藉著責備達成幫助

我一貫是與人為善，不願得罪人，所以我掙扎考慮著應該怎麼做。「我不想讓人感覺像是個挑剔者」我試圖說服自己。「那顏色其實也沒有差太多；我們可以不必計較這一點色差。」然而，我的助理不認同我這種不願傷害人，姑息的想法。她明確知道該怎麽處理。

「我們不可以寄出像這樣的東西，」她強調：「他們必須重印！」

當然，我的助理是對的。我們費心地選擇了特定顏色來代表我們的機構，也準確地指示印刷廠，我們要求的顏色。我們無須藉由接受不符合標準的成品來與印刷廠妥協。不必考慮印刷廠是否因此造成損失，重要的是，要讓他們知道錯誤，以及他們的服務不符合期待。否則，他們怎會明白採取正確的作法，以確保將來工作品質的重要性？

那家印刷廠並沒有被觸怒，反而感謝我們的糾正，也很快地處理。第二天我們就收到了重做後正確的成品，看起來好太多了。我很高興我的助理盡職而堅決的指正，讓公司及我面對問題並負起應盡之責。

回頭看那個情況，我明白我當時忘記一些重要的聖經原則，就是當有需要時，就要提出糾正，不論是對一個廠商、員工或甚至是顧客。

責備是禮物。對一位下屬、朋友或廠商，直言他們的工作不被接受，雖然困難卻也可以是一項有愛心的舉動，只要是出自正確的心態，不是為了貶低對方，而是要幫助他們將來能做得更好。「智慧人的勸戒，在順從的人耳中，好像金耳環和精金的妝飾」（箴言25章12節）。

責備的責任。若你發現某人做出低於標準的工作，但卻沒有提醒他們，你等於也參與了那工作，甚至是寬容他們的錯誤。「不可心裡恨你的弟兄；總要指摘你的鄰舍，免得因他擔罪」（利未記19章17節）。

責備的益處。許多時候，似乎很難對人說出糾正或責備的話語，但若責備能幫助人們在工作上變得更有功效且有生產力，最後的結果可能是，對方感謝我們願意提供建設性的批評。「責備人的，後來蒙人喜悅，多於那用舌頭諂媚人的」（箴言28章23節）。

憑著愛心責備某家廠商－－關心某個人，或公司，讓他們明瞭自己沒有達到應有的水準及你的期待－－可使你，以及他們，為臻卓越全力以赴。

本文版權為正直資源中心（Integrity Resource Center, Inc.）所有。本文獲得授權改編自「瑞克．博克思的正直時刻 Integrity Moments with Rich Boxx」。這系列的文章是以一個基督徒的觀點評論職場的正直議題。

My tendency is to lean toward being a people-pleaser, so I struggled concerning what I should to do. “I don”t want to sound like a complainer,” I reasoned. “Maybe the colors are not that far off, and we can overlook the fact they are not an exact match.” My assistant at the time, however, did not share my struggle with being unwilling to hurt someone”s feelings. She knew what needed to be done.

"We can’t send this out looking like this," she asserted. "They will have to do the job again."

My assistant was right, of course. We had painstakingly chosen the colors for representing our organization and had accurately specified what we needed. And we were not doing the printer any favors by accepting substandard work. Rather than being concerned about offending the printing company, it was important for them to know when their services were not meeting expectations. Otherwise, how could they realize the need for taking corrective measures to ensure the quality of future work?

Rather than taking offense, the printer appreciated being informed of the error and was quick to respond. The next day we received our project – it had been redone, looking much better. I was glad my assistant had the determination to hold the company, and me, accountable.

Looking back on this situation, I realize I had forgotten some important biblical principles that apply to the value of providing correction when needed, whether for a vendor, an employee or even a customer:

The gift of a rebuke. Telling someone, whether a fellow staff member, friend or supplier, that their work is not acceptable can be an act of kindness if done in the right spirit, intended not to demean but to help them in doing better in the future. “Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man”s rebuke to a listening ear” (Proverbs 25:12).

The obligation of a rebuke. If you find someone performing substandard work and fail to bring it to their attention, in effect you are participating in, even condoning their failure. "Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt" (Leviticus 19:17).

The benefit of a rebuke. Many times it may seem hard to offer words of correction and rebuke, but if these help the individuals become more effective and productive in their work, the end result might be gratitude for our willingness to provide the constructive criticism. “He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue” (Proverbs 28:23).

Rebuking a vendor in love – caring enough about that person, or company, to make them aware of falling short of your expectations – can result in affirming your own commitment to excellence, as well as theirs.

Copyright 2015, 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.