Culture Tag

05 Nov

Posted at 05:30h in Beautify the World, Glorify God, Humanize People, Integriosity Blog, Restore by

Over the last six years, we have been laying out and expanding on a model for moving toward what we call Integriosity®--leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.  It is time to pause, take a breath and look back over the last 300 posts as we did after 100, 200 and 250. We hope this...

29 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

ESSENCE: "Faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing." It is by far our most repeated group of words. Particularly for readers new to this journey, that phrase deserves unpacking: what does it really mean? As we reach post #300, it seems fitting to do a little refresher on the three key concepts embedded in that phrase. The word...

22 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Re-Align Loyalty Loyalty is usually seen as a virtue, but the brokenness of business as usual can misalign loyalty--attaching allegiance to the wrong objects, the wrong purposes and the wrong priorities. "Re-Align Loyalty" is about implementing practices to ensure that the overriding allegiance of leaders, managers and employees is to principles rather than people--toward the bigger WHY of the...

15 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Support the Supporters "Support the Supporters" is about implementing practices to support, care for, and recognize the employees who keep "stars" looking good, keep initiatives moving forward, and keep teams working together.  They are the account managers, program coordinators, team leaders, service partners, mentors, encouragers and connectors who may never seek the spotlight but without whom the lights would...

08 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

From time to time, it is useful to return to the basics, and the most basic and most important idea in the pursuit of faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing is organizational heart change. In the ancient world, frankincense was a prized trading commodity, yet in Jeremiah 6:20 God rejects it as useless. But it wasn't...

01 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Purge Profanity "Purge Profanity" is about implementing policies and practices that discourage employees from using vulgar, obscene, or profane language while working or representing the organization. The Bible is very clear in warning against profanity, but this is not about purity, prudishness, or legalism. It recognizes that words have power to bless or curse--the power to give "life" or...

24 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Nurture Nathans While many Biblical characters remain obscure, Nathan is pretty well known. He was the friend who courageously spoke truth to King David and held him accountable. But Nathan served several other important roles in David's life.  "Nurture Nathans" is about a faithful leader identifying and empowering trusted friends and advisors who will speak truth to them--holding them...

17 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Start a "Relevant" Bible Study While all studies of the Bible are "relevant", because the study of God's Word is always relevant for the lives of his image-bearers, some can be more relevant for guiding us in certain aspects of life. "Start a Relevant Bible Study" is about faithful leaders starting, facilitating or encouraging a Bible study that is...

27 Aug

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Shun Sorcery in Business "Shun Sorcery in Business" is about faithful leaders looking to prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in making decisions, including hiring decisions, rather than turning to modern "sorcery". We are not talking about consulting Ouija Boards and Magic 8 Balls in the boardroom. The temptation to rely on astrology, numerology, handwriting analysis, psychics,...

13 Aug

Posted at 11:00h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Provide Praiseworthy Packaging "Provide Praiseworthy Packaging" is about delivering your products and services in packaging that glorifies God. It’s about making packaging more intentional. It recognizes that how you deliver your product or service can speak as loudly as what you deliver. "Provide Praiseworthy Packaging" recognizes that one of the most straightforward commands in Scripture is to do everything...

11 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Start a Bank (a "Leave Bank") "Start a Bank (a Leave Bank)" is about creating a "leave bank" into which employees may deposit unused PTO (and the organization may make matching or supplemental deposits) either to be drawn by co-workers facing an emergency or disaster or donated to charity.  It recognizes that many workers do not fully utilize their...

04 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

In our most recent post, we urged faithful leaders to cultivate an organizational culture in which people are motivated and equipped to go beyond the Golden Rule in human interactions. We believe Jesus raised the bar with the "new commandment" in John 13:34 to love others as God would love them. The Golden Rule and the New Commandment are "do...

28 May

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Don't Settle for "Gold" "Don't Settle for Gold" is about cultivating an organizational culture in which people are motivated and equipped to go beyond the Golden Rule in human interactions. It is helping people recognize the Imago Dei in others and live the commandment to love others as God has loved them, not merely as they would like to...

21 May

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Color Your World (With Intention) "Color Your World (With Intention)" is about enhancing the wellness of employees through the intentional use of color in their workspace. It recognizes that color is powerful and, in workspaces, can have a positive impact on employee well-being. It also recognizes that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical...

07 May

Posted at 05:30h in Biblical Flourishing, Integriosity Blog by

With release of "Wave 1" results from the massive Global Flourishing Study, "flourishing" has been in the headlines.  We think that's exciting, because Integrous "helps faithful leaders lead with faithful integrity toward Biblical flourishing".  Our belief is that the bigger WHY of an organization aligned with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities should be to maximize flourishing (rather than profit) by...

30 Apr

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Let There Be (Better) Light "Let There Be (Better) Light" is about enhancing the wellness of employees by taking steps to improve the quality of the light in which they work. It recognizes that the light in which people work can have a positive or negative impact on their health and well-being and that an organization pursuing faithful integrity...

16 Apr

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Does Easter give you hope for the purpose of your work, business, and investing?  Easter should be a source of hope for every worker, business leader, and investor who follows Jesus because it serves as a vivid reminder of a bigger WHY and a sacred relevance for our work, business, and investing rooted in God's Restoration plan for His Kingdom....

19 Mar

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Implement Human AI Although "Implement Human AI" may sound like an oxymoron, we recently learned about a type of "AI" that appears to be both humanizing and consistent with the pursuit of faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing. It doesn't involve powerful computer chips, large data centers, massive energy consumption, or the threat of robots...

26 Feb

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Seek Moses Managers "Seek Moses Managers" is about implementing promotion, recruiting, hiring, selection, and training practices for managers that prioritize the qualities Moses used when recruiting chiefs in Exodus 18:21-24.  It is about prioritizing Biblical excellence, Biblical diversity, cultural fit, and character.  "Seek Moses Managers" recognizes the importance of good managers to employee engagement and flourishing, to the implementation...

12 Feb

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Grow Gratitude "Grow Gratitude" is about implementing practices to help employees experience feelings of gratitude. It recognizes that feeling gratitude has been shown to enhance flourishing and wellness in people, which should be a priority in an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing. In a world filled with negativity that promotes...

05 Feb

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Set Some Ebenezers "Set Some Ebenezers" has nothing to do with Ebenezer Scrooge.  It is about the faithful leader of an organization following the example of Samuel and creating tangible reminders of times God has helped the organization and its people.  It recognizes that most people easily forget (and some people never even know or comprehend) God's interventions and...

29 Jan

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Share the Spoils "Share the Spoils" is about prayerfully considering compensation and recognition practices that recognize the contributions of all employees to the success of the organization.  It is following the example of King David when he defeated the Amalekites, following their raid of the city of Ziklag.  "Share the Spoils" recognizes that senior executives, top salespeople and big...

04 Dec

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Stop the Rot "Stop the Rot" is about putting in place practices and procedures to identify and address behavior by stakeholders that undermines the organization's Re-Imagined Values and Re-Imagined Culture.  It recognizes that one toxic employee, customer or vendor can begin a corrosive effect that spreads like the rot on a bad apple in a barrel.  It also recognizes...

20 Nov

Posted at 05:30h in Beautify the World, Glorify God, Humanize People, Integriosity Blog, Restore by

Over the last five years, we have been laying out and expanding on a model for moving toward what we call Integriosity®--leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.  It is time to pause, take a breath and look back over the last 250 posts as we did after 100 and 200. We hope this is...

30 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

In prior posts, we have talked about three "gaps" a faithful leader must cross in the journey toward leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.  These are "wisdom" or "knowledge" gaps.  There is a fourth, and it is arguably the most important of all.  We call it the Safety/Surrender Gap, and it is a "heart"...

23 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Strengthen Your Cord "Strengthen Your Cord" is about joining groups or organizations that gather faithful leaders to support each other in pursuit of faith/work integration, in navigating faith/work integration in an increasingly secular culture or in protecting the religious freedom to pursue faithful integrity through business a better way through Biblical flourishing. It provides a source of counsel from...

02 Oct

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Cultivate Customer Kindness COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Community "Cultivate Customer Kindness" is about implementing practices that create opportunities for customers to engage in acts of "kindness" toward employees and the community.  It recognizes that "kindness" is an expression of the "first-order beliefs" God...

25 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Is the word "integrity" enough to guide a faithful leader on the ancient path to aligning the purpose, values and culture of an organization in a way that leads the organization and its people to do the right things, in the right ways, for the right reasons, without even thinking? There are two key aspects to the meaning of "integrity"--one...

18 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Choose the Better "T" of Trust (vs Track) COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees In a world that has shifted to increased remote and hybrid work, "Choose the Better 'T' of Trust (vs Track)" is about cultivating an organizational culture in which employees can be trusted...

11 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Prioritize Employees COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Prioritize Employees" is about recognizing the importance of caring for employees for the right reasons.   It is grounded in Imago Dei, the Golden Rule and the commandment to love your neighbor, both in its application and its results. ...

04 Sep

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Recognize "AvoDay" (not Labor Day) COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Overt STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Recognize AvoDay (Not Labor Day)" is about using the U.S. national holiday of Labor Day as an opportunity to speak life into work by referencing the work-affirming word "Avodah" rather than the work-devaluing word "Labor".  It...

28 Aug

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing should include implementing policies about when the organization will "speak up" or "shut up" about controversial social and political issues.  A recent news story highlights the importance of having policies in place before situations arise that the policies are intended to address.   We believe leading in alignment with...

21 Aug

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing should include living the Golden Rule consistent with good stewardship by paying employees for their work, paying refunds to customer/clients, and paying suppliers/vendors promptly.  It requires cultivating a "Should We" rather than a "Can We" culture. A recent news story paints a picture of a major retailer that...

14 Aug

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Regardless of what is posted on a website or promulgated in policies as an organization's formal purpose, values and culture, stakeholders will experience, and respond to, what they perceive to be the real purpose, values and culture of the organization.  A recent news story exposed real culture seemingly out of alignment with stated culture at a major financial institution. Aligning the...

07 Aug

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Foster Financial Fitness COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Foster Financial Fitness" is about adopting practices and benefits that are specifically designed to encourage and support the financial literacy and fitness of employees and their families. It recognizes that financial instability, difficulties and stress can negatively...

31 Jul

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

With an increasing number of organizations and leaders pulling back from, abandoning, or coming out "against" worldly DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) initiatives, the search for an alternative acronym to embrace and be "for" has led to some highly visible leaders promoting MEI--"merit, excellence, intelligence". They argue that diversity will be a natural by-product of MEI. For leaders...

24 Jul

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Waken Wellness COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Waken Wellness" is about adopting practices and benefits that are specifically designed to encourage and support the total wellness of employees, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. It recognizes that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through...

17 Jul

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Fortify Fitness COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Fortify Fitness" is about adopting practices and benefits that are specifically designed to encourage and support the physical fitness of employees. It recognizes that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing should...

10 Jul

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Nurture Nutrition COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Nurture Nutrition" is about adopting practices and benefits that are specifically designed to encourage and support the nutritional health of employees. It recognizes that an organization pursuing faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing...

03 Jul

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives remain in the news, but most recently it has been because organizations are dismantling (or at least disguising) their ESG and DEI programs. "Keep the ESG/DEI Baby (and Your Nose)" is about faithful leaders retaining a Biblical vision of "environmental, social and governance" and "diversity, equity and inclusion" matters...

26 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Onboard with Intention COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees "Onboard with Intention" is about designing an onboarding process for new employees that introduces, reflects and reinforces the most important elements of the organization's Re-Imagined Purpose, Re-Imagined Values and Re-imagined Culture.  It recognizes the importance of first...

19 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Climb a Hill COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Proclamation COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Overt STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Kingdom "Climb a Hill" is about faithful leaders accepting, seeking and even creating opportunities to share publicly about their organization's pursuit of faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing.  It is based on the Biblical...

12 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Do a Devo COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Proclamation COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Overt STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees This has nothing to do with the American new wave band popular in the 1980's.  "Do a Devo" is about periodically providing a Biblical devotional message to employees (and other stakeholders) who "opt-in".  It is not about bringing...

05 Jun

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog, Integrity Ideas by

INTEGRITY IDEA: Energize External Generosity COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action):  Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Community, Kingdom Generosity is such a foundational Biblical principle to operating with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing that it is embedded in our word Integriosity®, which combines integrity and generosity.  "Energize...

29 May

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Business has the potential to beautify the world--or uglify it.  “Beautiful” was clearly God's design when he created everything and declared it "very good", and “beautiful” is the word that comes to mind as you read the description of the New Jerusalem that is coming--God's Kingdom on earth. In between the beauty of a garden and the beauty of a...

22 May

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

Does faith/work integration require Overtly faithful practices?  Leading an organization with faithful integrity in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities toward Biblical flourishing requires a continual prayerful balancing of the call to be Courageous through Overtness and the need to be Wise through Covertness. Both the idolization of Overtness and the fear of being Overt may lead to poor stewardship. Wisdom...

01 May

Posted at 05:30h in Integriosity Blog by

As a faithful leader seeking to lead faithfully, you face a foundational choice between two starkly different options with profound implications. One option is business as usual — business in "the way of the world" or, more precisely, according to "the kingdom of this world." We call the other option business a better way — business aligned with Biblical beliefs,...