It’s (Not) All About The Benjamins!
Time is one of many things a leader can invest.
I am leader in one of the environments at my church called Fusion. This cycle we are talking about the subject of investment. When people hear the term “invest” they immediately think of money. It’s not always about money. You can invest your time, talents, and so many other things.
My friend Susanne does something really cool for her Facebook status. She will find a word that has impacted her and provide the definition. It would go a little something like this (Susanne – this one goes out to you! (c: ).
“Invest: to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something…I like that word.”
She always follows it with “I like that word.” When I read that definition this morning it made me think…how can we as leaders invest in the lives of those we lead?
- Be a great listener – People want to be heard. Don’t try to solve their problems, just provide a listening ear.
- Celebrate with them – Birthdays and new jobs are just the beginning. In one of my previous small groups we always celebrated everyone’s birthday and it turned out that one of the guys had never ever had a birthday party thrown for him.
- Mourn with them – Losing a family member is difficult and it’s even harder when you feel alone. It’s easier to go through the loss of a job with others supporting and encouraging you. A guy in one of my previous small groups lost his daughter to a childhood illness. The majority of our group traveled from Atlanta to Tampa just to be with him in his time of need.
- Spend time with them – Be intentional about doing things with them. Go out to dinner. Grab coffee. Find out what they enjoy doing and do it together.
- Remember the details – When you have conversations with people, remember things they tell you. You never realize how much it means to people when you ask them how their interview went or if they finished their big project at work. It makes them feel important.
How do you invest in those you lead?
Photo Credit: By mpclemens
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Scott Couey 
Great post Scott.
Investing in people, whether it be a friendly, romantic, or a business relationship, is always key to leadership. I read a post the other day about “Being a Giver” that was very similar to this post in its mission… GIVE of yourself!
Besides, it all mimics the love of the Father. Whether you are leading friends, pursuing a romance, or boosting company morale, at the end of the day it comes down to sharing the love and freedom of Christ.
Thank you for the comments Kevin! The post you mentioned sounds interesting – you wouldn’t happen to have the link for it? I’d love to read it. Great point about investing in all kinds of relationships – friendly, romantic, and business. Investing isn’t just for the business world.