People or Progress

A ReLeader Decision

Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

“Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get.” - George Bernard Shaw

Progress

"Progress" is a chameleon of a word, ever-changing based on who's defining it. For some, it's financial growth, climbing the corporate ladder, or achieving monetary freedom. Others find it in deepening relationships, fostering emotional bonds that are both meaningful and lasting. There are those who seek it in the spiritual realm, aiming for enlightenment or a closer relationship with a higher power. Still, others might define it through educational milestones, physical wellness, or social impact. The idea of progress varies so widely because it taps into our individual goals, aspirations, and life circumstances. It's a term so subjective that it becomes a mirror, reflecting what we value most at any given moment. So when we talk about making progress, we're really discussing a deeply personal pursuit tailored to each individual's vision for a better life.

When it comes to what you’re ReLeading, how you define progress matters.

What You Believe Matters

Why does it matter how you define progress? Well, it's simple—your beliefs set the stage for everything else. Your belief about what 'progress' means is like setting the compass for your leadership journey. Get this—this isn't just any compass; it's the compass that directs your thoughts, decisions, and ultimately, your actions. These actions then determine whether you hit the mark or miss it.

Now, here's the kicker. If you don't calibrate that compass correctly, you might find yourself hustling day and night for something you call 'progress,' only to realize you're not where you wanted to be.

In leadership, you've got two choices: you can either make progress your god and run over people to get there, or you can put people first and let progress follow.

So, the choice is yours, but if you ask me, putting people over progress isn't just humane, it's smart leadership.

Oh by the way, the data backs me up on this; a meta-analysis of leadership styles found that transformational leaders—those who prioritize people over progress—have more effective outcomes in the long run (Wang et al., 2011).

Let’s take a quick look at each option.

When We Prioritize Progress Over People...

When you put progress before people, you risk eroding the very essence of your organization. Employees start feeling like mere entries on a spreadsheet, leading to a decline in morale and an uptick in burnout rates. It brings to mind the cautionary wisdom of Dale Carnegie who said, "People work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise, and rewards." Ignoring this can create a culture of cutthroat competition, quashing the spirit of collaboration and innovation. Your workplace can turn into what feels like a pressure cooker, compromising the emotional and mental well-being of your team.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:7, advises, "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people." When leaders prioritize metrics over the welfare of their team, they stray far from this counsel. Ultimately, the organizational culture and bottom line both suffer. Peter Drucker’s famous saying, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast," rings loud and clear; without a strong, people-centered culture, any strategy for progress is doomed to falter.

When We Prioritize People Over Progress...

Conversely, when people come first, the organization experiences what can almost be described as a renaissance. As Simon Sinek articulated, "Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first." Your workplace becomes a haven for creativity and innovation, fueled by employees who feel genuinely valued and engaged. I think Jesus put it best when He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). When a leader makes an effort to understand and meet the needs of their team, they're not just enhancing productivity; they're also creating a work environment where people are engaged and satisfied, rather than feeling like replaceable parts in a machine.

People that know they are the priority over progress, produce progress. Teams that know they are valuable, produce value.

They collaborate, share knowledge, and find joy in their collective achievements. Trust is built not just between leadership and staff, but intrinsically among team members, reinforcing a virtuous cycle of respect and productivity. The Bible echoes this in Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

When people are the priority, progress becomes the natural outcome, rather than the forced objective. Your bottom line sees real, sustainable growth not because you aimed for it directly but because you invested in your most significant asset: your people.

Prioritizing people over progress isn't just a savvy leadership style; it's a complete mindset shift. The transformation has profound implications not only for the well-being of your team but for the overall success of your organization. Make that shift, and you lay a foundation for genuine, sustainable progress—a principle affirmed in both ancient wisdom and modern leadership thought. As the scripture says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." When your priorities are in the right place, everything else falls into line.

When a leader makes an effort to understand and meet the needs of their team, they're not just enhancing productivity; they're also creating a work environment where people are engaged and satisfied, rather than feeling like replaceable parts in a machine.

Go Fix Broke Stuff. In some cases, we fix our own mindsets.