Big chief, Little Chef?

How many bosses would say this to their senior managers, 'If nobody else does, I love you guys – in a biblical way, which is all about respect, feeling valued and forgiveness for mistakes'?

Well the new chief executive of Little Chef restaurants did just that when he started last May. And according to the Guardian last week, ‘… three days later turnover went up, demonstrably up’.

That’s not the only interesting example of leadership which has been around recently. Part of the discussion about the possible move of footballer Kaka to Manchester City (for £100 million!) has been his Christian faith.

An Italian journalist said, ‘Kaka’s an evangelical Christian, … he’s got quite a different world outlook than a lot of other players … he really believes he has a broader message to spread off the pitch as well … not by preaching, but through his example. He may find that this country (United Kingdom) might be a fertile place for him to spread his word.’

But it’s not just Christian footballers and businessmen who face issues of living faithfully at work. For a bus driver in Southampton it has meant refusing to drive buses with adverts saying, ‘There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life’. And his bosses were sympathetic.

Nehemiah and Daniel (this week’s readings) weren’t the last to bear witness to God in their work.

Emlyn Williams