Leadership Principles I Learned From Missionaries, Part 2
In Part 2 of this series, I continue to share some leadership principles I learned from the missionaries I have known.
Cultural Awareness: Missionaries immerse themselves in different cultures and learn to respect and understand them. In business, leaders should value cultural awareness to operate in global markets and lead diverse teams.
A note for businesses: Just because your business is in America and we all speak English, do not assume you know your audience and can communicate with them. After coming home from overseas, I realized there are many subcultures with a culture that share a language all their own.
As of this writing, the Bud Light story is one of the latest and most prominent examples of failing to understand your audience. We may never fully know why the President of Marketing, Alissa Heinerscheid, tried to radically shift Bud Light’s marketing. But the lesson is not that she missed it. I think she is an intelligent lady, or she would not have been in that position in the first place. The lesson may be that she pridefully ignored her customer base and their culture, thinking they would accept the direction Bud Light was headed.
Churches are no different. I have watched many pastors seeking to lead their church in a direction that did not fit that church's demographic or culture. I am not talking about unchangeable biblical truths. I am talking about things where there is some freedom to move around.
Team Building: Missionary work often involves building teams with individuals from various backgrounds. Business leaders can learn to build cohesive and diverse teams by observing how missionaries create inclusive communities.
Problem-Solving: Missionaries encounter unique challenges that require innovative problem-solving skills. Business leaders encouraging creative thinking and fostering a problem-solving culture will position their companies for success.
Building Trust: Missionaries work to build trust with the communities they serve. In business, belief is fundamental for strong employee engagement, customer loyalty, and successful partnerships.
Long-term Vision: Missionary work often spans many years, requiring a long-term vision and patience. Business leaders focusing on long-term goals while managing short-term challenges can achieve sustained success.
Adherence to Values: Missionaries are guided by strong moral and ethical values. Business leaders prioritizing ethical conduct and integrity create a positive reputation for their organizations.
Businesses can learn a lot of helpful leadership principles from the missions world. But, we must take a posture that allows us to learn from others outside our fields to avoid missing some valuable leadership lessons.