我的CEO朋友湯姆（Tom）的領導團隊中有一位前途無量的主管最近在工作上有一些挑戰。很顯然，除非這個人夠成熟到能發揮周遭人可明顯看出來的潛力之前，他需要進一步的受監督。他的其中一個問題就是：不願放鬆掌控。他缺乏湯姆認為對個人和職業發展都非常重要的特質：受教的能力。

即使這個人有成為團隊重要成員的才智和天分，但對於接受教導與糾正的抗拒還是阻礙了他的進步。湯姆知道這位主管如果不願意接受改變或改進的建議，很可能會削弱任何提供給他的幫助和支持。

湯姆不願放棄這位年輕的主管，因此安排了一次面對面的會議，開誠布公地討論問題。湯姆對他說，他要證明自己是可被教導的，不然就必須考慮其他出路。

幸運的是，這位主管願意謙虛地接受湯姆額外的指導。這不僅給他自己帶來快速的成長，組織也獲得了更多的利潤。事實證明，接受指導對他和公司都是雙贏的，如果他拒絕改變，則是兩敗俱傷。

在聖經中，我們不斷地看到能受教的重要性。以下是幾個例子：

受教帶來昌盛。一句諺語說：「我們當中沒有一個人比全部的人加起來聰明。」我們可能相信自己不需要幫助也能獨立成功，結果卻經常失敗。但是，他人的智慧和見識通常會幫助我們成功。「謹守訓言的，必得好處；倚靠耶和華的，便為有福。」（箴言16章20節）「不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。」（箴言15章22節）

受教為智慧鋪路。有人問一名年輕人他為什麼要尋求指導，他回答說：「我想從人們的錯誤中學習。」這個人有著超乎年齡的分辨能力，意識到自己不需要犯所有的錯，而可以從別人的錯誤中學習。智慧通常是經驗的產物，而經驗常常是來自犯錯後的更改和修正。「你要聽勸教，受訓誨，使你終久有智慧。」（箴言19章20節）

受教的人會追求最佳的資源。世界上處處皆知識，任何主題的書都有上百甚至數千本。電視、廣播、報紙和雜誌等媒體，源源不斷的傳遞信息。網路就像指尖的圖書館，幾乎涵蓋了所有內容。但是我們時間有限，所以選擇使用哪些資源會影響我們的受教能力，還會影響到我們學到的東西。我們為何不參考聖經呢？使徒保羅在寫給他的年輕門徒的信裡這麼說：「聖經都是　神所默示的（或譯：凡　神所默示的聖經），於教訓、督責、使人歸正、教導人學義都是有益的，叫屬　神的人得以完全，預備行各樣的善事。」（提摩太後書3章16-17節）

在商業和專業的領域中，我們都應該選擇具有受教特質的人做為領導者。

© 2020版權所有非傳統商業網路(前身為純全資源中心)。節錄自和Rick Boxx的純全時刻，這本刊 物主要是從基督徒的角度來探討職場上正直這個主題。如果希望知道更多關於這個事工或是想訂閱每日純全時刻，請上這個網站: www.unconventionalbusiness.org. Rick Boxx最新出版的書「提供用五個關鍵的神的方法來建立企業。」

備註：如果你手上有聖經，想要閱讀更多相關的經文，請參考：

箴言12章15節
12:15 愚妄人所行的，在自己眼中看為正直；惟智慧人肯聽人的勸教。

箴言19章27節
19:27 我兒，不可聽了教訓而又偏離知識的言語。

箴言20章18節
20:18 計謀都憑籌算立定；打仗要憑智謀。

箴言24章5-6節
24:5 智慧人大有能力；有知識的人力上加力。
24:6 你去打仗，要憑智謀；謀士眾多，人便得勝。

箴言27章17節
27:17 鐵磨鐵，磨出刃來；朋友相感（原文是磨朋友的臉）也是如此。

以弗所書2章10節
2:10 我們原是他的工作，在基督耶穌裏造成的，為要叫我們行善，就是　神所預備叫我們行的。

歌羅西書1章28節
1:28 我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裏完完全全地引到　神面前。

反省與討論問題

1. 你認為自己受教嗎？請解釋你的答案。
2. 就你的觀察，不受教會有什麼後果？你是否曾經有過不大受教的主管？那是什麼樣的經歷？
3. 你認為一個人可以採取什麼行動讓自己更容易接受教導？一個人的謙卑對培養和保持受教的心有什麼作用？
4. 本篇週一嗎哪最後建議我們，把聖經當作重要的學習資源，你同意嗎？在現今的職場也是如此嗎？請解釋原因。

---

TEACHABILITY: AN INVALUABLE VIRTUE

By Rick Boxx

Tom, a CEO friend of mine, had a promising executive on his leadership team that was struggling at work. It had become obvious this individual would need additional oversight until he could mature into fulfilling the potential everyone knew he possessed. One of the problems involved the junior executive’s reluctance to release any control. He lacked of a quality Tom considered critical for personal and professional growth: Teachability.

Despite having the intelligence and raw talent for one day becoming a valued member of the team, this fellow’s resistance to instruction and correction would remain obstacles for advancement. Tom knew if the leader did not become more open to recommendations for change or improvement, most likely he would undermine any assistance and support sent his way.

Unwilling to give up on the young executive, Tom scheduled a face-to-face meeting with him to discuss the reality of the problem. He needed to prove that he was teachable, Tom explained, or it would be necessary to consider other options.

Fortunately, this leader humbled himself and accepted Tom’s offer of additional direction. This resulted in rapid growth for the leader and more profitability for the organization. It proved to be a win-win for him and the company, but if he had resisted change, everyone would have lost.

Repeatedly in the Scriptures we find emphasis on the importance of teachability. Here are some examples:

Teachability leads to prosperity. There is an old saying that “not one of us is as smart as all of us.” We might believe we can succeed independently, without help, but doing so almost always leads to failure. Relying on the wisdom and insights of others, however, usually leads to success. “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (Proverbs 16:20). “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

Teachability paves the way to wisdom. A young man seeking a mentor, when asked why he wanted to be mentored, responded, “I want to learn from your mistakes.” Showing discernment beyond his years, this individual had realized he did not need to make all of his own errors; he could also learn from the mistakes others had made. Wisdom is usually a product of experience, and experience is often gained through making mistakes and then making necessary corrections and changes. “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise” (Proverbs 19:20).

Teachability pursues the best resources. The world is filled with knowledge. There are hundreds, even thousands of books on virtually any topic. There is an endless supply of information through the media – TV, radio, newspapers and magazines. The Internet can serve as a library at your fingertips, a cornucopia of content about practically everything. But we only have limited time, so which resources we use can affect not only our teachability but also what we learn. Why not consult the Bible? Writing to his young disciple, the apostle Paul declared, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Teachability is a quality we should all look for in those we select for leading areas of our business.

© 2020, Unconventional Business Network Adapted with permission from “Integrity Moments with Rick Boxx,” a commentary on issues of integrity in the workplace from a Christian perspective. To learn more, visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. His latest book, Unconventional Business, provides “Five Keys to Growing a Business God’s Way.”

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1.  Do you consider yourself teachable? Explain your answer.
2. From your observations, what are the consequences of not being teachable? Have you ever found yourself reporting to someone who seemed to lack teachability? What was that experience like? 
3. What steps do you think a person can take to become more teachable? What role, if any, does personal humility play in being able to develop and maintain teachability?
4. A final suggestion in this “Monday Manna” is to turn to the Bible as an important teaching resource. Do you agree – especially when thinking in terms of today’s marketplace? Why or why not?

1. NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
2. Proverbs 12:15, 19:27, 20:18, 24:5-6, 27:17; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 1:28

---

20