Lead Like It Matters to God: Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World

Richard Stearns became president of World Vision US in 1998 after spending the first half of his career as a successful executive at corporate giants such as Gillette, Parker Brothers, The Franklin Mint, and Lenox Inc. At World Vision, he inspired a culture of outcome-focused management. His leadership in calling the American church to respond to some of the greatest crises of our time--notably the HIV and AIDS pandemic and the global refugee crisis--challenged other Christian leaders to embrace a bold vision for compassion, mercy, and justice in their work. During his twenty years at World Vision, Stearns discovered what brought him the most joy and purpose in his career was not the business successes or professional accolades but the opportunity to help others flourish and to participate in a cause that was bigger than himself. In Lead Like It Matters to God, Richard Stearns shares the principles he learned over the course of a remarkable career leading some of the largest organizations in both business and ministry. Through honest and captivating stories of his life journey, he demonstrates why the values Christian leaders embrace in their places of work are more important than the success they achieve. With wisdom and humor, Stearns distills his leadership insights into seventeen crucial values that can transform leaders and their organizations. According to Stearns, when leaders demonstrate ideals like integrity, courage, forgiveness, humility, surrender, generosity, perseverance, love, excellence, and encouragement, they not only improve their witness for Christ, they shape institutions, influence culture, and create healthy workplaces where people can flourish and improve the performance of their teams. Lead Like It Matters to God is about reclaiming the transformative values that will equip godly leaders to be effective at any level. Each chapter draws from biblical teaching and is illustrated with anecdotes and experiences from his four decades of leadership. This book will inspire a new generation of Christian leaders to boldly take their values into their workplaces to tangibly demonstrate the character of Christ, the love of Christ, and the truth of Christ as they live out their faith in full view of others.