(Photo Credit: Pixabay)
I am a nut about coin change. A lot of people hate change but I love it and want more of it.
When the item costs $3.01 I’ll give the cashier $4. Then the question, “Sir, do you have one cent?” My response, “Nah, I want the ninety nine cents change.” At that point the cashier looks at me funny and gives me the “you’re weird look.” But that’s ok.
All I want to do is pocket those coins and put them in a ginormous coin bank I have at home. It’s an ancient plastic bottle with the picture of once feared Goldberg on it.
The guy’s lovely screaming face pasted in front of it hide the coins from view but there are a lot of them in there. And I’m carrying the whole thing to the bank. Needless to say I will get stares at the place but I don’t care. Before the days of debit cards one load of coins translated into over four hundred dollars.
I realize that not a lot of people use cash anymore, but if you do try this for several months (even a couple of years). It’s a fun way to save a little even if you haven’t been too disciplined at saving money. Plus, you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
You may be wondering, “What does any of this have to do with a leadership principle that will empower me and add value to my people?” Everything!
Through the years I’ve taught my wife, kids, and church leaders the principle of ‘Change In Your Pocket.’ I heard it first at a conference years ago.
Whether you’re a pastor, leader in an organization or you find yourself in the middle of a pack of employees, this principle will empower you and raise you up as a leader.
The idea is simple. Just imagine every time you make a good decision at work or do something positive or of value to others it’s like them giving you change that you put in your pocket. Remember, no actual money is changing hands, it’s all in your mind.
Whenever you genuinely love someone or say a word of encouragement or help someone in need or go out of your way for another just because you care, that person will respond by giving you change for your pocket. Hugs, thank you’s, smiles translate into change in your pocket.
At the end of the day, you want to have a big load of change in your pocket!
On the other hand, whenever you do something selfish or make a poor decision that results in some kind of loss or you say words that hurt others, the result is people asking for some of the change they gave you earlier, back.
Your goal is to always have change in your pocket even after you’ve had to give some back. The moment you lose all your change you’re done. Losing change is like losing credibility, trust, and respect.
I was forced to ask for someone’s resignation once because he kept making poor decisions. The first few times it happened it was all forgiven and training followed because the employee had prior change in his pocket (he had made some good choices in the past). But repeated offenses demanded change from his pocket again and again and eventually he ran out of change.
You never want to run out of change in your pocket!
Let me summarize, you get change in your pocket when you go all out for those around you. When you bless and care for others as the Lord would it raises your leadership in their eyes.
Great leaders have a pocket full of change!
Can you share another leadership principle? Please leave me a comment. And if you want to automatically receive my posts in your email please subscribe the blog. Thanks!
Leadership, like life, is largely a matter of paying attention. This is something that has taken me several years to learn. In a bible class forum, obviously you want to stay on track with your lesson, but I’ve found that certain points in the study can lead to comments, discussion, and most importantly (in my opinion) sharing. As people share things that are going on in their lives, the bond of fellowship grows stronger, and when people see that you want to listen to them and care about them, you gain their respect and trust.
Jorge, I have seen this occur time and time again with you and someone from our congregation. I think you must have a boatload of change!
“They do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”