What does empowerment in business really mean?

An Interview with Jenani (Jen) Paul, President Digital Consultants

Do you want to empower your business to grow?  Well-known leadership guru, John Maxwell says: “Your business will never outgrow you! We must keep growing in order for our business to grow.”

Think about it! What are your personal growth goals?  The best way to empower your business for growth is to focus on your personal and spiritual growth needs. One suggestion is to strengthen your servanthood attitudes. When business owners choose to serve God and serve others as their top business mandate, then they become empowered to reach more clients and potentially increase their profit margins.

Jenani (Jen) Paul’s favourite story…

One day, after making a webinar presentation, the leadership team of a large Christian school in Florida approached Jen to ask her for strategic planning advice. Together they articulated a vision statement and brainstormed a clearer understanding of this school’s uniqueness. What truly empowered and set them apart?  Rooted in faith, and making a kingdom advancement difference surfaced as a key idea to develop. God worked in the background. Soon miraculous new doors of kingdom building opportunity opened and their purpose became clear. Later, both the principal and Jen talked about the way God had connected them, paving the way for His divine purposes to be released.

With 20 years experience, Paul’s current business, Digital Consultants, offers technology plus marketing and strategic planning options to businesses interested in expanding their client base capacity or communicating their vision with increased clarity. She feels that no matter the chaos level around her, she has God’s peace; that’s because she’s committed to and empowered to read His Word, and to pursue her calling to serve God.  She knows that God will never let her down, and He will work all things for the good of everyone. God’s promises never fail. This message is Jen’s legacy for her children and other young people. One pitfall to empowerment that Paul talks about is pride. Be wary of pride creeping into heart motivation. Also avoid isolation. Be humble and surround yourself with praying people to support you. They can hold you more accountable to your Christ-likeness goals.

What does empowerment in business really mean? For Paul it is spiritual. It means being Christ-centred in all business strategies and decisions. Through the Holy Spirit’s guidance, divine tools are given to us to do whatever God desires. Each one of us has a unique God-ordained purpose we are equipped, spiritually gifted and called to fulfill. For business schools, empowerment means enabling employees to take ownership of their work and contribute to meaningful decision-making in a culture of engagement and trust.  Therefore, encouraging influence building, not control measures, will become the training focus for management staff and supervisors. Business success is rarely one person’s achievement. It involves collaboration with equipped, trained and empowered workers, all maximizing their creative capacity. When everyone in an organization chooses to use their God-given spiritual talents to fulfill a purpose and ultimately answer not to a human boss, but to God, great things can happen.

It’s important to recognize your business first as a ministry, and secondly as a business. Make prayer, commitment to biblical truths and accountability to godly people a part of your daily focus. After all, it is the authority of Jesus at work in us – when we believe in His name – that empowers each one of us to live life to the fullest, run businesses that glorify God, and do our best to serve God and others with integrity.

Biblical Principles

Empowerment:

    • “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.” Acts 1:8a  

Servanthood:

    • “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” 1 Peter 4:10a.

    • Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Colossians 3: 23

Submission:

    • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6

Christ-likeness:

    • Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5: 17

Business leaders must intentionally become God-centered, Spirit-driven, purpose-oriented, and others-focused. It’s not about our identity as leaders, but about becoming more like Christ, empowered to do what we couldn’t do on our own – live holy lives, love others sacrificially, and fulfill God’s mission in the world. To be empowered by God in our personal lives and in our businesses is eventually to become more Christ-like, as we seek to fulfill the purposes God has called us to pursue.

In conclusion, purpose matters. Catch hold of the ‘why’ behind decisions and implement action plans for yourself and others that connect people with their personal and spiritual values.

“Connecting Your Sunday Faith to Your Monday Work” The Canadian Christian Business Federation exists to support business leaders in the study and application of Biblical Leadership Principles with peers, in order to transform lives, strengthen businesses, and positively influence and impact our world. www.ccbf.org

Nancy Kingdon is an author and freelance writer proudly serving CCBF ministries as their Story Writer.  Her newest book release in March 2025 is Magnolia Grace Gardens: A Collection of Devotional Poetry. Visit her website at: www.writinglegacy.com