The Ultimate Dress Code for Leadership, Pt. 2

The choice of clothes is often vitally important in the realm of leadership. “Dress for success,” is a valid mindset that every leader needs to consider as he/she stands before the closet of decision making. And so, this second blog on leadership dress code continues the biblical exhortation toward dressing in the right way to please God. The dress code is found in Colossians chapter three.

“Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col 3:12-14, NIV84).

In part one, we tried on the first five garments (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience). I have to confess that my clothes were often stained with irritation, selfishness, pride, anger, and a short temper, but I hope to enter my day tomorrow with a renewed commitment to dress for success.

Let's go back to the dressing room and try on the final three garments. The next two garments are like a pair of gloves or a pair of shoes – they really need to be considered together because they are worn in tandem.

1. Forbearance and 2. Forgiveness

Paul challenges us to, “Bear with each other. And forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.” The idea here is to tolerate and support one another. These two garments accentuate the differences we have as people. We are so different in talents, abilities, ideas, priorities, and goals. As we attempt to function together, whether it is in an organization, or a church, or a family, those differences will sometimes cause friction. These two gloves (forbearance and forgiveness) will help us appreciate and deal with our differences.

These two gloves of peace and cooperation are often exchanged quickly for boxing gloves – the gloves of jealousy and division. I have put my hands in these gloves more often than I would want to admit; and I have caused others to don these gloves by my offensive ways. We can offend people in so many ways: words, actions, and failure toward action. If not for the gloves of forbearance and forgiveness, effective leadership would not be possible, positive functioning families would not exist, and collaborative organizations would not be successful.

3. Love

The last garment is a beautiful overcoat. Paul shares, “And over all these virtues, put on love.” Compassion is at the innermost being of the leader and love is the overcoat that binds all of the clothing together in a perfect unity. The love described here is that godly, unconditional commitment to another. It is the agape love – the love that God has for His people – filled with grace and forgiveness. It is that loyalty that sticks through thick and thin. If you were to look at my overcoat, you would notice the mud of abandonment and disloyalty. Love is a easy word to say, but consistency of loving action and extending love in stressful, difficult situations takes incredible effort.

Before we close up our closet, let consider some principles about the power of these garments.

First, these clothes are all relational. These clothes are all designed for interaction. They are not primarily for our vertical relationship with God as much as they are made for our horizontal relationships with one another.

Second, these clothes are individual. They are designed for each person to wear. I personally have to choose to put these clothes on and to change how I relate to others. Whether it is a one-on-one relationship, friend-to-friend, spouse-to-spouse, or leader-to-follower, the clothes demand a personal commitment to exercising their power.

Third, these garments are communal. Although the clothes are designed for the individual, they are meant to be part of the community. These clothes are essential for the group. If they are not part of the uniform of the organization, the resultant selfishness, pride, anger, and jealousy will destroy any unity of the group.

Fourth the clothes are observable. People will see the difference in our leadership, in our lives, in our relationships, in our actions. We will stand out in a selfish world. We will be different – we might be misunderstood, rejected, seen as odd, and questioned – but we will be different in a very observable way.

Finally, the clothes are impactful. A person who consistently puts on these clothes makes an incredible friend, a wonderful boss, a beloved family member, a faithful leader. These garments allow an individual to provide a powerful testimony at school, work, and home. As we wear them on a daily basis we earn the right to be heard.

There they are. They come in all sizes and colors. Try them all on and make them part of your daily experience. Compassion...Kindness...Humility... Gentleness... Patience... Forbearance... Forgiveness... Love. Dress for success.