言行合一

Bob Briner and Ray Pritchard 在他們的書「耶穌的領導課」說到，領袖就是老師，你用權柄教導。你必須總是準備好、知道你自己要教的是什麼？之後他們又加了一句：「領袖所說的話能影響人多深遠，端看他們是否真能在日常生活中做到他們自己所說的，有效持久的領導力需要言行合一。」

一位在英國出生的詩人埃德加‧蓋斯特Edgar Guest (註1) 對於教導和行動這個主題寫了一首詩「我寧願看見講道」，下面節錄片段：

我寧願「看見」而不是「聽見」一篇講道。I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day:
我寧願有人陪我走一段路而不只是指路。I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way.
眼睛是比耳朵更好的學生!The eye’s a better pupil, and more willing than the ear,

精心的輔導令人困惑，但例子總是很清楚。Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear….
你所說的演講也許非常聰明和真實，And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
但我寧願從你所做的學到教訓。But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
因為我會誤解你給我的高深指導，For I may misunderstand you in the high advice you give,
但我不會誤解你做的事情和你的生活方式But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
今天遊客認為最好的導遊就是，And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today,
帶他們去看風景的而非告訴他們風景的。Is not the one that tells them, but the one that shows the way.

在聖經中，信仰和行動的結合是一再出現的主題。有些人認為這也是聖經是職場最佳指導手冊的原因。以下選錄：

活出我們所相信的。說一些高尚的規條和價值觀而不行出來的人是偽君子。「我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有什麼益處呢？ 這信心能救他嗎？ 若是弟兄或是姐妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食， 你們中間有人對他們說，”平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖吃得飽”，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有什麼益處呢？ 這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。 必有人說：”你有信心，我有行為；你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我便藉著我的行為，將我的信心指給你看。”」 (雅各書2章14-18節)

可應用的原則。我們不只教導和示範，也期待學生能運用所學。「你們在我身上所學習的、所領受的、所聽見的、所看見的，這些事你們都要去行，賜平安的神就必與你們同在。」(腓立比書 4章9節)

將真理的價值觀傳揚出去。我們不只應該用行為支持自己所說的，更要把這樣的觀念傳出去好讓其他人能應用在自己的生活中。「你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的，也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。」(提摩太後書2章2節)

註1：埃德加‧蓋斯特 (1881-1959) 為美國創作最豐富的詩人之一，出版了約 11,000 首詩，曾經在 300 家報紙連載，被稱為「人民的詩人」(People”s Poet)，他的知名度讓他後來進入廣播及電視媒體業。

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。

In their book, Leadership Lessons of Jesus, Bob Briner and Ray Pritchard state, “Leaders are always teachers…you must teach with authority. You must be prepared. You must know what you are talking about.” But then they add, “A leader”s words, as vitally important as they are, will only go so far and impact so many unless they truly represent the reality of his or her life…. Effective, enduring leadership calls for both precept and example.”

The intersection of teaching and action also was the subject of a poem by English-born poet Edgar Guest. Here”s a portion of “I”d Rather See a Sermon:”

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day:
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil, and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear….
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do.
For I may misunderstand you in the high advice you give,
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live….
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today,
Is not the one that tells them, but the one that shows the way.

Aligning belief and action is a recurring theme in the Bible, which some regard as the greatest book ever compiled for the business and professional world. Here are some passages about this:

Living out what we believe. Expressing high-minded principles and values without practicing them ourselves is hypocritical. “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?… Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-18).

Applying the principles. We not only teach and demonstrate, but also expect those who follow us as leaders to put what they learn into use themselves. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice” (Philippians 4:9).

Passing on truths of value. We should not only back up what we say by our actions, but also pass them along for others to apply in their lives. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.