Sunday, October 6, 2024

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葡萄樹傳媒

「找一份更好的工作」或「把工作做得更好」?

Robert J. Tamasy

當你有一份樂在其中的工作時,不論你位於公司組織中的哪一個階層,你覺得工作就是享受。早晨起床後就熱切地想前往工作場所,接受即將面對的機會和挑戰。

但若你不喜歡你的工作要怎麼辦?若你的工作1)無聊,2)沒有挑戰性,3)壓力太大,4)薪水太少,或者5)沒有成就感?若是這樣,一睜眼就不想去上班,因為那工作是你厭惡的。你會發現你被別人家「更綠的草地」所吸引,看著辦公室的窗外發呆,想像著到別的地方工作,那兒有更好的工作環境,更高的薪水和福利,以及更賞識你的上司。

有了這種感覺就表示該是你更新履歷表,擦亮面試技巧,並開始尋求其他工作機會的時候到了。然而,若此刻時機不對?若求職市場緊縮,能夠找到更好工作的機會非常渺茫?你沒得選擇,只能留在原本的單位逆來順受,而讓自己在工作時充滿痛苦和沮喪嗎?

已過世的「超棒」查理.鐘斯(Charlie “Tremendous” Jones)是一位工商人士、作家、以及非常有魅力的激勵型演說家。他如此處理這進退兩難的情況:「別試著去找更好的工作。把你現在的工作做得更好,這樣你就是擁有更好的工作了!」

這個建議似乎不合邏輯:若我們不喜歡目前的工作,我們怎麽會帶著熱忱去做?更遑論做到卓越呢?但仔細想想,其實這建議非常合理。若我們決定在工作中盡自己的全力,盡一切所能,然後我們可能會驚訝地發現,一個似乎很糟的情況居然改變了。

在我的職業生涯中,有許多次我的工作幾乎無法繼續下去,但我沒有機會選擇別的工作,而且我知道辭職是不恰當的。我可以讓不滿佔據心頭,那會使工作結果變得低於水準,但聖經幫助我重新定焦。歌羅西書3章23節說:「無論作什麼,都要從心裡作,像是給主作的,不是給人作的。」當我默想這節經文,我就被提醒,我最大的「老闆」是上帝,而不是那個坐在總裁辦公室裡的人。

以下是聖經教導,可以運用在面對不理想工作時的處理態度:

無論如何還是維持忠心。當工作環境很適合我們,那麼幾乎每個人都能做得卓越,但有時上帝會試驗我們,看看我們在不合己意的環境中,是否仍然選擇勤奮與可靠,然後才會賦予我們另一項新的任務。「人在最小的事上忠心,在大事上也忠心;在最小的事上不義,在大事上也不義」(路加福音16章10節)。

在你所在之處盡你所能。有時我們想像著崇高的願景,認為只要自己到了某個位置,就能為上帝做大事。但就如某人智慧地觀察到:「若我們不願意在現在的位置上服事上帝,我們如何能在自己所不在的位置服事祂?」以弗所書2章10節:「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。」

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。

省思/討論題目
從1到10的量表,1代表最低分,你會給你目前的工作幾分?你為何會給那個分數? 坦誠地說,當你工作時,你是否盡所能地去做?請解釋。 查理.鐘斯說,「不必尋找更好的工作,我們應該把工作做得更好--在那過程中,可能會發現我們已經有一個更好的工作了。」你對他的建議有何回應? 當你讀到耶穌說:「人在最小的事上忠心,在大事上也忠心」,你會想到什麼?你是否相信無論環境如何,若維持忠心地執行自己的職責,上帝會賞賜我們?為什麼?註:若你有聖經且想要讀更多有關此主題的經文,請參考以下經節:箴言14章23節、22章29節;傳道書3章1-3節;腓立比書3章12-14節;歌羅西書3章15-17節

GETTING A BETTER JOB – OR DOING A BETTER JOB?
By Robert J. Tamasy

When you have a job you enjoy, regardless of where you fit on the organizational chart or the rung you occupy on the corporate ladder, going to work is a pleasure. You arise in the morning eager to return to the workplace, enthused about opportunities and challenges you will be facing

But what if you have a job you do not like? What if your job is 1) boring, 2) not challenging, 3) too stressful, 4) not financially rewarding, or 5) not fulfilling? In that case, awakening and thinking about going to work is not welcomed – it is something you dread. You find yourself drawn to the “greener grass” on the other side of the fence, or staring out the office window imagining what it would be like working somewhere else with a better working environment, greater compensation and benefits, or more appreciation from your superiors.

Sometimes such feelings are an indication the time has come to update your resume, polish your interviewing skills, and begin to explore other opportunities. However, what if the timing is not right? What if the job market is tight and chances of finding a better job are very slim? Have you no choice but to “grin and bear it,” as they say, resigning yourself to workdays filled with misery and frustration?

The late Charlie “Tremendous” Jones, a businessman, author and highly engaging motivational speaker, addressed this dilemma when he offered this observation: “Don”t try to get a better job; do a better job. Do a better job and you will have a better job!”

This advice seems to run counter to logic: If we do not like our work, how can we pursue it with passion and excellence? But in reality it makes excellent sense. If we resolve to do our best, our “utmost,” then we might be surprised to discover how much a seemingly bad situation can improve.

I can think of several times during my career when my “season” seemed to be drawing to close where I was working, yet I had no other job options and knew simply quitting my job made no sense. I could have let discontent take over and settle for doing substandard work, but one Bible verse helped to keep me focused. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). As I meditated on that passage, I was reminded that ultimately my “boss” was God, not the person sitting in the CEO”s office.

Here is more advice Bible gives about how to deal with less-than-ideal job situations:

Remain faithful, no matter what. Nearly everyone can excel when job conditions are optimal, but sometimes we are tested by God to see how diligent and reliable we choose to be where we are before He moves us to a new assignment. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).

Do all you can where you are. Sometimes we conjure grandiose visions of what we could do for God if only we were somewhere else. But as someone wisely observed, “If we are not willing to serve God where we are, how can we serve Him where we are not?” Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God”s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Reflection/Discussion Questions
On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the lowest, how would you rate your current job? Why do you give it that rating? Being honest, would you say that when you are at work, you are performing your job to the best of your ability? Explain your answer. What is your reaction to Charlie Jones”s suggestion that instead of seeking a better job, we should do a better job – and perhaps in the process we will discover we have a better job? What comes to mind when you read Jesus” statement, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much”? Do you believe God will reward our faithfulness in carrying out work responsibilities, regardless of the circumstances? Why or why not?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 14:23, 22:29; Ecclesiastes 3:1-3; Philippians 3:12-14; Colossians 3:15-17

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