Jesus was a master at asking tough, penetrating questions. He loved to answer a question with a more difficult question. So, what if some of Jesus’ best questions were applied to your business or work?
How could these questions break open new business success or cause you to look at something differently? While these questions were first applied to Jesus and His ministry, they can also help you inspect your workplace and explore for ways to do things better. They may reveal some barriers getting in the way of your better you.
You can find a list of these questions at Crosswalk. https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/10-questions-jesus-asked-and-why-they-matter-today.html
1.) Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15)
What customers say about you reveals a lot about your business. Consider the reputation that you have in the marketplace. Increasingly as social media and bad reviews can have a major impact, companies and organizations must seek to develop a good reputation. People want to know that they are making a good investment before they buy. When was the last time that you solicited customer feedback or had someone follow up to get an honest assessment? Not only could the answers help you do better in the future. They might even reveal a new business opportunity or way to make repeat customers.
2.) Do you believe? (Matthew 21:22)
Lots of companies have values or mission statements that are meaningless. They are made up by top brass without really getting buy in from the workers who make it all happen. What we believe about the companies we work for impacts our work. Your company may have lofty goals, but do the workers believe them or see a way to make them happen. Finding out what your employees believe through engagement surveys has become all the rage in HR circles. But it could have been something companies would have done a long time ago if they had followed the example set by Jesus.
3.) Do you want to get well? (John 5:1-15)
All companies and organizations have places in their operations and culture that need repair. Some need more than just a tune up. They need to get healed from whatever causes them to suffer from poor attitudes that can be almost like a business cancer. But change is hard. And many people are comfortable and don’t want to change. They like things the way they are even if that means the company may suffer. This can be true for management as well. Just because you identify a problem doesn’t mean that your are going to do anything about it. So, you have to ask, “Do we really want to get better?”
4.) Why are you so afraid? (Matthew 8:26)
Fear is a great motivator. It can also hold people back from launching a new product, firing a troublesome employee, cutting ties with a bad customer, or some other bold move. How has fear impacted your workplace? If you are honest, some employees maybe afraid to discuss problems with superiors. Does your office have lots of people who just keep their heads down? This may be a sign that nobody wants to address the unspoken issues that everyone knows exist. But leaders don’t dodge these moments. They lovingly address the difficult issues. But you first have to tackle your own fears.
5.) Do you still not see or understand? (Mark 8:17)
Jesus likely spoke this in frustration. No matter how good a leader you are, there will be moments of disconnect with people on your team. Some will just not see it the way that you do. We all get frustrated. The key is to keep your cool. If you go into the discussion realizing that some people need repetition to get it, you will be set at ease. This allows you to lead and have effective communications. Over time people will get it, just like Jesus’ disciples did. It just took a lot of repetition and patience. Good organizations allow for experimentation and mistakes. Jesus did this by sending out the disciples to minister in small groups. Your team may take a while to get it. Just remember that the process is worth it in the end as they will then be able to truly carry forward what you demonstrated to them.