A hammer and a nail...

My pastor reminded me of an interesting reality. Maybe you can relate to it. In a recent message my pastor said,

“To a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.”

Have you ever heard that? Now, a hammer is a great tool. A powerful tool. A useful tool. I’ve watched master craftsmen use a hammer to build my home, everything from framing up the walls to the fine trim work that finished out the interior.

But a hammer isn’t the only tool in the toolbox. And it isn’t the right tool for everything. If you need a screw driven in, a hammer isn’t the tool to use. If wood needs sanding, or tile needs cutting, a hammer is a poor choice.

What do you do when a problem arises in your organization? Do you grab a hammer? You can’t pound every problem as if it’s a nail. It may be a person who is part of the problem. They may not need to be pounded. This person may need encouragement, better training, more appropriate work conditions. There may be many reasons that this person is a problem. Don’t be too quick to reach for a hammer.

Leadership is not pounding on someone until they get it right. Businessman and author Max Dupree describes leadership as, “…liberating people to do what is required of them in the most effective and humane way possible.”

The Apostle Peter, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, gives insight into how we deal with those God has entrusted to us in ministry and work.

[blockquote author=”1 Peter 5:3 NLT” link=”” target=”_blank”]Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.[/blockquote]

The next time a problem arises in your ministry or organization, don’t assume it is a nail that needs pounding. Look for the right tool, and use it wisely.