Character counts at work

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Jerry is the president of a contract engineering company founded by a service technician more than two decades ago. The company currently serves numerous Fortune 500 companies, offering engineered solutions to manufacturing challenges. Jerry began working for the company in sales many years ago and eventually he was invited into a role of management and ownership. The company’s founder is deceased, leaving the ownership in the hands of his son and Jerry.

I met Jerry nearly two years ago through a mutual friend who recognized that Jerry could use some business consulting, particularly in the area of strategic planning. Jerry attended a number of my events, including some of my seminars, and we developed a good relationship. At these functions, he learned biblical principles and how to apply those principles to business.

Jerry pondered what he was learning. He struggled, as many people do, because it is not immediately obvious that business and the Bible go together. So during the months that we have known each other, he has observed and thought about some of the biblical principles, such as equal yoking, the importance of character, and the definition of success.

In a recent conversation, Jerry commented that he had come to a conclusion about the role of character in his organization. He became convinced that it was extremely important and instituted a new policy: no swearing in the company?period.

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As you can imagine, a group of engineers and technicians developing complex solutions to manufacturing problems get frustrated from time to time. In the midst of such frustration, there might be some explicit and derogatory comments uttered, well, not any longer?at least not at Jerry’s company!

When Jerry announced the policy, the response was surprise and disbelief. As he dialogued with his people, they began to understand that he was serious. He explained that what comes out of our mouths is an indicator of what is in our hearts. (See Matthew 15:19.) When bad words come out of the mouth, it is symptomatic of a heart problem. If we have a heart problem, we have character issues. People with character issues cannot build great products and great organizations.

Clearly, everyone?on some level?has character issues. Jerry is not looking for perfection; he is seeking people who are committed to godly character and are quick to repent when sin rears its head in their hearts. The use of the tongue is a big indicator of where a person’s heart is.

Jerry has drawn a line in the sand. It will take time to realize the results. But in the end, his workers will be called to a higher level of living, which will bless them, the company, and its customers. Everyone wins!

Gerald R. Chester is president of[email protected], LLC, a management consulting firm specializing in helping business owners and management teams build world-class organizations based on the timeless universal principles of leadership and management taught in the Bible.

Since 1987, Dr. Chester has worked with dozens of companies in a wide variety of industries. His focus is to help clients build great organizations by understanding and implementing the key principles of enduring success?building equally yoked management teams, developing efficacious strategic plans, and executing with excellence.

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In June 2005, Dr. Chester was awarded the Christian Leadership Award by Dallas Baptist University and the CEO Institute.

To reach Gerald, e-mail him at [email protected].