Dear Friends,
One of the members in our Spiritual Leadership Class was recently
commenting on the negative environment existing in his workplace. In reflecting
on his comments, I thought about the words of Tom Peters, author of In
Search of Excellence, and one of the leading secular writers on
organizational leadership. In discussing winning in the marketplace, he points
out that most companies are “wildly irrational” about themselves when it
comes to the quality of their workplace. He states, “Yet most organizations, we
find, take a negative view of their people. They verbally berate participants
for poor performance…They call for risk taking but punish even tiny failures.
They want innovation but kill the spirit of the champion…They design systems
that seem calculated to tear down their workers self-image…The message that
comes through so poignantly is that we like to think of ourselves as winners.
The lesson that excellent companies have to teach is that there is no reason
why we can’t design systems that continually reinforce this notion; so that
most of their people are made to feel that they are winners. Quoted from Positive
Coaching, Jim Thompson, p. 327.
His comments made me think about a poll that was taken some years
ago which indicated that 25 million American workers would
immediately quit their job because they weren’t appreciated. And 38 percent of
all employees surveyed said their bosses rarely or never recognized or praised
their accomplishments. The respondents were asked, “If another company, with a
reputation for giving recognition and praise, offered you a similar job with
the same salary and benefits, would you quit your current job?” Twenty-seven
percent of those surveyed workers said they would leave. Now while this survey
was taken a number of years ago, I am not sure things have changed much
since then.
It was Mark Twain who said, “One compliment can keep me going for
a whole month.” Business leaders, pastors, teachers, coaches, and moms
and dads -we need to heed the wisdom of Solomon who said, “A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Again, Solomon
writes, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply and how good is a timely word”
(Proverbs 15:23).
Timely words, words aptly spoken, words of praise, affirmation,
and encouragement can be like oxygen to the soul. It is hard to live without
them.
The famous industrialist Charles Schwab said, “I have yet to find
the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater
effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”
As believers we must be encouragers, looking for every opportunity
to, enable, enhance and encourage everyone around us The Apostle Paul exhorts
the Thessalonians to “encourage one another and build each other up; just as
you are doing” (1 Thess 5:11). And again to the Ephesian elders, he encourages
them saying, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that
it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 6:29-30).
Let me encourage you to join that “Compliment Club” that I
mentioned in yesterday’s Leadership Thought. Look for something positive to
praise in the students you teach, the employees you supervise and the children
you parent. It should come as no surprise that if you look for those positive
qualities, especially in those you find challenging to love, in time you will
not only find yourself changing your impression of them, but you will discover
they are becoming more productive and even nicer people to be around.
Yours in faith and friendship,
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