Workers want to know how they are doing. The 2005 Best Christian Places to Work survey from the Best Christian Workplaces Institute revealed one weakness among even the finest employers, including churches, was inadequate feedback and rewarding of good performance.

Author and consultant Laurie Beth Jones believes leaders should ante up with the feedback, whether positive or negative, after the model of the world's greatest leader — Jesus Christ.

“The premise I've based my work on is that Jesus was a valid role model for every decision in life,” Jones said. In considering Christ's leadership, in specific his interactions with the disciples, Jones suggests praise and forgiveness in dealing with staff.

Any feedback would be an improvement, according to Best Christian Workplaces Institute executive director Al Lopus. He told Christianity Today in a May report on the survey that many Christian workers haven't received direct feedback on their performances in years.

“So they're anxious to know how they can be more effective,” Lopus said.

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Rewarding good performers and coaching others to improve poor performance is similar to the master in the parable of the talents who gave more to the servants who wisely invested, and reprimanded the servant who had not. (Matt. 25:14-30)

Beyond feedback, Jones said people should also focus on what it is they have been given and how to make the most of it. “Part of my passion is getting focused on what your talent is,” she said. “What is amazing to me is how many of us don't really know what our gifts are.” But she said everyone has them; she calls them “pure gold.”

“What is it that you love the most?” Jones asked. “That is where God wants you to be.” She instructs people to define their personal mission statement, another emulation of the life of Christ, which was clearly focused on mission, she said. And each person's mission is intricately bound up in personal passions and talents, she said.

Jones consults with organizations to align their missions, visions and values with those of their team members, and vice versa. Keeping to a mission is the idea upon which she has based her last several books: “Jesus, CEO”; “Jesus, Entrepreneur”; “Jesus in Blue Jeans” and “The Path.”

In much of her writing, Jones points out that Christ was the ultimate model for leadership because he was passionately devoted to his mission. She has found this message communicates to both religious and secular organizations.

Jones has consulted with groups from the Pentagon and Fortune 100 companies to the Young Presidents Organization, members of the British Parliament, Catholic Healthcare Corp., Baylor Medical School, Pepperdine University, The Salvation Army, American Bible Institute, YMCA International, Texas Health Resources, All State International, Altana Pharmaceutical and Citi Financial.

She encourages her audiences to look to Jesus, the person she calls the “ultimate life coach,” as a model.

“He works 24/7, is passionately devoted to your success, and is free,” Jones said. “Who wouldn't want a coach like that?”