This article was originally posted on Feburary 20, 2009

A TALE OF MERE EXISTENCE by LEV

• Who wields power in your workplace?
• Take a minute to imagine yourself as a secret outside observer of your company… Based on their behavior toward people at different levels in the organization, what are some characteristic attitudes of the most powerful among you.
• What are some characteristic attitudes of the least powerful in your company?
• Read this passage from the apostle Paul to the followers of Jesus in first century Philippi:

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. — Philippians 2:1-13

• Based on this passage, write a paragraph about Christ’s exercise of power?
• Is that any way to run a business? Seriously; write about the tensions inherent in that idea.
• Grade your leaders’ performance against that standard? How do you think that affects productivity and return on investment?
• Which direction (from strongly positive to strongly negative) would you say your own performance against these standards is trending the last six months? What evidence of that (positive or negative) would you offer?
• What’s the most significant implication of all this for your professional conduct and business practices?
• Now what?