Report on Book Titled Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership
Introduction
Jesus had a clear goal, to make the world a better place; he believed in team work and recruited a group to accomplish the task. Unlike modern day recruiters who do a thorough talent search through the corridors of leading management schools, he divined talent hiding in ignorant fishermen and greedy tax collectors hated by the public, and picked them up for his mission. The young CEO of thirty years had barely three years before him to train them, accomplish the goal, and retire after passing on the legacy to the new-recruits. A combination of three leadership strengths came in handy to this great Omega leader to accomplish his mission that even split the time line of history into before Christ and after Christ. Mastery of the self, action and relationships are the three strengths that enabled the young CEO to change the world forever in a short span of time.
Self Mastery, the Foundation of Jesus’ Leadership
Jesus started his voyage after passing a series of tough tests in the wilderness orchestrated by the devil. The devil put before him a series of attractive business opportunities befitting his special gifts, which Jesus, always stuck to his one and only mission of making the world a better place for mankind, denied. Instead of giving in to the devil’s promises to gratify his selfish needs, he made use of the temptations to strengthen his will power and declared himself as “I AM” to the world. His declaration to the world that he was the son of god did not come from pride but his articulateness in expressing his mission to the world. He was a visionary leader who always watched his words; he fed his mind with pure and encouraging words that kept him connected to his heavenly boss. His self-mastery ensured his link always with his master, who gave him inspiration and energy. All the more, he had a heart full of thankfulness, a key factor of leadership. He thanked his master before he attempted any major task like rising up Lazarus from the grave, and his divine partner did oblige pleasingly.
Jesus believed in himself beyond measure and he led his team with high self-esteem on a path to which he himself was the door and light. The leader never sought the approval of anyone, and nor did he care whether Caesar grinned or glared when it came to doing the right thing. Jesus was a perfect time manager; he spent a lot of time listening to the sick and needy. He always guarded his energy, and never wasted time in convincing those who stood against him. He had advised his teammates to “wipe the dust off their feet”, instead of compromising with those who opposed his view points. Jesus, as CEO of the kingdom of love and peace left an important message to leaders of the third millennium; he was willing to stand alone as long as he was moving towards his goal. He was prepared for challenges and preferred to go to Jerusalem alone even when his team mate Peter tried to stop him.
Jesus, the sociable leader
Jesus enjoyed partying with his team and the common public unlike modern day CEOs who love a celebrity status. He was a kind and caring host, and was keen in serving supper to those who followed him before sending them home; he also declared his presence as a host when two or more were gathered in his name. Jesus taught judging others would take us away from the energy that takes us forward. He did not condemn a thief crucified on a cross beside him even as the whole world judged him a thief, instead, he promised to see him at his father’s house. Jesus never bothered about the opinion of others and was even humble enough to ride on a donkey. He always wished to be identified with the depressed and common, without a crown of leadership bedecking his head. He faced adversaries gracefully knowing they are the stepping stones of success - a quality rarely seen in leaders these days.
Jesus, a committed CEO
Jesus showed relentless commitment to his mission, which was evident from the way he dealt with money changers inside the temple. Jones quotes Nelson Mandela’s commitment to be behind the bars for more than twenty years rather than compromising his pledge to win freedom as a trait identical to that of Jesus in a CEO’s role to liberate the world. Jesus always requested his master, who would grant him anything he asked of him, to help him with wisdom to show love to the world, which alone, as he believed, would lead him toward his goal. Jesus was a visionary who accepted the reality no matter how worse the situation was. He was fearful, and grew anyway. Out of fear he sweated blood, and he faced his fear by giving himself to be crucified. Jesus was committed to the cause to the extent that temporary success would not gratify him as much as his efforts to sow the seeds for a sustainable harvest of love and peace. Jesus, the busiest CEO the world has ever seen never despised little things. He gave time to apparently little things that made big impacts on others’ lives. Amid hectic schedules he found time to visit a little sick girl to be by her side and making her feel good,
Jesus, the Action CEO
Jesus believed in team work to accomplish his goal and enrolled ordinary men in his team and swung into action, because he knew well that he would be a CEO for only three years. He taught the importance of truth to his disciples by asking one question after another. His training focused on the idea that only truth would set one free and make things easier. Some of his famous empowering questions included “Who do you think I am? What do you want? Where is your heart?” Jesus saw the world with a different eye and saw infinite possibilities; he even saw life in invalid things, even in Lazarus who was dead to the eyes of the world. This is a quality of a great leader who sees possibilities even in the weakest things. Even during his last moments on the cross he acted upon his plan cheerfully, putting John the caretaker of Mary as though passing on the baton of his mission to the disciple. Through his miracles Jesus demonstrated to the world that true leaders are capable of doing extraordinary things. He believed in action rather than words, which is evident from the bible reference that even the whole world could not hold books written about his works during his ministry.
Jesus led the crowd
Jesus, an ordinary man coming out of left field, like many business leaders of modern time who began from the scratch, broke ranks; he was not a follower, but his deeds pulled followers to him. He broke ranks to set his people free from the dysfunctional Pharisee leaders. He also knew the importance of branching out. He toured extensively taking his message to all regions of the country, giving the management lesson of business expansion as and when time is ripe to third millennium leaders. Jesus led the world not out of position, but out of authority of love. Thus, he was bold and clear enough to point fingers at the wrongdoers, and call a spade a spade. When his critics came to provoke him by asking him to summarize ancient laws of the prophets, he was knowledgeable enough to put them concise and to the point. He simplified his messages and made them articulate and easy. His mission statement was clear across all sections of the society, unlike organizations functioning without clear understanding of their mission among employees. The great leader was always approachable and did not shy away from the crowd. He did not keep a low profile either. He insisted that a light should not be hidden under a basket, but should be kept on a hill. When the authorities came with Roman soldiers to arrest him, he candidly came forward declaring he was the one they were looking for.
Jesus, a visionary CEO
Jesus was a long-term visionary leader, who could not be persuaded by anyone to accomplish short-term gains by compromising on his ultimate goal. This was evident from his reaction to Judas Iscariot when he expressed dissatisfaction at Mary Magdalene’s pouring an expensive ointment over his feet. Jesus was categorical in reminding Judas about his goal, which was showing the world his heavenly kingdom rather than the worldly kingdom. He also made sure that not even the betrayal of Judas could ruin his plan. He did not follow any written rules or operational manuals to accomplish his mission, but was patient enough to get inspiration and direction in part from his source; he took a single step at a time.
Jesus set his own standards
Jesus, the young visionary, worked as though he was in a hurry to go back to his father, and always gave his best to his clientele. Limited time to accomplish his goals motivated him to set his own standards and procedures. His innovative style of leadership was to be a blessing to his followers and touch their lives. He was keen in changing circumstances; when a little girl was dying, he interfered and saved her life; when the holiness of the temple was in peril, he took it alone and restored its holiness. Even when he was alone, his incessant contact with his higher self gave him strength and inspiration. He always recommended his unit of measurement to the world - depth rather than volume, performance rather than appearance. He taught that using wealth or money as the only unit of measurement led to all evils of the society. His message to leaders of the millennium is “value quality rather than quantity of your human resource.” Having set his own standards, Jesus never missed an opportunity to trouble himself in place of others. He even gave his very life to save humankind from their sins. Before leaving this world, as a dutiful leader, he tested and trained his successors, wished them to do much more than he himself had accomplished. His hallmark of leadership was volunteering himself rather than picking a scapegoat from the herd as was evident from his decision to die on the cross young. Jesus’ leadership wisdom was always associated with forgetting and letting go the past. Even while dying on the cross he breathed his last declaring, “It is finished.” Doing this Jesus attained the status of an egoless, matchless leader, whose merit surpassed all worldly standards set by man.
Jesus as a CEO Valuing Relationships
Jesus made his teammates and followers realize their call and wide possibilities. He gave them a true vision and a career path to accomplish it. To Peter he indicated his true potential of catching men rather than fish, and devised a plan of action. Similarly, he divined the inner urge for spiritual thirst in a woman he met by a well, and changed her life forever. He took others seriously and listened to them thus expanding their boundaries, unlike most leaders limiting boundaries of their team members with a job title. He treated others equally and missed no chance to mingle with them; he mingled with thieves, prostitutes, diseased, and the most despised tax-collectors. Surely, Jesus had no title of a formal leader, and he insisted the same for his followers as well. He always said ‘yes’ and eagerly participated in other’s joy and grief. Jesus spent maximum time with his teammates through picnics, retreats and long walks, meeting and healing people.
Jesus, an empowering CEO
Jesus was the first revolutionary leader in history to empower women. After his death, he first appeared to a woman. God’s magnificent plan of coming to the world as a man materialized through a woman. He emphasized the need to honor woman and give key responsibilities. Jesus’ unlimited belief in others was part of his empowering exercise. He looked forward to the best in his team members even though the reality was to the contrary. He knew the weakness of Peter, and was unbending on appointing him as his successor. Jesus was always transparent with his team and his followers to the extent that at several occasions he wept in front of them. He categorically defined the work-related benefits of his team; he said, he came to bring life in abundance to them all. His forgiveness was a typical leadership wisdom intended to motivate others to try again, and do mistakes and learn. Jesus was the first ever soft-skill trainer to the sick and underprivileged. While healing others he even educated them by insisting on attitude change and new behavior to keep disease at bay.
Jesus, the HRD manager
In most companies, sometimes, the receptionists are unaware of a major event going on in the same building. But, Jesus adopted a style of management in which he first educated and informed his people, and like ripples his actions gradually spread out. He taught his team members to empathize with people as he did. He was a stringent manager, who reminded everyone accountable for his deeds through his message. He often said that one’s deeds in this world determined his position in heaven. He set many examples to his staff to follow, a typical one being his washing the feet of his disciples during the last supper. The Omega leader always acknowledged others in public; he often used parables in which masters praised their faithful workers. The human resource manager believed in transforming others and mentored many lives which would have otherwise gone miserable and insignificant like the one of tax-collector Zacchaeus. He always listened to his heart and felt other’s pain as though his. Jesus delegated full authority to his team members, and made them feel high about their job, besides keeping them intact by love rather than pay cheques.
Jesus, the marketing manager
After each presentation, Jesus asked for the order. His questions like, “Will you follow me?” “Are you too leaving me?” followed emotional sales presentations. He was a motivator, always urging others to do things through encouraging words like, “You can do it,” “Come out,” and many more. He wanted to see his team top in selling love and peace, offering them the ultimate reward of eternal life in his paradise.
Conclusion
Throughout the book Jones quotes befitting incidents from her experience to make her points, inspired by the leadership style of Jesus, clear to the reader. In the final chapter Jones emphasizes the need of winning the running race of this life together to get the reward Jesus promised us, which again is an important message to corporate competing each other through unethical means to become the best. Going through the book is like a spiritual journey, clinging to Jesus, and allowing his heavenly leadership wisdom sink deep into our minds.
