I’ve found a book that you should read: Know What You’re FOR by Jeff Henderson. In this article you will find a book summary, my thoughts, a local example, and next steps. 

About the Author

Jeff Henderson is a multisectoral leader, author, and consultant with The FOR Company. A company that he created to share his passion for helping organizations (and people) care for one another with the purpose of making the world better for everyone. 

About the Book

Throughout his book, Know What You’re FOR, Henderson continually poses the following 2 questions: 

• What do you want to be known FOR?
• What are you known FOR?

Henderson uses the following “four for FOR” (p. 26) strategies: FOR the team, FOR the customer, FOR the community, and FOR you. To illustrate how organizations can make positive impacts on the world of business and in everyday life. 

Personal Takeaways 

1. The positive impact of Truett Cathy, creator of Chick-fil-A, is clear on Henderson’s innovative & inspirational writing. Henderson mentions Mr. Cathy and other members of his family throughout the book in stories that highlight business excellence connected to the four for FOR strategies.
   
   
2. Know what you’re FOR & articulate it clearly. Have clear & simple goals that add value to your people, customers, community, and self. Focusing your energy, professional development, and emotional labor on these goals can result in a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. Which will lead you and your organization doing increasingly meaningful work.
   
   
3. You need to be FOR your people. Henderson calls this “FOR the team” (p. 27). I’ve mentioned this in previous articles (Develop Your People & The “Mentorship Mindset”). This idea isn’t my own. I learned it from John Maxwell (2014), Patrick Lencioni (2020), and mentors John McAloon & Brain Modarelli.
   
   
4. If you’ve experienced thriving organizations, learned about them, and are passionate about them. It is your duty to share your experience with other organizations (p. 30). Throughout the last six years I have had the privilege of working in top-notch international schools in Thailand & Hong Kong. Not only have I been a part of carrying out the four for FOR strategies from day to day. I have intentionally learned from organizational leaders who have pulled back the curtain and provided their wisdom. Moving forward, I need to have the humility to continue to learn from leaders that I am connected with. As well as learning about the organizations that I work with in order to pair my expertise with their specific needs.
   
   
5. There is tremendous power in a name. My father imparted this wisdom to me as a young man. “The sweetest sound that someone can hear, is the sound of their own name” he would say. I have never forgotten this. I have applied it in many ways throughout my life. Henderson highlights this point early in the book when talking about being FOR the customer. It also applies to the strategies of being FOR the team & FOR the community.

FCA’s FOR Mentality 

Organizations can use the four for FOR strategies (celebrating the team, customers, community, and self in tangible ways) to practice a ‘FOR mentality’. Throughout the book, Henderson uses different organizations’ social media presence as one metric to measure the level of their FOR mentality. I have been following the Fredericton Christian Academy (FCA) on Instagram for quite some time (@meetfca). I have noticed that they often leverage the ‘FOR mentality’ to connect to their community and are not afraid of following their followers back. This shows an admirable additional layer of digital community connectivity. I would like to highlight FCA’s genuine FOR mentality as an Atlantic Canadian example that other organizations can follow.

In February, 2022, New Brunswick was experiencing the height of their fight with Covid-19. School leadership went out of their way to highlight the brave work of the housekeeping staff at the local hospital. FCA students raised money for the endeavour. Principal Lucas Candy brought coffee and donuts to the hospital staff. This act was a tremendously tangible way to care for their community. It also enabled deeper levels of community awareness for FCA’s students, staff, families, and digital community. 

FCA has an initiative called the “Hard Hat Award” that recognizes staff who are going above & beyond in their service to their students and coworkers. On its own, the Hard Hat Award is a great initiative, a way to recognize the incredible work that educators do from day to day and to develop their people. An initiative like this is a morale boost, and a tangible high five that builds momentum for their staff. FCA leadership didn’t stop there. They recognized that posting their Hard Hat Award recipients on instagram both amplifies the development of the staff who win the award and echoes to the customer and community how much FCA is FOR their children. 

Good for you FCA! Because of FCA’s FOR mentality, I am all the more excited to be a part of this organization for the 2022/23 school year & beyond. Under the tutelage of the leadership team at FCA, I’m looking forward to learning more about being FOR the team, FOR the customer, FOR the community, and FOR myself. 

Next Steps 

• What are you FOR?
• Who are you FOR?
• How can you show the your employees, customers, and community that you are FOR them?
• How can you show yourself that you are FOR you?

Take a few minutes to stop and discern your answers to these questions. This will help to clarify your personal & organizational purpose. Then, feel free find out more about Know What You’re FOR by Jeff Henderson: amazon.ca & goodreads.com. Or check out Jeff Henderson’s personal website: jeffhenderson.com. I have benefitted from his work and I hope that it will benefit you in equal or greater measure.

References

Henderson, J. (2019). Cover Art. Know what You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, an Even Better Strategy for Life. Zondervan

Henderson, J. (2019). Know what You’re FOR: A Growth Strategy for Work, an Even Better Strategy for Life. Zondervan. 

Lencioni, P. (2020). The Motive: Why So Many Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities. John Wiley & Sons. 

Maxwell, J. C. (2014). Good Leaders Ask Great Questions. Center Street. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. It was a pleasure spending time with you today.

Peace & Blessings, 

– Josiah