Biblical wisdom for the business leader

The Bible reminds us that things have always been thus.

All that change are the language and the tools we use.

Sobering thought

Let that be a sobering thought for us as we ponder the direction of our organisations in 2010.

There is no rocket science involved in leadership, in strategy, in management.

So be wary of those who come bearing gifts of “breakthrough thinking” and “transformational techniques.”

They are selling you snake oil, fads and gimmicks designed to lighten your balance sheet a little.

The essence of management is simple — but it’s not easy.

We all know what we have to do better: improve our products; inspire and keep our employees; bond with our customers in unique ways; manage our investments to build future assets; and keep a keen eye on our costs to prevent fat from accumulating in dangerous places.

That’s all there is to it. But the concomitant truth is that very few can do these simple things well.

Most people meander along in a never-ending process of trial and error, getting it more wrong than right.

Many try to look for the latest management theory, technique or tool in their quest to survive. Most fail.

This column has always been about showcasing the best thinking about management and leadership — and that means the clearest, the simplest and the most essential.

That tradition will continue in 2010. In the meantime, season’s greetings to all.

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