John Stanko

"Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests" - Proverbs 14:4.

An ox is a big animal capable of working hard and moving heavy objects. While a valuable asset to have, the ox creates its own problems because it has to be fed and then creates a lot of manure. This verse is not about care for oxen, however, but rather teaches that leadership is sometimes a messy process. Leaders can't always play it safe, keeping their world simple and their manger clean from all mess. At times, they must work with people and processes that, while complex or creating certain problems, bring tremendous opportunities for growth and innovation. And fear of risk or change can keep a company and its people stuck in a rut that can lead to serious problems down the road.

LEADERSHIP STEP: How prone are you to risk? Do you realize that deciding to do nothing, thus keeping your manger clean, is actually a decision that has serious implications? Your Step today is to ponder whether your aversion to risk is costing your organization future opportunities and growth. You can do this by listening to others who are less fearful of risk and carefully considering what they say, not just focusing on what can go wrong, but also what can go right.