June 13. When Strategies Fails.

As entrepreneurs and leaders, sometimes the strategies that we decide to deploy do not work. Yep, we experience failure in our businesses, it happens. We suffer from failure on our teams as leaders. But what do you do when a strategy not only fails, but it turns out to be harmful and inappropriate?

Do you gloss over it and press on to get to your goal another way? Do we address the inappropriateness before we move on and find a new strategy or roll out new tactics? If we do not address it, I think that it might weaken the team and momentum.

It can result in putting fissures in the foundation of our teams. If we weaken our team’s foundation, we eventually weaken our result. The structure of our team can collapse when it is put under pressure or shaken.

The effect to the foundation is a result just like the effects of an earthquake on builders near the epicenter. Where might you need to address something that turned out to be inappropriate? This question is one that can help us put an intense focus in a critical place.

What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days? 

There are many stories in the bible where people, their strategies and their tactics failed. Adonijah failed to capture the crown from King David and the crown went to Solomon. But after the king was seated, Adonijah made another gaffe.

He asked his mother to request a favor and get a woman for him from the king so that he could marry her (1 Kings 2:13). We never read of an apology to the king. The king had tolerated the first major insult of attempting to steal the crown until this request came. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

King Solomon ordered Adonijah's death. Where are you in a relationship with someone and you need to request forgiveness? How long will you wait? It is possible that if a wound is left to fester the next action that the wounded might do could be of harm to you or the relationship in some way.

There are moments in our relationships that our focus is important to be placed on forgiveness. That action of forgiveness is exemplified by the sacrifice on the cross. What is the first thing you can do about asking or giving that forgiveness that you are holding onto in the next seven days? 

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and one another. Help us to have the courage to strengthen our relationships by asking for forgiveness. When we are asked to forgive, may we be able to breathe, love and eventually find compassion for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Make our hearts forgive with joy and love. We have your examples of Jesus to understand what forgiveness is. Empower us to follow it. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen