78 THE BIBLE ON LEADERSHIP
Job had many strengths. However, he was also strong enough to
admit his imperfection: ‘‘I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I
put my hand over my mouth... Therefore I despise myself and repent
in dust and ashes.’’ ( Job 40:4, 42:6) This act of humility did not end
Job’s prosperity; it only increased it. He emerged from ruin to acquire
fourteen thousand sheep, six hundred camels, a thousand yoke of oxen
and a thousand donkeys. Moreover, he was blessed with ten more chil-
dren and lived 140 years so that he could enjoy his children and his
children’s children.
Jack Welch, the recently retired chairman of General Electric, was
one of the most successful businessmen of all time, multiplying the
company’s assets, profits, and stock price many times over during his
tenure. But Welch was also capable of making mistakes. Any CEO of a
multibillion-dollar company is bound to make some, even if they repre-
sent ‘‘only’’ one of those billions.
For example, Welch had engineered GE’s disastrous purchase of 80
percent of Kidder Peabody for $600 million; the whole failed deal cost
GE $1.2 billion. Welch didn’t seek to minimize this mistake, nor did
he look around for other heads to blame and lop off. ‘‘I’ve rewarded
failures by giving out awards to people when they’ve failed... I always
say, if the chairman can buy Kidder Peabody and mess it up, you can
do just about anything... Now if the chairman can do that and still
survive, you ought to be able to take swings everywhere.’’^13
Welch’s humble approach in accepting responsibility for his error
undoubtedly encouraged others at GE (and the many other companies
who study and benchmark GE) to take risks and to exhibit humility
when those risks didn’t always pay off.
Remember Ahab, the husband of Jezebel? He had many vices, in-
cluding violent seizure of property (the killing of Naboth for his or-
chard) and idol worship. But he did have one saving grace—humility.
When Ahab realized how craven his behavior had been, he tore his
clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He adjusted his behavior to meek-
ness and kindness, causing Elijah the prophet to comment, ‘‘Have you
noticed how Ahab has humbled himself...? Because he has humbled
himself, I will not bring disaster in his day.. .’’ (1 Kings 21:29). Of