generation, can faith also be conveyed through this platform? From blogs to Facebook and even text messages, if the mobile and fast nature of the Internet is properly grasped, it can become a new tool for evangelism.

‧ become member─The more alienated people are in the virtual generation, the more intimate their business actions are. Retail membership shows that people long to be included, and the role of the church is to fulfill this sense of belonging.

‧ Value intangible value─The evangelical strategy of the past few decades has revolved around the dialectic of science and faith. People in this generation increasingly value intangible values and are therefore more open-minded to accept intangible God and salvation.

‧ New employer-employer relationship─The number of blue-collar workers has decreased and white-collar workers have been replaced, making the classes in the enterprise gradually blurred. Job titles no longer have the weight they once had, and employers are no longer in an antagonistic position. This is more in line with biblical values. In the eyes of God the Father, we are all His cherished children.

New atmosphere in the future

Indeed, challenges can become opportunities, which requires new leadership concepts and models to move into the future.

‧ New strategies─Military strategies in the past were designed and equipped for the Cold War, with clear enemies. After entering the era of counter-terrorism, the country is facing a more terrifying and invisible enemy. And this is what Christians are good at—fighting against the power of the air.

‧ New tactics─Information technology is the key to victory or defeat, and it is also a strategy that believers need to master.

‧ New Warriors─Equipped with invisible armor, which is information.

‧ New weapons─The corporate world is constantly pursuing better systems, so what is the new system for evangelism?

‧ New mission and new model─In the past, the accounting department only did accounting work. Nowadays, few planning projects can be completed by a single department. Integrating resources is the new model. The model needed to take back the "seven mountains" (including the seven fields of business, government, media, arts and entertainment, education, family, and religion) is the new mission of believers into each field.

create new opportunities

My great-grandfather Gao Chang devoted himself to spreading the gospel and established 150 churches since he believed in Christ in 1865. He didn't know much about literacy, couldn't read music, and had to memorize all his poems. He traveled around Taiwan's urban and rural areas on his own feet, without even a horse. Do we enjoy such a wealth of knowledge and resources today with relative effectiveness? Opportunities for success are everywhere in today's world. Starting a million or billion-dollar business requires only a computer and requires no capital. Are we willing to explore new opportunities for evangelism?“We preach Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28)In the next series of articles, we will re-examine how the call of Jesus’ salt and light can transform the present age into a situation favorable to the kingdom.

Author profile
Gao Lili is the founder and CEO of Kingdom Resources Christian Association. He has served as a senior executive in large American companies for many years and is currently in full-time ministry. He often lectures and leads camps throughout North America and Asia, and is extremely responsible for training leadership and management models that are in line with God’s will.