CHAPTER 45: Unresolved Conflict, the 5C’s & Four Principles 2022
We start with the 5C’s. Content, Continuity, Contact, Conditions and Closing. You’ll need all five — or none at all. The Four principles which I will mention in a moment, are the same. You’ll need all four — or none at all. Did you ever meet a person that starts and doesn’t finish or makes a mess out of it? Expects other people to do it instead, fails constantly at consistency, fails at supporting others, fails at correctness and goodness in normal affairs of life, fails at win/win in doing business deals, delights at free opportunities — do you want to be one of those people? I was. I didn’t think so at the time, no, no, I thought I was a player, a gamer, an insider. You know some time ago a very important person told me:
“leaders look for potential in youngsters working through their twenties, however in their thirties the interest is in hard assets, we’re all done entertaining potential, time to see what you’ve done with it.”
Let’s move along to a tough concept: “unresolved conflict.” Chapter 45 was invented as a solution to “my bad behavior.”
Unresolved conflict the process of acceptance. Not completing a job, over and over and over and over and over is different than working on something day after day after day after day, until one day it is done. That, my friends, is commitment. I’m not just talking about cleaning the garage or going to the dentist, I’m talking about relationships, personal dynamics, quality control and overhead that should be dealt with day by day, week by week, month by month, day by day, until you actually have money in the bank and you can prevail without a line of credit. Unresolved Conflict takes time to correct the things that matter — quite a bit of time actually.
Unresolved Conflict is the process of solution to loose ends, untended to assignments, things not done, relationships not mended. Also, to keep things from getting out of line you can use this chapter up front, so things don’t get out of whack in the first place. I, of course, learned it because of the disaster I’d left in my wake. So, moving on to the 4 principles, after a scripture of course — now and everyday, all the time, for all time so you don’t leave a wake of disaster.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 English Standard Version (ESV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Content, Continuity, Contact, Conditions and Closing. Let’s start with #1.
- Content – Flush out a complete idea, beginning to end. Whatever is best for the plan, be careful to listen and identify correctly what is best in a situation. If things are sadly out of alignment, gently provide a better route to achieve the goal. And remember, always leave people with their dignity, lest you be perceived as a bragger or an insulter. Be an example of the Lord’s guidance and love. Plan it out and then agree, whether by word of honor or a signature making sure there’s a sign off, always, one way or another, for all parties. The idea of let’s get started and we’ll see what happens doesn’t pay well, wastes money or ruins good relationships!
1 Corinthians 14:40 English Standard Version (ESV)
40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
2) Continuity – There must be a time-line for the production of the project. Times and dates of each portion completed. Be sure to interact and explain all aspects so there is an understanding of the build order and most important, what others are doing. A collective understanding and comprehension of the plan by both employees and customers is critical. Stay on top of work flow with compassion and wisdom.
Colossians 3:23 English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
3) Contact – You must have frequent hourly communication with all employees involved. Never leave any aspect unattended. All of us have made the mistake. Delegation can be very expensive, quality control will suffer without you — and a watchful eye for direction, purpose, vision and inspiration for the troops! Stay in contact with people. Not only is that the best way to keep an eye on things it’s also how people realize their importance to you, and feel respect.
Romans 12:10 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
4) Conditions – Payment schedules, change orders, man hours, profit, finish dates and agreed upon language in the event of unforeseen challenges. All these things must be discussed, in detail, prior to job start and during. In the case of unforeseen issues and challenges, all parties must sit down and make changes according to the rules. Budgets must be recalibrated as problems arise. Push back against unfair expectations or unrealistic expectations especially in the form of “your company must absorb the change order.” Not true. Never agree to things by pressure. Allow for wisdom, ingenuity and discretion. Cool heads prevail.
Proverbs 15:1 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
5) Closing – Without the ability to ask for payment, you are wasting your time. Your job is to do good work for an honest wage, take care of your family and the responsibilities God has given you. When you complete the job and don’t ask for money in a timely manner it is a breach of your fiduciary duty. Plain and simple. Produce the job well, deliver on time and collect the money. Don’t be afraid to risk the relationship to ask for the cash.
James 4:17 English Standard Version (ESV)
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
There’s your 5C’s. But hey, kids, that’s not all! With your 5C’s you also get “The 4 Principals.”
Principle #1 is Family First, Business First. It’s hard for either one to exist without the other, right? Without the family, business is pretty hard. Without the business, family is pretty hard. Goes well with the lesson, yes? Best if you get the job done well and get paid, good for the company, good for the family!
1 Timothy 5:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Principle #2
Always Supportive, Slightly Detached and always, always equal. Always supportive is with good solutions for people. Slightly detached so you don’t get mad when people say and do irritating things, stay back a little so you have perspective, yea? Stay cool and always equal. You are never above anybody or below them. We are equal in the sight of God and should remember that. Sometimes we’re a little better than whoever and sometimes we think we’re not as good as Mister or Miss Super Whoever. Handle yourself accordingly with respect. We are equal and all have our jobs to tend to.
Philippians 2 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ecclesiastes 11:6
Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another – or maybe both.
Principle #3
The Truth to the right Person at precisely the right time
Listen, Identify and Redirect people back to work. Give people the truth, not behind their back, but right to them at a perfect time that will inspire them to work — make sure you know the truth, and the right time will present itself so that good things happen.
Romans 8:28
New Living Translation
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Principle #4
Never expect the company to do for you what you cannot do for yourself
If you can’t buy your own car, the company shouldn’t do it for you. We don’t burden the company with buying you a house, or affording you credit, or paying your charge card bills, or your taxes. If you can’t do that yourself, recalibrate. Take care of what you have been given and don’t over burden your assets with debt and entitlement. Remember you don’t deserve anything. God, in His mercy has given you what is His — get it, it’s on loan, so take care of it.
James 4:1-12
English Standard Version
Warning Against Worldliness
4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are at war within you?[b] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Okay kids, there you go, Chapter 45: Unresolved Conflict, the 5C’s, and The Four Principles 2022: What does it mean? Unresolved conflict is a specific process God gives you to learn who you are, be patient, take the time, let God help you work the steps of the 5C’s, and the 4 Principles, enjoy the process of what He will make of you, teaching you long term, not instant gratification, that’s out for a leader, be a leader — learn the hard lessons — Amen. Pray us out, Captain….
