對卓越感到興奮

在生活中有一件很令人享受的事，就是把工作做得非常好，且能從其中得到很大的益處。最近我的家需要做一些改善的工程，我就找了一些工匠。包括專門鋪浴室磁磚的工匠、一位木匠、一位油漆工、一位砍樹工人、以及一位切碎樹樁的工人。在這每一項小工程中，他們都做得非常卓越。若將來有需要，我一定會毫不猶豫地再雇用他們。

這些工人有許多共同的特質：他們以自己的工作為榮，將工作提昇到非常高品質的層級。他們一絲不苟地注意重要細節。他們準時上工。他們非常友善。他們在結束工作時都會清理環境，即使第二天還要繼續那工程。他們離開時的場景就像他們來的時候那樣乾淨整齊。

我們都會讚賞感謝這種勤勞工作的態度。然而，卻有許多人只滿足於「夠好了」，用最低限度地在技術上履行他們的任務或承諾。愈來愈少人以能擁有精巧的手工技術為榮。可能這就是為什麼當我們一旦看到卓越的手工時，就分外覺得值得注意。

從一開始創造，「卓越」就是一個品質標誌，那本是上帝的屬性之一，傳給所有「按祂形象」受造的人。創世紀第一章記載，神在每一天的創造之後「神看著是好的。」。同樣的，雖然我們人類不完美，但我們應該能夠回頭看自己的工作，並且抱持「看著是好的」的信念。以下是聖經對於我們工作品質的一些實際觀察：

我們已被裝備去把工作做好。當我們碰到一個非常有挑戰性的工作，我們可能會找藉口說：「我沒辦法做」或「我無法承擔那項任務。」然而聖經說，上帝不會要我們去做我們沒有能力做的事。「我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裡造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是神所預備叫我們行的」（以弗所書2章10節）。

把工作做好會得到認可。將工作做到卓越所帶來的滿足感本身就是一種獎賞，而且我們可以確信，我們的勤奮和工作品質絕不會被忽略。「你看見辦事殷勤的人嗎？他必站在君王面前，必不站在下賤人面前」（箴言22章29節）。

把工作做好增加我們的價值。如同我的一位朋友所說：「要賺更多錢，你必須要值那麼多錢。」努力去把工作做到卓越，會使自己對我們的公司、目前和將來的雇主、以及我們的顧客而言更有價值。當缺乏動力、心不在焉的員工在抱怨沒有加薪、沒有升遷…時，將工作做到卓越的態度，會把我們推向擁有更大責任、更多權力、更高薪水的職位。「殷勤人的手必掌權；懶惰的人必服苦」（箴言12章24節）。

應該要持續把工作做好。一位優秀的員工應該是隨時都追求卓越。「早晨要撒你的種，晚上也不要歇你的手，因為你不知道哪一樣發旺；或是早撒的，或是晚撒的，或是兩樣都好」（傳道書11章6節）。

勞勃．泰默西是領袖資產協會的傳播部副部長，這是一個總部在美國喬治亞州亞特蘭大的非營利組織。他寫過一本書「最佳狀態的商業：箴言給今日職場的歷久彌新智慧」（Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace）；他也與David A. Stoddard合著一本書「導師之心」（The Heart of Mentoring），以及其他書籍。他的雙週部落格網址是：www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

These workers shared several common characteristics: They took pride in their work, doing it at a very high-quality level. They were meticulous, attending to important details. They were prompt in arriving for the job. They were friendly. And they made a point to clean up after performing their work, even if the project extended into the next day. They left the scene as clean and orderly as when they arrived.

I think we all appreciate and admire such diligence. However, too many people, it would appear, are content with “good enough,” doing the bare minimum to technically fulfill their assignments or commitments. Pride in workmanship has become increasingly rare. Which is probably why it seems noteworthy when it is displayed in the workplace.

From the beginning of creation, excellence has been a hallmark, an attribute of God that has been passed on to all who have been made “in His image.” After each day of creation, recounted in Genesis 1, we are told, “God saw that it was good.” In a similar way, despite our human imperfections, we should be able to look back at our own work and “see that it was good.” Here are some practical observations from the Bible about the quality of our work:

We are equipped for good work. When confronted with a challenging job, we face the temptation to offer the excuse, “I can”t” or “I am not up to that task.” However, the Scriptures teach God will not ask us to do something He has not made us capable of performing – with His strength. “For we are God”s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Good work will be recognized. The satisfaction of doing work with excellence should be a reward in itself, but we can also have confidence that our diligence and quality work will not go unnoticed. “Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men” (Proverbs 22:29).

Good work increases our value. As a friend of mine often says, “To earn more, you have to be worth more.” Excellence and devotion to performing good work makes us more valuable to our companies, current and future employers, and our customers. While unmotivated, uncaring workers complain about not getting pay increases and promotions, excellent work will usually propel us to positions of greater responsibility, more authority, and greater compensation. “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor” (Proverbs 12:24).

Good work should be constant. Being known as a worker of excellence should be a 24/7 pursuit. “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well” (Ecclesiastes 11:6).

© 2016. Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. Bob has written Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; and coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, as well as other books. His biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.