In today's episode, we're sitting down with Rich Stearns, president emeritus of World Vision, to explore how leadership rooted in integrity, humility, and trust can transform your organization. Rich shares invaluable lessons from his remarkable journey in both corporate and Christian workplaces, offering insights on how to lead with values that truly matter.
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In this episode:
Rich Stearns' Background:
- Rich Stearns' leadership at World Vision for 20 years, bringing corporate practices to nonprofit work. (03:10)
- His educational background: BA in neurobiology from Cornell University, MBA from Wharton School. (03:14)
- Stearns' career shift from corporate leadership (Lenox and Parker Brothers Games) to World Vision after feeling called by God. (03:25)
Achievements at World Vision:
- Rich traveled to 60+ countries and was involved in global humanitarian issues like the AIDS pandemic, refugee crises, and poverty. (03:45)
- His retirement challenge to provide clean water to all of Rwanda, which was fulfilled in 2023, benefitting 1.2 million people. (05:59)
- World Vision's transformation under his leadership, becoming the number one provider of clean water globally. (07:18)
- World Vision's partnerships: the number one partner of the World Food Programme and a billion-dollar micro-loan fund for entrepreneurs in developing countries. (07:40)
Values-Based Leadership:
- Rich wrote Lead Like It Matters to God to address the erosion of values in leadership, focusing on integrity, humility, and courage. (09:33)
- He critiques the "success culture" in America and emphasizes faithfulness over success, quoting Mother Teresa. (10:51)
- Stearns highlights 17 core leadership values, including courage, generosity, forgiveness, humility, excellence, and love. (12:05)
Key Leadership Values:
- Rich chooses surrender, humility, and love as the most critical values for leadership. (12:47)
- Surrender: Fully surrendering life and career to God’s will is foundational for Christian leaders. (12:57)
- Humility: Maintaining a posture of humility, regardless of position, is essential for leadership aligned with Christian values. (14:15)
Importance of Hiring the Right People
- Emphasizing patience in filling roles to ensure the right person is hired, even if it takes longer than expected. (18:35)
- The value of involving spouses in candidate interviews to assess character and social behavior. (20:25)
Building Trust and Integrity
- Trust must be earned, not commanded, through integrity and keeping promises. (24:56)
- Leaders who are seen as trustworthy and reliable in their word and actions foster a positive workplace culture. (25:35)
Humility in Leadership
- Leaders should prioritize humility, treating all team members with respect, regardless of their title. (26:08)
- Humble leaders earn respect by genuinely caring about their team's personal and professional well-being. (27:35)
Affirmation and Apology
- Recognizing and affirming team members' contributions is a powerful motivator. (28:03)
- Leaders should admit mistakes and seek forgiveness, modeling accountability and grace. (28:27)
Learning from Hard Lessons
- Personal reflections on being fired twice and the lessons of humility, surrender, and realigning priorities with God's will. (29:58)
- The journey from career success to personal growth through adversity, ultimately leading to a stronger spiritual and leadership foundation. (31:47)
Spiritual Practices for Christian Leaders:
- Consistent Scripture Reading and Prayer: Rich emphasized the importance of daily engagement with Scripture and prayer, noting how it shapes Christian leaders spiritually. (37:50)
- Christian Literature: Reading Christian books, especially works by theologians like N.T. Wright, has deepened Rich’s faith. (38:00)
- Faith-Based Community Involvement: For 50 years, Rich and his wife have been part of a couples’ Bible study, reinforcing the significance of shared Christian life and relationships for spiritual growth. (38:22)
- Church Involvement and Global Christian Connections: Rich highlighted the rich faith experiences he gained through his Christian community at World Vision, interacting with believers from diverse backgrounds. (39:08)
Advice to Younger Self:
- Prioritize Quiet Time with God: Rich shared that he would advise his younger self to be more deliberate in scheduling time with God, treating it as a key meeting on the calendar, ensuring consistency and depth. (39:37)
Challenges for Future Christian Leadership:
- Impact of Politics and Culture Wars on Churches: Rich expressed concern over how divisive issues, such as politics and the pandemic, have damaged the unity and public witness of the church. (41:23)
- Upholding Biblical Truth: Christian leaders must continually emphasize core biblical truths, like the value of all people as made in God’s image, and refocus on the mission of loving neighbors and sharing the Gospel. (42:39)
Advice for Leaders in Secular Workplaces:
- Be Faithful in Secular Environments: Christian leaders in secular workplaces should bring their faith into the workplace in appropriate ways, aiming to be salt and light, while avoiding the trap of success-driven culture. (44:58)
- Lead with Care and Integrity: Rich encouraged leaders to prioritize people over profits and to become the kind of boss they would want to work for, fostering trust, care, and integrity. (45:59)
Final Thought:
- People Over Profits: Rich reminded leaders that God’s primary concern is for people, not products or profits. By prioritizing the well-being of those they lead, leaders will often see success follow naturally. (48:25)
Read the Transcript
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