SPT85-Guest-Kris Langworthy-StoryPower TV-3 of 3 - Storypower TV

J. Loren Norris dives deep into the messy reality of leading people when appreciation, faith, and authority collide. He opens with a raw recollection from his early 20s as a print‑shop manager, where a senior executive’s Friday ritual of taking top customers to a strip club set a bizarre benchmark for “reward.” When Loren refused to play along, he learned that true leadership often means saying no to toxic traditions and protecting the clock‑in integrity of his team.The conversation shifts to a painful onboarding story: a newly promoted manager is handed a termination signature on day one, forcing him to confront the weight of authority and the human cost of corporate decisions. Loren uses this moment to illustrate how appreciation isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. He contrasts two employees—Sally, who thrives on private, written thanks, and Karen, who would crumble under public applause. By listening to their preferences, leaders can avoid the hidden resentment that comes from mis‑matched recognition.Faith weaves through the dialogue as Loren recounts a 2012 homelessness crisis, an angry exchange with God, and a divine prompt to read King Hezekiah. He draws a line from that encounter to the biblical truth that Peter can’t walk on water on his own, but Jesus can empower him. The takeaway: leaders must recognize their limits, lean on a higher source, and stop demanding that employees become “Jehovah Jirek” for every need.The episode also touches on cultural flashpoints—like a Walmart shopper wearing a shirt that declares “God hates us”—to explore how personal belief systems shape workplace dynamics. Loren ends with a call to “get back up,” urging listeners to celebrate the gifts of their teams without expecting them to be omnipotent, and to model humility, confession, and grace in every interaction.Listeners leave with concrete ideas: map each team member’s preferred appreciation style, set clear boundaries against unhealthy rituals, and anchor leadership decisions in both practical wisdom and spiritual humility.

Categories: Faith