Business By the Book Bible Study: The 7 Attributes of Excellent Management Series

The Why – An Introduction to this Series:

I am not a theologian, Bible scholar, or a professional minister. In fact, I am just an engineer and business consultant. But that is exactly what makes this journey interesting. The desire to put this material together began shortly after I finished my master’s in engineering back in the ’80s. It was then I felt a nudge—or more like a divine push—to write a series of books called “Business by the Book.”

But before I dive into that, let me set the stage.

I accepted Christ at an early age—around five years old, actually—while watching a televangelist on TV. After praying the sinner’s prayer, the preacher said something that stuck: “Go tell someone.” So, like any eager five-year-old, I bolted into the kitchen and proudly announced to my parents that I had just accepted Christ as my Savior. They smiled, patted me on the head, and promptly sent me back to cartoons. That was it—no deep theological conversation, no profound moment of spiritual awakening, just me and my Sunday morning routine.

For the next 20 years or so, I went on calling myself a Christian, and I even felt the Holy Spirit guiding me at times, but I was not really growing in my faith. As a child I only went to church when I asked my parents to drop me off. They would pick me up after the service, and I would go on with my week, missing the biblical wisdom and teachings that help us make sound life decisions. When I could drive, I sometimes went to church as I felt like it.

It was not until I had graduated with my master’s that I thought about reading the Bible. After all I did not have to study for tests anymore. And by reading, I mean “really” reading. I listened to the Bible on tape, went through it at least three times, and that’s when it hit me—just how off track my life had become and how ingrained in US Culture the Bible is, in the names of towns, the constitution, the laws, and customs. Without a foundation in biblical guidance, I had made my share of bad decisions. But now, with a clearer understanding of God’s Word, I repented and began walking in a new direction, determined to align my life with God’s plan.

And that is when I felt God calling me to: “Use what you have learned. Filter everything through His Word and share it with others.” That is when the idea for "Business by the Book" came to me. Funny thing is, this was ”before” all the other books by that title came along.

Like before, when I was a kid running to tell my parents, I rushed to share my new revelation with my new pastor. It was during my baptism when I excitedly told him, “I feel like I should write Business by the Book, where we filter everything through the Bible!” He smiled, patted me on the head, and said, “We don’t need any more books.”

As a new, "born again" Christian, that response threw me. I did not know how to process it, so I put the idea on the back burner. For years, I focused on fitting in, learning more, and doing what was expected of me.

But here is the thing about God’s “calling”—it does not go away. After years of wrestling with it, and watching all the ideas being fulfilled through others, I finally stopped ignoring that pull on my heart and decided to share what I have learned. And that is how this series and books came to be. This is my effort to make sense of the merging of practical lessons from consulting for over one hundred different organizations, teaching for 6 Universities, and serving as an industrial and systems engineer - with the timeless truths of the Bible. It is about filtering everything—yes, even performance measures, process improvement, and leadership principles—through the lens of Scripture and using it to reach others.

So, here we are at the beginning of what I hope will be a meaningful journey. My prayer is that as we walk through this together, it will resonate with you, helping us navigate both our lives and work in new profound ways. We are not just talking about business as usual. We are exploring how faith and business can be woven together—how God’s principles can guide our decisions and actions to create something far greater than we could achieve on our own.

In this “Business by the Book Bible Study,” we will dive into assorted topics drawn from business models and systems that I have developed over years of teaching, consulting, and—most importantly—listening to both people and God’s gentle nudges. The first series we will cover focuses on mastering change through what I call the “Engine of Change.” This foundation, known as the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management, forms the core of what we will explore first.

The goal is for each of these attributes - connect them directly to Biblical teachings and principles, offering a powerful way to understand leadership and management from God’s perspective. The structure you will see in the coming studies is designed to weave these attributes into our Biblical explorations, creating a living, evolving conversation. This journey will embrace Enterprise Agility, adapting and growing as we engage together in group discussions, prayer, and reflection. The outline we will follow is just the beginning, but as we move forward, it will transform based on the group's participation and the insights that God reveals to each of us along the way.

The First Series - The Seven Attributes of Excellent Management

We will start with The Seven Attributes of Excellent Management with the “The Engine of Change,” that I designed to guide organizations through the Change Management Process. This series is one of nine different models that collectively explain how to navigate change and lead organizations to long-term success.

Picture these attributes as elements of a mobile, where each part depends on the others to maintain balance. Remove any one attribute, and the entire structure collapses. Equally important is the order in which these attributes are applied—starting with the first step, building Excellent Leaders. Symbolically, leadership is the hand that holds the mobile and moves it from one location to another. It is gripping the cable of Excellent Culture. Without strong leadership to drive culture, the rest of the organization will struggle to thrive or maybe even hit the ground and break apart.

Culture acts as the cable that connects everything and is tied directly to the bar of Customer Focus. The principle is simple: If what we do, does not focus on the customer, why do it at all? Every decision, every action should align with customer needs. Customer focus becomes the bar from which all the other attributes hang.

On one side of the mobile is Excellent People Skills, a heavy yet critical attribute that balances the remaining components: Building Excellent Core Competencies, Excellent Continuous Improvement of Processes and Systems, and Excellent Performance Measures. These elements work together to ensure that the organization remains competitive, adaptable, and continuously improving.

Where most organizations go wrong is in starting at the wrong place. Too often, businesses leap to performance measures or systems without first building strong leaders or creating a customer-focused culture. This series will guide us through each step, filtering the concepts through the Bible in a process of understanding God’s will as we apply the attributes as a framework of applying God’s word to our work lives.

The "Draft" Outline We Will Follow:

Sessions 1: Building Excellent Leaders

Opening Prayer:

Scriptural Examples:

1. Mark 10:45 – "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. Philippians 2:3-4 – "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."
3. Proverbs 16:12  – "It is an abomination for kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness."
4. Matthew 20:26 – "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant."

Theme: True leadership is not about power but service. Jesus modeled this by putting others first, and leaders today are called to follow His example by serving their teams with humility and integrity. Righteousness and humility establish long-lasting leadership rooted in the Bible's wisdom.

Group Discussion:

1. How can leaders today model servant leadership in their organizations?
2. Share examples of leaders who demonstrated humility and service.
3. Discuss ways to foster a leadership culture grounded in righteousness and humility.

Other Supporting Books:

1. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell
2. The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
3. Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
4. Leading with Integrity by Pat Williams
5. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for the heart of a servant leader. Ask God to grant humility, wisdom, and a genuine desire to serve others. Pray for the ability to lead with righteousness, making decisions that honor God.

Activity: Write down three ways you can serve those under your leadership this week. Focus on small acts of kindness, support, or guidance. Share your plan with the group and discuss how service can positively impact team dynamics.

Sessions 2: Building an Excellent Culture

Opening Prayer:

Scripture Examples:

1. Romans 12:2 – "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
2. Colossians 3:23-24 – "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord."
3. Proverbs 14:34 – "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people."

Theme: Creating a culture of excellence starts with a godly foundation. A righteous, ethical culture where everyone works as if for the Lord leads to lasting success and fulfillment. By being set apart from the world, an organization can thrive in ways that reflect God's glory.

Group Discussion:

1. What are the core values that shape your workplace culture?
2. How does a God-centered culture differ from secular workplace cultures?
3. Share practical ways to establish a culture of righteousness and integrity.

Supporting Books:

1. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
2. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
3. Built to Last by Jim Collins
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for a culture in your workplace that reflects the values of God’s Kingdom—integrity, humility, and diligence. Ask for strength and wisdom to cultivate an atmosphere where people feel valued and work wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.

Activity: Identify one area of your workplace culture that can be improved. Plan a team activity or a set of discussions around this area to promote ethical behavior and mutual respect. Make a commitment to lead by example in these areas.

Sessions 3: Excellence in Customer Focus

Opening Prayer

Scripture Examples:

1. Matthew 7:12 – "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you."
2. Philippians 2:4 – "Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
3. Proverbs 22:1 – "A good name is more desirable than great riches."
4. Galatians 6:9 – "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Theme: Customer service grounded in biblical principles requires treating customers with empathy and respect, going beyond personal interests to meet their needs. Long-term success in business comes from consistently doing good, even when it is hard.

Group Discussion:

1. How can the Golden Rule be applied to customer service?
2. What challenges do you face in consistently providing excellent customer care? How can you overcome them with perseverance?
3. Share examples of businesses known for excellent customer focus. What sets them apart?

Supporting Books:

1. Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard
2. The Customer Rules by Lee Cockerell
3. Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for patience and perseverance in serving customers well, even when it is difficult. Ask for a heart that genuinely seeks to meet the needs of others and for wisdom in dealing with challenging customer interactions.

Activity: Choose a challenging customer scenario you have faced. Role-play with the group how you might respond using biblical principles like the Golden Rule and empathy. Reflect on how these principles could improve interaction.

Sessions 4: Building Excellent People Skills

Opening Prayer:

Scripture Examples:

1. Ephesians 4:29 – "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up."
2. Proverbs 15:1 – "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
3. James 1:19 – "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry."
4. Proverbs 18:13 – "To answer before listening—that is folly and shame."

Theme: Effective communication is key to leadership and relationship-building. The Bible emphasizes speaking to build others up, listening attentively, and responding gently. Excellent people skills are rooted in these principles of wisdom and patience.

Group Discussion:

1. How can we practice more active listening in the workplace?
2. Discuss a time when a gentle answer resolved conflict. What did you learn?
3. How can your words build others up in a business context?

Supporting Books:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
2. Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson
3. Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Ask for patience and wisdom in your interactions with others. Pray for the ability to listen more effectively and respond gently, fostering peace and understanding in your workplace relationships.

Activity: Practice active listening by pairing up with someone in the group. Each person shares a recent workplace challenge, while the other listens without interruption. Afterward, discuss how listening more attentively can enhance workplace relationships.

Sessions 5: Building Excellent Core Competencies

Opening Prayer:

Scripture Examples:

1. 1 Peter 4:10  – "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others."
2. Colossians 3:17  – "Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord."
3. Proverbs 22:29 – "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings."

Theme: God has equipped everyone with unique talents and abilities. Excellence comes from continually developing these gifts and using them to serve others. Core competencies rooted in skill and diligence bring recognition and open doors of opportunity.

Group Discussion:

1. What are the core competencies required in your field of work?
2. How can you use your God-given talents to serve others better in your workplace?
3. Share a story of someone whose diligence and skill brought them success.

Supporting Books:

1. StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath
2. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
3. The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for the discernment to identify and grow your God-given gifts. Ask for the strength and diligence to use your talents to serve others and glorify God in all you do.

Activity: Create a personal development plan outlining how you will improve one of your core competencies. Set specific goals for growth and accountability. Share your plan with the group for encouragement and feedback.

Sessions 6: Continuous Improvement of Processes and Systems

Opening Prayer:

Scripture Examples:

1. Proverbs 4:7 – "The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."
2. Ecclesiastes 9:10 – "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."
3. Proverbs 1:5 – "Let the wise listen and add to their learning."

Theme: Continuous improvement is about seeking wisdom and growth. The Bible encourages diligence, wisdom, and always learning. In the workplace, processes and systems should constantly be evaluated for efficiency and effectiveness, aligning with God’s command to work with excellence.

Group Discussion:

1. How can continuous improvement be fostered in your organization?
2. Share examples of systems or processes that were improved to increase effectiveness.
3. How does the Bible's call to wisdom apply to improving business operations?

Supporting Books:

1. The Toyota Way by Jeffrey K. Liker
2. Lean Thinking by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones
3. The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Ask God for wisdom and insight to identify areas for improvement in your work processes. Pray for the courage to embrace change and the guidance to implement improvements that benefit both your organization and its people.

Activity: As a group, identify one process in your workplace that could be improved. Brainstorm ways to make it more efficient or effective, then commit to implementing at least one idea from the discussion.

Sessions 7: The Seven Steps to Performance Measurements

Scripture Examples:

1. James 1:22 – "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
2. Proverbs 24:27 – "Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house."

Theme: The last step is to use performance measures to make improvements or verify that your organization is meeting its goals. The Bible emphasizes the importance of acting, and performance measurement is only valuable if it leads to tangible improvements or confirms success.

Group Discussion:

1. How does your organization use performance data to make improvements?
2. Share examples of how data-driven decisions have led to positive changes.

Supporting Books:

1. The Data Warehouse Toolkit by Ralph Kimball
2. What You Measure is What You Get by Jack J. Phillips
3. Geronimo Stone by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for the courage and clarity to act on the data you have gathered and analyzed. Ask God to guide you in making improvements and ensuring that your performance aligns with your goals.

Activity: As a group, identify one area where performance measures can be used to improve operations. Develop a plan to implement these improvements and track their impact over time.

Where we will Kick Off Our Possible Next Series – The Three Phases of Change Management - Planning

Opening Prayer:

Scripture:

1. Isaiah 43:19 – "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"
2. Romans 12:2 – "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
3. Proverbs 3:5-6 – "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Theme: God is the ultimate innovator, continually doing new things in our lives. Innovation and change management in business require faith, wisdom, and a willingness to adapt. Trusting God in times of change is essential for leaders and teams alike.

Group Discussion:

1. How do you manage change in your workplace? Is it viewed positively or negatively?
2. Share examples of innovation in your field that have transformed how business is done.
3. Discuss the importance of trusting God in the face of uncertainty.

Supporting Books:

1. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
2. Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
3. Drive by Daniel H. Pink
4. Geronimo Stone and the Seven Attributes of Excellent Management (Workbooks) by Craig A. Stevens

Prayer Focus: Pray for wisdom and courage in times of change. Ask God to help you embrace innovation and to guide you through transitions in your work and life.

Activity: Identify a recent or upcoming change in your workplace. As a group, discuss how you can manage this change with faith and wisdom. Develop a plan for implementing change while maintaining a positive and trusting mindset.