找出並滿足你團隊的需求──IDENTIFYING AND MEETING YOUR TEAM’S NEEDS
For English version, please refer to the latter part of this page
史蒂芬·菲蘭(Stephen Phelan)，一家大型抵押貸款公司的高階主管，在一次會議上說出，有關他們公司照顧團隊成員的方法。經過探討團隊成員的需求後，公司得出結論：每個人在職場中，都有三個共同需求。他說每個人都需要：1）工作中的朋友，2）危機中的朋友，以及3）工作中的意義。
從第一個需求開始，各種研究已經表明，很少有人擁有多位真誠的朋友(社交媒體上的「朋友」不算在內）。發展友誼的最佳機會，往往在我們的工作職場上，能夠找到。認識到這點後，菲蘭的公司建立了一個獨特的導師計劃，鼓勵員工在工作中建立和培養朋友情誼。
這樣的友誼看起來是什麼樣子呢？應該是遠超過僅為泛泛之交，或只是團隊成員因工作而必須建立的連結。聖經舊約提供了適用的洞見，「朋友乃時常親愛，弟兄為患難而生。」(箴言17章17節)很明顯地，這遠遠超越了僅僅是座位相鄰，或隔壁辦公室的同事關係。
談到第二個需求－在危機中擁有朋友。菲蘭觀察到，當員工經歷家庭、財務或醫療危機時，是雇主證明，他們是以朋友的身份關心員工一個絕佳機會。這是他們的言語轉化為行動的時候。
我的一位朋友，在墨西哥有一名員工被販毒集團綁架了。這顯然在許多方面都是一場危機。我的朋友和他的團隊，找方法支持那位員工的家庭，同時也與政府及執法部門緊密合作，確保員工最後安全返家。
聖經中另一節適用於這類情況的經文教導說，「濫交朋友的，自取敗壞；但有一朋友比弟兄更親密。」(箴言18章24節)雇主應該尋找積極的方法，在各種危機中成為員工的親密朋友。
菲蘭提到的第三個需求－尋找方法來幫助每位員工，找到工作上的意義。這帶來了一個很不一樣的觀點。多年前，我在一次會議上，講授如何在工作中找到意義時，一位養老院的員工走向我。她以前是位街友，因此這份工作能夠為自己提供最基本的物質需求－住所、食物和衣服，這些成了她的優先考量。
可以理解的是，她原本只將工作視為賺取薪水的手段。然而，當她了解到工作除了賺錢之外，還能有更深層意義，這對她來說，是一個突破性的觀點。當這位女士發現，上帝賦予她工作更偉大的意義後，她開始更深切的代禱和關心她的病人，也為她的日常職責找到了更重大的意義。
對我來說，這是新約羅馬書８章28節，所教導的一個極好的例子。「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。」這位女士，曾經無家可歸的經歷，賦予了她獨特的理解和同情心，激勵她成為一個，能夠以不同角度看到工作價值的人。當我們能夠幫助員工活出他們的意義時，我們不僅僅是滿足了，他們內心深處感受到的需求，還將他們培養成更忠誠的團隊成員。
@2024版權所有，經許可改編自 “UBN誠信時刻”，關於職場工作中信仰議題的評論。UBN（非常規企業聯盟）是一個服務小型企業界的國際性職場信仰事工。UBN的官網: www.unconventionalbusiness.org
挑戰思考
在接下來的這一週，留意你周遭的人。有人是否會需要一位朋友，一個真心關心他們的人呢？如果你找到這樣的人，請思考並禱告，你如何可以擴展友誼，並讓他們接觸到耶穌基督的愛。那麼你自己呢？你能夠列出一些真正的朋友嗎？那些你不僅在工作上認識的人？當你需要時可以依靠的人，而他們也知道他們可以依靠你。有時候，要交朋友，首先得成為一位朋友。
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請參考下面的經文：
箴言27章10節
27:10你的朋友和父親的朋友，你都不可離棄。你遭難的日子，不要上弟兄的家去；相近的鄰舍強如遠方的弟兄。
馬太福音7章12節
7:12所以，無論何事，你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人，因為這就是律法和先知的道理。」
約翰福音15章13-17節
15:13人為朋友捨命，人的愛心沒有比這個大的。
15:14你們若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。
15:15以後我不再稱你們為僕人，因僕人不知道主人所做的事。我乃稱你們為朋友；因我從我父所聽見的，已經都告訴你們了。
15:16不是你們揀選了我，是我揀選了你們，並且分派你們去結果子，叫你們的果子常存，使你們奉我的名，無論向父求什麼，他就賜給你們。
15:17我這樣吩咐你們，是要叫你們彼此相愛。」
歌羅西書3章17節、23-24節
3:17無論做什麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。
3:23無論做什麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
3:24因你們知道從主那裡必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。
以弗所書6章7-8節
6:7甘心事奉，好像服事主，不像服事人。
6:8因為曉得各人所行的善事，不論是為奴的，是自主的，都必按所行的得主的賞賜。
反省與問題討論
- 你如何定義什麼是真正的朋友？你個人有多少這樣的朋友呢？
- 你在工作場所擁有的友誼如何？它們是表面上的工作關係，還是你認為它們是超越工作職責的真正友誼呢？請解釋你的答案。
- 你的公司是否在員工的日常工作之外，展現出真誠的關心和關懷呢？如果沒有，你認為特別是在危機時期，專注於員工的需求會產生什麼影響呢？
- 你是否在工作中找到了意義？你認為「為什麼」，以及「如何」會，使人對工作的態度和方式產生改變呢？
IDENTIFYING AND MEETING YOUR TEAM’S NEEDS
By Rick Boxx
Stephen Phelan, a top executive with a major mortgage corporation, was speaking at a conference about his company’s approach to caring for their team members. After exploring the needs of their teammates, the company concluded everyone had three common needs within the workplace. He said everyone needs: 1) friends at work, 2) friends during a crisis, and 3) purpose in their work.
Starting with the first need, various studies have shown that very few people have multiple genuine friends. (Social media “friends” do not count.) The best opportunity for developing friendships is often found in our workplaces. Recognizing this, Phelan’s company established a unique mentoring program to encourage employees to establish and cultivate friendships at work.
What does this kind of friendship look like – beyond casual acquaintances or the necessary associations that develop as members of a workplace team? The Bible’s Old Testament gives this helpful insight: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Clearly, this requires more than simply being neighbors in the next office or cubicle.
Speaking about the second need – having friends during a crisis – Phelan observed that employers have an ideal opportunity to demonstrate they are friends who care when employees are going through family, financial, or medical crises. This is when their words can move into action.
A friend of mine had an employee in Mexico who was kidnapped by a drug cartel. This obviously was a crisis in many ways. My friend’s team found ways to support the employee’s family and also worked closely with government and law enforcement authorities to bring their employee home safely.
Another Bible verse that applies in these kinds of circumstances teaches, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Employers should look for proactive approaches to being a close friend to employees during crises of many kinds.
The third need Phelan cited – exploring ways for helping each employee to find purpose in their work – brings a different perspective. Years ago, I was teaching at a conference on how to find purpose in work when a nursing home employee approached me. She had previously been homeless, so being able to provide for her most basic physical needs – housing, food, and clothing – was her priority.
Understandably, she had viewed her work simply as a means for earning a paycheck. However, learning that work could have purpose beyond earning a wage was a revolutionary idea for her. When this woman discovered God’s greater purpose for her work, she began praying and caring for her patients in a deeper way, finding even greater meaning for her daily responsibilities.
To me, this was an excellent example of what Romans 8:28 in the New Testament teaches, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This woman’s experiences as a homeless person equipped her with unique understanding and compassion, inspiring her to become someone who could see value in her work in a different way. When we can help employees live out their purpose, we are not only meeting a deeply felt need, but also developing them into more loyal team members.
Copyright 2024, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How would you define what is a genuine friend? How many of these friends do you have personally?
- What about friendships you have at your workplace? Are they superficial work relationships, or would you consider them to be genuine friendships that transcend work responsibilities? Explain your answer.
- Does your company demonstrate sincere caring and concern for its employees beyond their daily work schedules? If not, what do you think would be the impact of focusing on staff needs, especially during times of crisis?
- Have you found a sense of purpose in your work? Why and how do you think this can make a difference in someone’s attitude and approach to their work?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 27:10; Matthew 7:12; John 15:13-17; Colossians 3:17, 23-24; Ephesians 6:7-8
Challenge for This Week
During this next week, be aware of the people around you. Is there anyone who might need a friend, someone who has genuine concern for them? If you find such an individual, consider and pray about how you might extend friendship and expose them to the love of Jesus Christ.
What about yourself: Who can you name that are genuine friends, people you know beyond working associations? Someone you can count on when needed – and they know they can count on you. Sometimes it requires being a friend to make a friend.
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