INTEGRITY IDEA: Harness Parking PowerFor organizations that provide parking, "Harness Parking Power" is about a faithful leader prayerfully discerning ways to use choice spots to recognize, honor, reward, or support stakeholders. It is not about saving the best spaces for the most senior staff, as is sadly common in both corporations and churches. Nor is it about virtue signaling by...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Faithfully "Applefy" Your CultureFollowing the announcement that Tim Cook would be stepping down as CEO of Apple, the Wall Street Journal asked him what advice he would pass down to his successor. Cook’s answer offers two leadership principles that are worth receiving—but also worth redeeming. "Faithfully Applefy Your Culture" is about a faithful leader taking steps to implement...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Don't Fake It to Make It"Don't Fake It to Make It" is about faithful leaders resisting the pressure and temptation to mimic, adopt, or rationalize business as usual practices in order to "succeed" personally in their career or for the organization they lead to "succeed" in the marketplace. It recognizes that fear and wisdom are very different motivators,...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Banish the BurnRecently Fast Company published a series of articles on a growing crisis of manager "burnout". "Banish the Burn" is about a faithful leader putting in place practices to identify potential manager burnout, understand its sources, care for managers experiencing burnout, and cultivate an organizational culture designed to minimize the causes of and proactively protect against burnout. ...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Pour a FoundationA few people have asked if we were planning something special for the 100th Integrity Idea. We weren't. What arrived, though, may be the most important of all 100. Integrity Idea 100 is about when a faithful leader should ignore the first 99 Integrity Ideas–at least for now. "Pour a Foundation" is about pouring a foundation...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Adopt One Small Beautiful Act in 2026"Adopt One Small Beautiful Act in 2026" has nothing to do with what you might be thinking. It is the start of a new Integrous tradition--a January reminder that "beautiful" doesn't require "big". In fact, "big" can be intimidating and lead to doing nothing--which isn't "beautiful". "Adopt One Small Beautiful Act in...
New Year's Eve is a time usually focused on the hope and possibilities of the year to come. It is a day that tempts us to focus only on putting the past behind. But faithful leaders seeking to lead with faithful integrity in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles, and priorities need to resist the urge to look only forward. It...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Encourage "Pinocchio Marketing"Confused? Don't worry--we are not advocating deceptive marketing that causes a faithful leader's nose to grow. "Encourage Pinocchio Marketing" is about faithful leaders cultivating a marketing culture with a heart for the qualities that allowed Pinocchio to become a real boy--bravery, truthfulness and unselfishness--and a nose capable of detecting potentially deceptive or manipulative marketing before it...
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...
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...
This is the third and final post in our theme of "turning". The first message was to turn with all your might to God when your eyes have been opened to the truth of God's purpose for work and business. The second was about not getting turned back to business as usual or faith as usual by the forces of...
When a faithful leader's eyes have been opened to the truth of God's purpose for work and business and that leader turns with all their might to transform the heart of the organization they lead through the pursuit of faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing, the forces of the kingdom of the world will try to turn...
When King Josiah’s eyes were opened to the truth of God's commands, he didn’t respond with mild reform or token gestures. He responded with wholehearted action. He "turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might". That same posture is needed today by faithful leaders whose eyes have been opened to the...
"Slippery slopes" are rarely considered a good thing to be sliding down unless you are skiing or sledding (in control). An organization can face various slippery slopes, but we are talking about the slippery slope of a "Can We" culture. This is an organizational culture in which ends justify means and ethics or the law are seen as the only...
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...
The news has been filled with stories about institutions (e.g., universities and law firms) being forced to examine and act upon their priorities. The priorities of an organization's leaders will shape its behavior, which means understanding those priorities should itself be a priority for a faithful leader seeking to lead with faithful integrity through business a better way toward...
In prior posts we have emphasized that leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing requires a continual balancing of the call to be courageous and the need to be wise in determining "HOW" to integrate faith and work, with the most faithful balance being courage tempered by wisdom. "Wait, Just Don't Delay" is about the...
Leading with faithful integrity through business a better way toward Biblical flourishing requires getting across four "gaps": Sunday/Monday, Sacred/Secular, Knowing/Doing and Safety/Surrender. Unfortunately, because of business as usual pressure and faith as usual detours, many well-intentioned leaders get stuck, never "hopping" or "leaping". The first three are "wisdom" gaps, and the journey across those "gaps" starts with RENEW--renewing the faithful...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Implement Human AIAlthough "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...
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...
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...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Develop a "Daniel Plan" for Decisions"Develop a Daniel Plan for Decisions" is not about dieting. It is about putting in place practices to ensure that important decisions and responses to critical or sensitive situations are made with "prudence and discretion" by an organization's leaders, following the example of Daniel when King Nebuchadnezzar ordered all of the wise men...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Plant a Tree in 2025"Plant a Tree in 2025" is not about literally planting a tree. It is inspired by a quote frequently (and apparently inaccurately) attributed to Martin Luther. It is about a faithful leader committing to make one change or take one initiative in their organization that "adds to the beauty" of the world. One of...
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...
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...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Choose the Better "T" of Trust (vs Track)COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: EmployeesIn 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Onboard with IntentionCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS 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...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Climb a HillCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): ProclamationCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly OvertSTAKEHOLDERS 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...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Energize External GenerosityCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Community, KingdomGenerosity 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...
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,...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Discourage WinningCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Suppliers/Vendors"Discourage Winning" may be counter-cultural, but it is not about "encouraging losing". "Discourage Winning" is about cultivating an organizational culture that "encourages mutuality" in negotiations--looking for "win-win" results that take into account the needs and objectives...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Keep Controversy Within Your MissionCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PoliciesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: KingdomWe don't mean that an organization should have a controversial mission. "Keep Controversy Within Your Mission" is about putting in place policies and practices to ensure that the organization is prepared to take positions on...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Terminate with GoldCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: EmployeesMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. When we say "Gold", we are not talking about money. "Terminate with Gold" is about taking extra care in applying the Golden Rule...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Re-Imagine the BoxCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Owners, Employees, Customers/ClientsMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Re-Imagine the Box" is about re-imagining the traditional "Suggestion Box" by putting in place practices to ensure that the ideas, wisdom,...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Create a Cue CardCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: EmployeesMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Create a Cue Card" is about literally creating a pocket-sized card that helps employees remember values, principles or practices critical to ensuring...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Don’t “Toolify” HumansCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PeopleCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: EmployeesMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. “Don’t Toolify Humans” is more fundamental, because it is a reminder of the most important priority shift needed for an organization to align...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Set Integrity Boundaries COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Policies COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Kingdom Most Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Set Integrity Boundaries" is about faithful leaders identifying, establishing and communicating the integrity lines the organization will not cross in how...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Identify Your BeautyCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): ProductsCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Owners, Employees, Customers/Clients, Suppliers/Vendors, CommunityMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Identify Your Beauty" is about identifying and communicating to stakeholders how the organization's products and services Beautify the World. ...
INTEGRITY IDEA: Recall Your Faithful Purpose COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Practices COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert or Highly Overt STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Kingdom Most Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Recall Your Faithful Purpose" is implementing practices to remind your stakeholders about your WHY--your organization's Re-Imagined Purpose...
Over the last four 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 and toward Biblical flourishing. It is time to pause, take a breath and look back over the last 200 posts as we did after 100. We hope this is a...
The first step on the ancient path from the "as usuals" of business as usual, work as usual, and faith as usual to "a better way" is RENEW. It is the start of a four-step process called Integriosity® to help a faithful leader navigate the journey on the ancient path toward leading faithfully with faithful integrity through business a better way. Each step...
ESSENCE: Integrity Ideas are specific actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.INTEGRITY IDEA: Reward RestCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PoliciesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: EmployeesMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Reward Rest" is about instituting policies...
ESSENCE: Integrity Ideas are specific actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way.INTEGRITY IDEA: Optimize CompensationCOVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): PracticesCOVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly CovertSTAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees, Customers/Clients, Owners, Community, KingdomMost Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Optimize Compensation"...
ESSENCE: Integrity Ideas are specific actions a faithful leader can consider in leading faithfully through business a better way. INTEGRITY IDEA: Cancel Cursing COVERT-OVERT CONTINUUM (six Continuums for action): Policies COVERT-OVERT RATING (several levels from Highly Covert to Highly Overt): Highly Covert STAKEHOLDERS SERVED: Employees Most Integrity Ideas are practical actions toward implementing a bigger WHY for the organization. "Cancel Cursing"...
Leading faithfully through business a better way is a journey. Leading an organization in alignment with Biblical beliefs, principles and priorities requires finding the on-ramp, getting on, and then not stumbling off an ancient road of Jeremiah 6:16. We have developed a four-step process called Integriosity® to help a faithful leader navigate the journey, each of which...