What’s the value proposition for Proverbs for Professionals? Well, I’m sharing what I saw work in my own professional career, that’s what!
Unique Wisdom?
Proverbs certainly isn’t all that was written about wisdom, given the amount of wisdom literature that exists.
Why? Because Proverbs dates from about 3,000 years ago. Thus, it’s certainly well along in the timeline of history.
More specifically, why isn’t Proverbs unique?
Wisdom Content
First, the wisdom content in Proverbs isn’t unique because in scripture others are called “wise.”
For example, see the list of Solomon’s contemporaries in First Kings 4.30-31. Also, see Genesis 41.8, Exodus 28.3, and Exodus 31.6. As such, those verses show similar life outcomes among those who preceded Solomon.
Wisdom Process
Second, there were others in scripture described as wise and discerning. So, they figured out the wisdom process before Solomon recorded it!
For instance, Joseph in Genesis 41.33 and 41.39. But, he lived 700 years prior to Solomon! Thus, the wisdom process is outlined by Solomon. However, it isn’t unique to Solomon because it’s universal.
Constructs
Third, are the mental models that form the underlying constructs for the parables. Now, those mental models are universal.
For example, getting wise counsel to expand my circle of competence wasn’t new to Proverbs. Neither was the sow-reap mental model Solomon used so frequently.
Eternal Precepts
Fourth, Proverbs itself admits that the precepts are eternal since they were part of the creation process. See Proverbs 3.19 and Proverbs 8.22. So, again, not unique!
Value Proposition for Proverbs
Well, the process, content, and underlying constructs are universal and eternal. So, where’s the value added for Proverbs?
Quite simply, it’s the emphasis placed on reverence.
Actually, there are multiple references that tell us to show reverence to Yahweh.
Some of those references are: Proverbs 1.7, 2.5, 9.10, and 15.33. There are at least 18 such references to reverence by my count.
Hence, reverence for Yahweh is what uniquely differentiates Proverbs.
Moreover, it’s impossible, I believe, to split the wisdom content from the spiritual imperative that’s foundational for all knowledge.
Value Proposition for this Blog
Obviously, there are lots of other leadership blogs. And, there are others who link leadership with the precepts found in Proverbs.
So, what’s the value added for Proverbs for Professionals?
What’s unique, I think, is the combination of a 50+ year collection of professional experiences, plus a similar amount of time spent as a Bible teacher.
So, I believe that combination of time-in-rank in those two key areas enable me to form leadership insights that are both practical and of spiritual value.
Additionally, I know this combination works because I saw the impact of a precept-driven life in my own professional growth. As such, these truths benefited my career development.
More importantly, the precepts found in Proverbs can do the same for you as an early-to-mid career professional!
About this Blog
Let’s address some of the basics regarding the blog https://proverbsforprofessionals.net.
What is It?
Proverbs for Professionals shares precept-driven growth principles from the book of Proverbs.
Now, precept-driven growth involves absorbing the parables, thus the timeless precepts. Then, we apply those precepts in a very practical way into our personal and professional lives. Hence the tagline, practical applications of timeless precepts.
For me personally, precept-driven leadership was one outcome of precept-based growth.
For Whom?
The target audience for this blog is growth-minded professionals.
Some of you may already have supervisory duties, as well as profit and loss responsibilities. But many readers are young to mid-career, often college educated.
That said, we all aspire to increase our leadership and interpersonal impact.
What Problems?
Next, what problems does this blog address?
Actually, these posts will be of interest to you if struggle with either or both of the following common challenges:
Challenge #1: You need tools. Thus, you have a limited tool set of techniques for addressing interpersonal issues. Or, you want a broader set of problem-solving skills. Also, you need mental models for categorizing and handling situations.
Challenge #2: You want to learn how to use problem-solving tools and leadership techniques in ways that are, timely, practical, and effective.
Therefore, you need to build experiential insights about how to:
1). Use the correct tool.
2). At the right time.
3). In the appropriate way.
In short, precept-driven growth balances knowing and doing. Hence:
What do you know? And,
What can you do with what you know?
By adding reasoning techniques, you build your capacity to be wise hearted.
Then, by adding experiential insights, you expand your capability, thus become more wise behaving.
Says Who?
Ok, so how do I know precept-driven growth will work?
Well, one obvious answer is the precepts are time-tested. In fact, they’ve been around for over 3,000 years! So, their track record is well established. From scripture, proponents of precept-driven growth include Moses, Joseph, David, Solomon, and Daniel.
So, the practice puts you in good company!
Professional Development on Campus
More directly, I’ve seen the value of this form of professional development in my own life, as well as in the lives of college students during my thirty years in higher education.
Professionally, as a business school dean and associate dean, I witnessed the impact of making career readiness a key component of each students’ time on campus. Hence, students were pushed to build communication and interpersonal skills, plus grow their professionalism.
Techniques for that out-of-classroom growth included: practice interviews, mentoring, resume reviews, leadership development programs, an elevator pitch competition, and field-based experiences such as internships and consulting projects.
The Outcomes
The outcome was graduates who were prepared to begin their careers with both discipline-based knowledge as well as a toolbox of professional skills to draw from.
The response from employers was extremely positive. How so? They came to campus, hired our students, and supported our programs with their donations.
Thus, intentional growth carries a high return on investment for both students and for the university programs that delivered those skills.
My Own Story
Personally, I saw the effectiveness of precept-based growth in my professional life.
As it turned out, my career had a very long runway. I was employed mostly full-time while I was an undergraduate. After getting a bachelors and MBA, I worked hard in a series of jobs. Plus, I was persistent and energetic.
However, I experienced limited success in a series of false starts during a twelve-plus year time period.
Why? Because I needed to grow both personally and professionally.
Unfortunately, I didn’t recognize that need. Although I took advantage of corporate training opportunities, they were primarily discipline based.
Thus, that training didn’t get to the root problems of my underlying capabilities, a lack of self and social awareness, or an unrealistic self-image.
Incentive to Change!
Then, after a corporate layoff, I stepped back and took stock of where and who I was. Also, I consulted with several mentors regarding career alternatives.
Most importantly, my wife and I spent time in prayer and conversations about where to go next. We agreed that working multiple, part-time jobs seven days a week wasn’t sustainable!
The solution was three years in graduate school, a Ph.D., and a career change into higher education.
As a first step toward self-awareness, I took the Myers-Briggs as a Ph.D. student. And, no surprise, at the time I was an ISTJ — introverted, factual, and analytical. Or, as my daughters tell me frequently, I’m both OCD and a giant nerd!
For me, academics was rewarding and fulfilling. The first half of my thirty-year academic career was as a faculty member.
Eventually, I envisioned myself as an administrator, hence taking on a leadership role.
Move into Administration
With academic administration as a goal, I began a multi-year process of personal and professional growth.
I used a variety of personal development and annual planning resources to reach that goal. Eventually, that growth enabled me to become a business school associate dean, then a dean.
Furthermore, the steepest trajectory for that professional and personal growth was during the years when I intentionally made precept-driven growth a priority. In fact, it has occupied the first hour or more of each day for several years.
Unsurprisingly, proverbsforprofessionals.net is an outcome of that learning. Also, it’s a full-time project now that I’ve repurposed my life focus from academic administration to blogging.
The Payoff
In short, I know precept-driven growth works because I’ve experienced it in a professional setting. Moreover, I’m doing it right now, and living it now, as I give back what I’m learning by way of this blog.
So, you’re invited to join me as together we learn about precept-driven growth.
Also, please follow me on LinkedIn to read additional, short-form posts about these leadership precepts.
