By Holly McCarthy
With the economic crisis worsening and many speculating that far more bad news is on the horizon, many people have gone to disturbing extremes when dealing with their situations. There are other things to do when disaster strikes, and faith is one thing that can help you and others weather the storm.
Compassion
Showing compassion for your fellows is one approach to dealing with times of crisis. If you are able to help others in need or not, compassion for others goes a long way in helping us to realize that we are all being affected. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the “better him than me” trap; situations change and tables can turn.
Empathy
Try putting yourself in someone else’s shoes for a change. Practicing empathy helps us not only to be thankful for that which we have, but often is a call for action. Be willing to take on different perspectives and see what you can do to help rectify the situation. Every little bit helps.
Humility
Often, we feel like our lives are on a certain course and that planning for the future is a way of ensuring that we don’t fall too hard in life. Economic crises reawaken our sensitivity to many things, among them the realization that even the best laid plans often go awry. Realizing that we aren’t always the ones in control of our destinies helps bring back a much-needed sense of humility and helps us band together for a common cause.
Service
Crises are also opportunities to rise above the daily struggle and beyond our comfort zones into the realm of service. What better way to help your fellow human beings than by doing whatever you can to make sure those less fortunate still live with the essentials? Offering time, money, or other Christian services to work toward overcoming great obstacles puts your faith into action and renews togetherness in communities and breaks down barriers.
Spirituality
The worst thing a person can do during tough times is to lose hope. Faith, and spirituality are great sources of strength that will help you to weather the storm, which you can make stronger with a Christian college education. Open your heart and stop focusing on the negative. Have faith and know that better times are around the corner.
By Holly McCarthy
When in a position of leadership, there are many things that need to be conveyed to those who follow your lead. Rather than just being a manager or supervisor, the most important thing is to be an effective leader. Leaders possess a wide array of skills and traits that set them above the rest. What follows is a brief list of some traits that good leaders should possess.
Excellent Communication Skills
If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, your communication in all forms needs to be highly effective. We live in a world that involves written and verbal communication constantly. The grammar and language in an email is just as important as the way you present yourself in person. You are the one in the spotlight most of the time, so the way you speak and how you convey your thoughts to others is something that is always under scrutiny.
Direct
Going hand in hand with communication skills, good leaders are very direct people. As a leader you need to know exactly what it is that you want and convey that to those beneath you. It is very important to say what you mean and mean what you say, to quote a cliché. Being direct about what you want without backing down ensures that there is no “wiggle room” in regard to your expectations.
Fairness
Good leaders are often put in the situation of having to judge or arbitrate between others that work for them. Fairness is something that requires patience and a touch of humanity. The ability to listen to both sides of an argument or situation and be able to make an informed decision that is fair and just is another one of the skills good leaders need to maintain success.
Capable
Sometimes you need to lead by example, and this is a great way to demonstrate that you can do anyone’s job that works for you if you have to. You can do this without saying a word; just roll up your sleeves and get in the trenches with your employees for a few hours here and there. Nothing earns respect from people quite like demonstrating that you are willing and able to get your hands dirty once in a while.
Kind, Yet Firm
The benevolent leader is not an anomaly in the business world and is a trait worth cultivating. If you are able to demonstrate through leadership that you can be kind and just to people, you are well on your way to creating a fantastic working environment for your employees. However, when things go wrong, you must be able to be firm and assert yourself. There is no reason to always be harsh or too kind; treading the line between these two types of behavior is what great leaders do.
