When I was a young sales representative, I would often look around at all the successful managers above me to figure out what it took to climb the success ladder.
My first clue was all the managers above me really knew their stuff. So, I buckled down and read books written by the sales gurus of the day. Then, I turned my attention to learning management skills.
Several months into my job, and having not been promoted, I looked for more clues to their success. That’s when I stumbled across the golden ticket; the key to upward mobility and a corner office!
What was that key, you ask?
Why it was so simple, I am embarrassed that I didn’t think of it myself. If you want to get ahead, leaping into the ranks of management, you must look the part.
You must dress for success!
The secrets were all contained in a book called Dress for Success by John T. Malloy. Malloy described step-by-step how to achieve the look required of all senior executives.
Based on Malloy’s advice, I dumped my patent leather shoes and polyester leisure suits. (Hey, cut me some slack, it was 1973!) I replaced them with a proper executive uniform that consisted of black oxford shoes, a tailored grey pin-stripe suit, and a blue button-down shirt with a red tie.
I had put off the old and put on the new. I was now dressed for success.
Several years later, now a seasoned manager, I learned about another dress for success guide. However, this guide’s advice differed greatly from Malloy’s advice.
Biblical Dress for Success Guide
Fast forward to 1984. I was a baby Christian when I stumbled across this new dress for success guide.
I found it as I was reading through the New Testament. As I read, I realized this was a different kind of dress for success guide.
Writing to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul said,
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
Paul says in God’s kingdom, being dressed for success has everything to do with how we treat and relate to others, and nothing to do with our fancy color-coordinated suits and ties.
So, let’s look at Paul’s dress for success guide.
Compassion
We must be compassionate leaders. Leaders who are caring and demonstrate a willingness to help others are compassionate.
Ask yourself. Who in my organization can I reach out to, care for, or help in some way?
Kindness
We must be kind to one another. Leaders who are kind are friendly, generous, and considerate.
Ask yourself. Who in my organization needs someone to come alongside them as a friend today?
Humility
We must be humble leaders. Leaders who are humble have a low or modest view of their own importance and a high view of God.
Ask yourself. Has my ego become out of control? Do I have an inflated sense of my own importance?
Gentleness
We must be gentle leaders. A gentle leader is not harsh but has a kind and gentle character.
Ask yourself. What is my initial response to a challenging coworker or employee? Is my initial reaction one of harshness, or do I respond with a tender heart?
Patience
We must be patient leaders. A patient leader has the ability to accept delays or trouble without getting angry.
Ask yourself. Is my initial reaction to hearing about a delay or a problem to get angry? Or, do I approach dealing with the delay or with the problem calmly?
Take off the Old Clothes First
Remember how I said I had to get rid of the old wardrobe and replace it with the new one?
The same is true of Paul’s dress for success guide.
Just before Paul told the Colossians what they should wear, he told them what they should not wear.
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips…since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self” (Colossians 3:8-10).
Paul is saying all these old behaviors are like the old wardrobe. You must get rid of them. Get them out of your life! Once you’ve done that, then you need to put on the new wardrobe.
You see, in my closet, there is not enough room to keep the old clothes and the new ones. So, throw away the old to make room for the new.
In the same way, our old behaviors must be done away with to make room for the new.
So, to be the kind of leader God has called us to be, we need first to get rid of all the old worldly behaviors. Then we must clothe ourselves in Godly behaviors.
Take off the old. Put on the new.
More Articles
I’ve written several articles about character over the years. You can search for “character” to find them, or you can check out the links below for some of my favorites.
- #227: Shall I Do the Good I Know To Do?
- #262: Will Jesus Be Amazed by Your Faith?
- #319: Thank God It’s Monday! Now What?
- #334: If You’re Not Growing, You’re Drifting
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. Have you put off your old dress, the old ways, and put on the new dress for success clothes required of you as a Christian?
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Category: Personal Development | Character
