Lead Like It Matters to God
Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World
Book Edition Details
Summary
In a world where leadership and faith intersect, Richard Stearns, a seasoned CEO, unveils a narrative of transformation that transcends the corporate and spiritual divide. Stearns, who once helmed Parker Brothers and Lenox, pivoted to lead World Vision US, infusing it with a spirit of compassion and strategic acumen that saw its influence multiply. "Lead Like It Matters to God" is more than a manual; it's a manifesto for Christian leaders ready to prioritize character over mere success. Stearns shares his journey and the 17 virtues that fueled it—integrity, humility, and courage among them—inviting readers to foster workplaces where grace and excellence thrive. As he challenges the faithful to integrate their values in everyday actions, Stearns offers a compelling vision: leadership that reflects the character of Christ, not just within church walls but throughout the world.
Introduction
In the gleaming boardrooms of corporate America and the bustling corridors of nonprofit organizations, Richard Stearns discovered a profound truth that would revolutionize his understanding of leadership. After climbing the ladder to become CEO of major companies like Parker Brothers and Lenox China, Stearns faced a career-defining moment when he was called to lead World Vision, one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations. This transition from selling luxury goods to serving the world's poorest children would test every assumption he held about success, purpose, and what it truly means to lead. Stearns' journey reveals a leader who learned to navigate the tension between worldly achievement and divine calling, between the pressures of performance and the principles of faith. His story unfolds against the backdrop of modern American business culture, where success is often measured in quarterly earnings and market share, yet his experiences would teach him that God's metrics for leadership look radically different. Through his candid reflections on both triumphs and failures, readers will discover how authentic leadership emerges not from pursuing success at any cost, but from embracing values that reflect the character of Christ. This exploration offers insights into the daily challenges of integrating faith with work, the courage required to stand for principles when they conflict with profit, and the profound satisfaction that comes from leading with eternal perspective rather than temporary gains.
From Corporate Success to Divine Calling
Stearns' early career trajectory seemed destined for conventional success. Growing up in a working-class family in Syracuse, New York, with a used-car salesman father who struggled with alcoholism, he understood that education would be his pathway out of economic uncertainty. His determination led him through Cornell University and the prestigious Wharton School, where he earned his MBA and began climbing the corporate ladder with remarkable speed. At Parker Brothers Games, Stearns found himself living the American dream, ascending from marketing assistant to president by age thirty-three. The company's culture of creativity and fun seemed perfect for a young executive eager to make his mark. He was instrumental in launching successful products and navigating the early days of video games, helping to double the company's size. The trajectory seemed unstoppable until an abrupt firing taught him his first hard lesson about the unpredictability of corporate life. The setback proved temporary but transformative. After a period of unemployment that deepened his faith, Stearns joined Lenox China, where he would spend eleven years eventually rising to CEO. Here he learned to appreciate the intersection of craftsmanship and commerce, leading a company whose products graced the tables of the White House and countless American homes. His success in turning around struggling divisions and building market share confirmed his reputation as a turnaround specialist. Yet beneath the surface of these achievements, Stearns was beginning to question whether climbing the corporate ladder was truly fulfilling his deeper purpose. The phone call that would change everything came when World Vision sought a new president. Despite having no experience with global poverty or nonprofit management, Stearns felt an unmistakable sense of divine calling. The decision to leave a lucrative CEO position for a role paying significantly less required him to redefine success entirely. This transition marked not just a career change but a fundamental reorientation of his life's mission, from pursuing profit to pursuing purpose, from building shareholder value to serving those whom the world had forgotten.
The Foundation of Faithful Leadership Values
Stearns discovered that effective Christian leadership rests on a completely different foundation than secular management theories typically propose. While business schools teach strategies focused on outcomes and results, he learned that God's approach to leadership prioritizes character over performance, faithfulness over success. This revelation came through years of experience in both corporate and ministry environments, where he observed how leaders driven by different motivations produced vastly different organizational cultures. The cornerstone of this values-based approach is surrender—the willingness to submit personal ambitions to God's larger purposes. Stearns learned this lesson painfully during periods of unemployment when his carefully constructed career plans crumbled. These wilderness experiences taught him that true leadership begins with acknowledging our dependence on God rather than our own abilities. He discovered that leaders who operate from this posture of humility create environments where others can flourish because the focus shifts from self-promotion to team development. Excellence emerged as another foundational value, but redefined from worldly standards. Rather than excellence for the sake of recognition or competitive advantage, Stearns learned to pursue excellence as an act of worship, recognizing that mediocrity dishonors the God we serve. This perspective transformed how he approached everything from product development to staff meetings, infusing ordinary business activities with sacred purpose. He observed that when leaders model this kind of excellence, it elevates the entire organization's performance while maintaining focus on eternal rather than temporal rewards. The integration of love into leadership practices proved particularly challenging in competitive business environments. Yet Stearns found that leaders who genuinely care for their people's wellbeing create loyalty and motivation that far exceed what fear-based management can achieve. This wasn't merely about being nice, but about recognizing the inherent dignity and potential in every team member. Such leaders ask not just "What can this person do for me?" but "How can I help this person flourish?" This fundamental shift in perspective transforms workplace dynamics and creates cultures where innovation and collaboration naturally emerge.
Leading Through Character in the Workplace
The daily application of faith-based leadership principles often requires navigating complex situations where Christian values conflict with standard business practices. Stearns learned that integrity, while universally praised in theory, becomes costly when it means losing deals, confronting unethical behavior, or making decisions that prioritize people over profits. His experiences taught him that character-based leadership isn't about perfection but about consistency—making principled choices even when they're difficult or unpopular. Humility presented particular challenges for leaders accustomed to command-and-control environments. Stearns discovered that admitting mistakes, seeking input from subordinates, and acknowledging limitations actually strengthened rather than weakened his leadership effectiveness. One memorable incident involving a plugged toilet on his first day as CEO of Lenox taught him that God often uses humorous circumstances to remind leaders they're no different from anyone else they serve. This willingness to be vulnerable created authentic connections with team members who were tired of leaders who pretended to have all the answers. The practice of forgiveness in professional settings proved revolutionary for organizational health. Stearns learned to apologize publicly when his decisions harmed others and to extend grace to employees who made costly mistakes. This approach created psychological safety that encouraged innovation and honest communication. Rather than fostering a culture of blame and fear, forgiveness-centered leadership built resilience and trust that enabled teams to recover quickly from setbacks and learn from failures without devastating consequences to individuals or relationships. Courage became essential when leading through controversy, particularly during World Vision's decision to address the AIDS pandemic despite significant donor resistance. Stearns discovered that values-driven leaders must sometimes choose between popularity and principle, recognizing that short-term criticism often accompanies long-term transformation. The courage to do what's right, even when it's unpopular, distinguishes leaders who leave lasting positive impact from those who simply maintain the status quo while avoiding conflict.
Taking God to Work: Ambassador Leadership
The concept of Christian professionals as ambassadors for Christ revolutionized Stearns' understanding of vocational calling. Rather than compartmentalizing faith and work into separate spheres, he learned to view his workplace as his primary mission field, where he was commissioned to represent God's character and values through daily interactions. This perspective transformed mundane business activities into opportunities for ministry, making every meeting, decision, and relationship a chance to demonstrate Christ's love. Ambassador leadership requires recognizing that success, while not inherently evil, should never become the primary goal. Stearns learned to hold achievements lightly, understanding that God's approval matters more than human accolades or financial rewards. This freedom from the tyranny of results-driven culture allowed him to make decisions based on principle rather than expedience, creating sustainable organizations built on trust rather than fear. The paradox he discovered was that leaders who stop chasing success often achieve more meaningful and lasting impact than those obsessed with metrics and recognition. The daily practice of ambassador leadership involves conscious choices about how to respond to workplace challenges. When facing difficult employees, Stearns learned to see them through God's eyes—as people created in the divine image who deserve dignity and compassion even when their behavior is problematic. This didn't mean avoiding difficult conversations or accountability, but rather approaching these situations with a heart oriented toward restoration rather than punishment. Such leaders become sources of healing in broken workplace environments. Balance emerged as crucial for sustainable ambassador leadership. Stearns learned through painful experience that workaholism, even in service of noble causes, can destroy the very relationships and personal health necessary for long-term effectiveness. God doesn't require leaders to sacrifice their families, health, or sanity on the altar of organizational success. Instead, he calls for faithful stewardship of all life's dimensions—work, family, rest, and spiritual development—recognizing that wholeness in leadership flows from wholeness in life. This integrated approach models for others that it's possible to pursue excellence without losing one's soul in the process.
Summary
Richard Stearns' leadership journey illuminates a profound truth: the values we embrace matter more than the success we achieve, because character outlasts accomplishment and faithfulness trumps fame. His transformation from corporate executive to global humanitarian demonstrates that our greatest impact often comes not from pursuing our own ambitions but from surrendering to God's purposes and allowing Him to work through our willing availability. For current and aspiring leaders, Stearns' experience offers a compelling alternative to the relentless pursuit of worldly success that leaves so many feeling empty despite their achievements. His story suggests two practical applications: first, that integrating faith with work requires daily, intentional choices to respond to challenges with Christ-like character rather than purely pragmatic solutions; and second, that sustainable leadership emerges from serving others' flourishing rather than our own advancement. This book will particularly resonate with professionals struggling to reconcile their Christian faith with workplace pressures, leaders seeking to create more humane organizational cultures, and anyone wondering whether it's possible to succeed in competitive environments without compromising core values. Stearns proves that leading like it matters to God isn't just idealistic theory but practical wisdom that transforms both leaders and the people they serve.
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By Richard Stearns
