Business and Stewardship

By Richard Todd

CS Lewis said, “If God is satisfied with the work, the work may be satisfied with itself.” Work is a form of participating in God’s creation. Similarly, a business, profit or nonprofit, is more than a way to make a living: it is a way of serving people.   

An organization’s culture is simply defined as the shared values and practices that align them. In other words, it is the glue that holds an organization together. The more successful the company, the more its leaders tend to care about its culture. Perhaps less successful organizations do not have the priority or the longevity to define their culture, but they certainly have one and it is likely negative.

Christian business leaders should consider a culture of stewardship. Innovest’s mission defines our culture: “We are not just an investment firm. We are stewards to our clients, professionals, and the community.”  Pedro Arrupe, former Superior General of the Jesuits, popularized the phrase for those following a Christian path: “Men and women for others”. Stewardship is not only a concrete concept for all Christians, but a powerful culture for all businesses.

Why a Stewardship culture?

• 2+2=5

  • Employees who are men and women for others, are great teammates. They strive for the best outcome for clients and work together because they truly care about each other.

• Low employee turnover

  • Employees recognize the value that they add, the quality of friendships, and are proud to be at the firm.

• Demand to join the organization

  • The firm will become known as a great place to work that high-quality individuals ask for the opportunity to join.

• Individual character greatly improves

  • Monsignor James Shea of the University of Mary, an expert on business, and leadership speaks about, “Linking Sundays and Mondays”, or having character stay consistent throughout the week. Stewardship becomes a way of life and does not turn off and on. It becomes the basis of their character.

• Greater employee responsibility and accountability

  • It is easy to delegate when employees are eager to add value. Often business owners (like me) struggle with control, and when they finally relent, the stewardship culture takes over and creates a better organization!

Tips on Creating a Stewardship Culture

• Flatten Corporate Structure

  • It is hard for entrepreneurs to let go, and I know from experience. Consider forming committees and task forces to spread responsibilities and tackle issues. Employees thrive with responsibility and accountability.

• 360° Reviews

  • Teammates should formally review each other. The reviews should weigh heavily by their supervisors in overall performance evaluation and compensation, especially bonuses.

• Celebrate Small Successes

  • ‘We Love Mondays at Innovest’ is a weekly communication that I send to the entire firm. Only positive announcements are highlighted, with special recognition of great service to a client or a colleague. All employees, especially managers, should pass along exceptional actions. Awards and rewards are also given throughout the year for great “Service to Others.”

• Encourage Philanthropy

  • Consider forming a committee to determine service work on behalf of the firm and financial stipends to charities. Volunteering generates team building, comradery, and a great sense of accomplishment. In the last year, Innovest employees worked at homeless shelters, built trails, and painted houses.

• Character First

  • Make strong character the most important characteristic of a new hire. If your firm has low-character employees, replace them. The best source of high character candidates comes from your current employees, clients, and friends of the firm.

• Hire Only Stewards

  • When interviewing, look for a multitude of demonstrated examples of stewardship in their life. Arrogance and self-centeredness are the opposite of the virtue humility.

• It Starts at the Top

  • Leadership must be involved in philanthropy and the community. Getting involved in the Christian Community is easy. Innovest’s philanthropic mission is inner city education. Our greatest gift is employing four inner city Arrupe Jesuit students through a work study program.

• Build Community in Your Firm

  • To avoid any finger pointing between departments, comradery must be developed within the firm. Innovest sponsors a weekly lunch for its employees, but only if they attend the whole lunch hour. A round-robin personal update helps keep up with each other. Further, participants are not allowed to discuss work, or a minor fine is levied.  

• Family First

  • As an employer, you want your people to do whatever it takes to get the job done--for the client and your colleagues. We acknowledge family accomplishments. We especially encourage our employees to attend their children’s events, even if they occur during the work day.

Billy Graham said, “Since the beginning, work has been a part of God’s plan for humanity. He created it. That means you can view the act of working as a gift.” The gift of a stewardship culture creates a healthier organization, customers are better served, and society greatly improves.