Last week we talked about a leader’s responsibility to CARE for people, not just the people he or she knows or likes, but all those for whom he or she is responsible.  The acronym CARE is taken from a great book, YOU THE WARRIOR LEADER, by Pastor Bobby Welch. [i]  Pastor Welch was not only a great church leader, but he was a paratrooper, Army Ranger, jungle expert, and Green Beret. Pastor Welch had a broad range of leadership experience in the military and in running a very large church where nearly everyone was a volunteer and where he had limited authority; he actually had to exercise leadership.

Pastor Welch’s book had a great influence on how I thought about CARE of those for whom I had a responsibility.  Because people are complex, this concept, while simple, can also be complex.  Remember what Carl Von Clausewitz said, in his book ON WAR, everything in war is simple, but even the simplest things are very complex.  So it is with CARE, a simple concept but with many facets.  Let’s unpack this a little; it might just help you the Warrior Leader.

The “C” in CARE is for “Concern.”  The leader must really have concern for those people for which he or she is responsible.  You the leader must have concern for the whole person which includes health, professional development, future aspirations, family and spiritual condition.  It means taking on their cares, fears, failures, aspirations, and hopes and returning those issues to the people so they have the encouragement and tools to accomplish the mission and live their lives with the full expectation that they can achieve success and receive the full blessings of God for their work that has intrinsic value to the Lord.

The “A” is for “Action.”  You can’t just talk about it, you must put your concern into action every day when dealing with people.  This means recognizing special dates in people’s lives, thanking people personally and publicly, helping them prioritize their work through the articulation of clear organizational objectives, exercising fair and consistent discipline, and being next to people when tragedy strikes their lives.

The “R” is for “Respect.”  There is nothing that can destroy an organization faster than showing disrespect toward a person or group of people because of their gender, ethnicity, religion, or race.  Today we see great divides in organizations and our nation.  But the solution, at least in part, is to simply respect people.  Many years ago, I was on a cruise aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, Barque Eagle. The purpose of the cruise was to train first-year Coast Guard Academy “Swabs.”  Besides teaching teamwork and leadership through the operation of this large sailing ship, the thing that impressed me most was the essence of respect the Skipper and upper classmen instilled among the new cadets.

Pastor Welch’s “E” is for “Enrichment.”  In the great organizations, CEOs and Commanders make it a point to invest in their people, to enrich their lives, both professionally and for their families.  People have a desire to improve themselves so they may attain to a brighter future.  Leaders should want to invest in their people, both because of love for the people whom they are serving, but also because those investments will improve the people and the organization.  When I was the new Executive Director of Officers’ Christian Fellowship, the Home Office was operating with a completely broken computer system—DOS for you really old timers.  It was impossible for people to effectively accomplish the work without expending excessive amounts of time with this old unconnected bunch of computers.  After we purchased new equipment and sent everyone to computer school to learn the latest Microsoft Systems Software, the morale of the organization improved ten-fold.  People knew we cared for their time and talents.  It was an investment in people.

There is also one who enriches my life daily.  I find Him, the ONE, every day in THE BOOK.  If you haven’t tried it, look there yourself.  It is easy, just try the App, Bible Gateway which is one of many.  Those Words in THE BOOK are where I see Jesus each morning.  Try it, you can find him there as well.

Get the complete story in my book GROWING AND BUILDING at Growingandbuilding.com.  If you wish to exercise leadership, this is a read you must have.

[i] Welch, Bobby, Pastor, YOU THE WARRIOR LEADER, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN 2004, pg. 119

[1] Welch, Bobby, Pastor, YOU THE WARRIOR LEADER, Broadman & Holman Publishers, Nashville, TN 2004, pg. 119