用智慧領導
By:Rick Boxx
大部份的CEO和頂尖的大型組織的執行長，經常有機會遇到不同的企業顧問和講師。很多顧問都有最新、最流行的商業點子。然而，潮流經常變化，這些點子也常會被其他新的策略所取代。而當潮流退去時，這些點子只留下混亂和問題，因為它們並非來自經得起時間考驗的智慧。
Wes Cantrell是前任跨國影印機製造公司的CEO(此企業體總值超過14億)，他的影印機通行全球。他原有許多的機會使用這些創新的點子，但他選擇採用不同的策略。在最近與工商界和專業職場人士的聚會談話中，Wes Cantrell對他們講述了這個令人意外的論點：他管理的風格和原則來自並且根源十誡。
不隨從如風一樣不定向的商業行為，他一直都使用已存在幾千年、並通過無數考驗的十誡來領導他的企業。就像詩篇所說的：『你的命令常存在我心裏，使我比仇敵有智慧。我比我的師傅更通達，因我思想你的法度。』( 詩篇119篇98-99節 )
在舊約聖經中，十誡出現在出埃及記20章1-17節以及申命記5章6-21節中，前三誡談到人類與神之間的關係，其他的七誡則提供我們可以應用在商界的原則。例如，第四誡要我們去觀察關於安息日的事情。以實際的層面說來，它提醒我們：如果我們晝夜不停地工作，卻不休息並重新得力，我們的身心靈會崩潰。
我們幾乎沒有人能發現十誡中的錯誤。當然，其中較受爭議的，是那些關於崇拜和單單順服神的誡命。對無神論者和不可知論者來說，那是一個很大的障礙。但是經上卻記載著，神告訴我們為何要如此行？「我今日所吩咐的一切誡命，你們要謹守遵行，好叫你們存活，人數增多，且進去得耶和華向你們列祖起誓應許的那地。」(申命記8章1節)
如果有一個上述提到的顧問，到你的辦公室說對你說，「如果你照我所說的去做，你的企業會昌盛壯大，經歷前所未有的成功。」你難道不會至少停下來去想一想他的建議，然後看看這些原則是否合適你公司的宗旨和文化嗎？
但一般的顧問所宣稱的，僅是在商界和世上的其他領域來來去去的潮流和噱頭，因為下一週、下個月、明年又會有另一個人會來跟你說同樣誇大的話，宣稱他或是她的建議可以得到最大的投資報酬率。但是十誡已經流傳了幾千年，它在人際和專業的世界裡，像一塊堅固的磐石。
帶領一個組織需要智慧。如果你想要在競爭中脫穎而出，你應該考慮Wes Cantrell”s的建議：研讀聖經－神的話語，並將它們應用在你的個人的生活和專業的領域裡。「十誡」是一個很好的開始。
版權所有2011,純全資料中心。本文摘錄自「與Rick Boxx的純全時刻」，這是一本從基督徒角度看職場議題的評論集。想知道更多關於純全資料中心的資訊，請上網訂閱Rick Boxx的每日純全時刻。www.integrityresource.org.
思想 / 討論題目
『十誡』你記得多少？如果你手上有聖經，請熟悉它們並在聖經中仔細查考它們。 你對用『十誡』建立管理和組織的基本原則看法如何？ 有些專家認為儘管沒提到信仰或是靈性，我們已經能在『十誡』中找到真正的價值了。你能看著『十誡』，並使用職場的背景來重新詮釋它們嗎？例如，第十誡說到：『當孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和華─你 神所賜你的地上得以長久。』可能可以被詮釋為「對掌權者要保持合適的敬意。」在你的組織文化下，你會如何重新詮釋其他的誡命？ 你認為如果每個人都同意使用『十誡』成為管理企業的基礎，對你的工作場合會產生甚麼影響？你認為人們會不會反對這樣的立場？你個人對此的意見是甚麼？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：
申命記6章1-9節；馬太福音22章36-40節；約翰福音13章34-35節；約翰一書2章7-8節；3章11-24節
LEADING WITH WISDOM
By Rick Boxx
Most CEOs and other top executives of large organizations have access to a wide range of business advisors and teachers. Many of these consultants arrive with the latest business ideas and fads. Fads come and go, however, being replaced by other novel and often short-lived strategies. Left in their wake are confusion and questionable business practices that are not rooted in time-tested wisdom.
Wes Cantrell, former CEO over a $14 billion corporation that manufactured copying machines sold worldwide, had many opportunities to utilize some of these new and innovative ideas. But he chose to take a very different path. Speaking at a recent gathering of business and professional people, Cantrell made a statement some of his listeners might have found surprising – that his management style and principles he followed were based on and rooted in the Ten Commandments.
Rather than following business practices that seemingly change with the wind, he was able to guide his organization consistently by using commands that have survived thousands of years and countless challenges. As Psalm 119:98-99 teaches, "Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers for I meditate on your statutes."
The Ten Commandments are presented in two places in the Bible”s Old Testament – Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. The first three commandments deal with mankind”s relationship with God; the remaining seven offer principles that can be applied to any business setting. For instance, the fourth commandment directs us to observe a Sabbath day. Practically speaking, it reminds us if we work day and night, not pausing for rest and refreshment, we will break down mentally and physically.
Hardly any of us would find fault with many of the Ten Commandments. The most controversial, of course, are those requiring worship and obedience to God alone. For atheists and agnostics, that is a great stumbling block. But in the Scriptures, God explains a practical motivation for obeying His rules: “Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers” (Deuteronomy 8:1).
What if a consultant like those cited above were to arrive at your office and declare with great conviction, “If you follow what I tell you, your business will grow and prosper, and you will experience more success than you ever could imagine.” Would you not at least pause to consider his recommendations and see how they could fit with your company”s mission and culture?
The problem, of course, is obvious. Next week, next month or next year someone else will come along and make similar boasts, claiming his or her proposal amounts to the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel. Yes, fads and gimmicks come and go – in the business world as well as other realms of society. Unlike those, however, the Ten Commandments have been around for thousands of years and remain rock solid as a consistent, reliable guide for conduct, both personal and professional.
Leading an organization requires wisdom. If you want to create a strong advantage over your competition, you would be wise to consider Wes Cantrell”s advice to study and apply God’s Word, the Bible, to your business as well as your personal life. And the Ten Commandments would be a good place to start.
Copyright 2011, Integrity Resource Center, Inc. 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 about Integrity Resource Center or to sign up for Rick”s daily Integrity Moments, visit www.integrityresource.org.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
How many of the Ten Commandments can you recall from memory? If you have a Bible handy, look them up and see which – if any – do not seem familiar. What is your reaction to the concept of establishing management and organizational principles according to the Ten Commandments? Explain your answer. Some experts have asserted that a person does not have to be religious – or even spiritual – to find practical value in the Ten Commandments. Consider each one again and try rephrasing it in a way that relates to a business setting. For instance, the fifth commandment which states, “Honor your father and your mother…“, could be restated as “Maintain proper respect for authority.” How might you paraphrase the other commandments to fit your organization”s mission and culture? What do you think would be the impact at your workplace if everyone agreed to use the Ten Commandments as the foundation for how they conduct business? Why do you think people might oppose such a stand? How do you feel about that personally? NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages:
Deuteronomy 6:1-9; Matthew 22:36-40; John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:7-8, 3:11-24
