Let’s say you have a choice of two jobs. The first is to lead a lethargic, 20 year-old organization. It’s making money, but people distrust each other and most don’t know what it’s like to have a meeting without blood being drawn.

The other opportunity is to take over an organization that traditionally does a great job avoiding conflict. It boasts a warm environment, constant smiles and encouragement, and a dearth of disagreement. Everyone seems to be friends. Its results may not be knocking down the house, but it’s a great place to work.

Which opportunity would you rather take? Most of us would choose #2, but experienced mentors would advise we run from both. Teams and organizations achieve more when there’s a bit of friction. People actually assist each other when they resist each other.

The Bible prescribes four steps to building this culture of positive resistance.

1. Expect Resistance

The first step to building constructive resistance is to expect negative resistance to appear on its own. Jesus promises that all people (and organizations) will experience trouble from time to time (see John 16:33b).
 
When things have been going trouble-free for a while, I start wondering when the next curve ball will strike. Some of my unexpected troubles have included sudden car repairs, a leaky roof, flare-ups from otherwise congenial employees, a death in the family, a car accident, and sick kids. Unforeseen moves by our competitors have created sudden headaches and mountains of work. E-mails out of the blue have forced me to completely shift my priorities, and heated debates have thrown my whole team out of whack.

A recent spate of peace at the office got me suspicious. I was enjoying the respite, determined to ride it as long as possible. But in a meeting with a teammate, the calm was shattered by comments that stoked my temper. Then I severely messed up something at home. Things felt normal again!

2.   Befriend Resistance

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds of a friend can be trusted.” Do you have any friends willing to tell you the real (ugly) truth?

I don’t want a friend who’s in the habit of pointing out my faults. I do want someone who isn’t afraid to give me advice that may disappoint me, with the goal of improving me. What good is a friend if I can’t get this kind of truth?

When resistance rears its head at work, there may be a truth I need to hear. If there’s no resistance, I have to wonder if I’m getting truth from my people. I want to know what they really think, not what they think will keep them out of trouble.

3.   Use Resistance

Biblical leaders accomplish goals not in spite of opposition, but because of it. They live by the maxim, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). Debate and conflict should sharpen us. Instead, they too often dull us.

What resistance are you facing right now that could be the very thing that accomplishes your mission? For Jesus, the Pharisees gave him a public platform that drew throngs of people eager to witness the theological debates and stick around to hear his teachings.

A CEO friend recently received unexpected criticism from one of his board members. He stood up to the high-powered critic by answering his objections with fact after fact. Rather than overreacting to the naysayer, the CEO simply responded without wavering. As a result, he is even more sure of his direction.

Leaders are entitled to inflict a little resistance themselves. I marvel at those who habitually redirect ineffective conversations through sheer authority and personality. When groupthink takes over a meeting, these leaders challenge the group’s consensus. They draw out a debate by asking different people if they disagree with others in the group.

4.  Endure Resistance

According to the writer of Hebrews, when we endure unjust resistance – that is, patiently persevere – we should be encouraged by Christ: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (12:3).

Christ expected, befriended and used resistance to further his mission. We should look to him for encouragement when we face our own opposition.

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Tom Harper is president of NetWorld Alliance, which publishes www.churchcentral.com and several online news portals in the retail, banking, technology and restaurant industries. He is author of Leading from the Lions’ Den: Leadership Principles from Every Book of the Bible, due to come out in Sept. 2010 (B&H Publishing). His Twitter account is @TomRHarper.