人 – 是問題還是機會？──PEOPLE – PROBLEMS, OR POSSIBILITIES?
「如果不是因為人，事情將會容易得多了。」你聽過這樣的說法，或自己想過類似的事情嗎？如果有，你並不孤單，因為我們在生活和工作中遇到大多數問題都與人有關。然而，除去人顯然不是一種解決問題的方法，所以我們為何要這樣想呢？
作家兼高階管理者麥克斯．帝普雷（Max DePree）寫道：「人是所有重要事物的核心和靈魂。沒有人，就不需要領導者。領導者可以決定主要關注的只是資產…或者他們可以超越這一點，利用機會留下持久的影響，讓被帶領的人生活有更大的意義、更高的挑戰和更多的樂趣。」
一家公司可能會專注在自己的產品上，但它需要有人設計和製造這些產品。如果一家公司專門從事服務，它同時也需要有人提供這些服務。每天與我們共事的每個人都是獨一無二的，具有獨特的優點和缺點、個性和怪癖，但如果沒有他們，我們無法完成任何事情。
正如麥克斯．帝普雷（DePree）所說的，與其抱怨人們可能產生的問題，不如不斷思考如何利用機會經過他們留下深遠的影響。可以幫助他們透過工作發現生命中更大的意義和快樂；不僅在他們自己的生命中，也在他們周圍每個人的生命中產生深刻的影響。
我們該怎麼做呢？我們如何確定自己的主要焦點是和我們一起工作的人，以及我們有責任的那些人呢？聖經給了我們一些健全且明智的原則可以遵循：
持續細心觀察。正如勤奮的農民保護著賴以謀生的動物的福祉一樣，領導者也應該對他或她的員工的生活保持警覺。「你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群…羊羔之毛是為你作衣服；山羊是為作田地的價值，並有母山羊奶夠你吃，也夠你的家眷吃…。」（箴言 27章23-27節）
將心比心，推己及人。當你問自己「我應該如何指導別人？」時，更好的問題可能是「如果今天我們交換位置，我希望他們如何指導我呢？」「你們願意人怎樣待你們、你們也要怎樣待人。」（路加福音 6章31節）
把人放在首位。我們很容易被比如盈虧等目的和目標所佔據。但要讓員工有最佳表現，他們需要知道自己受到關心、重視和有價值。「凡事不可結黨，不可貪圖虛浮的榮耀；只要存心謙卑，各人看別人比自己強。各人不要單顧自己的事，也要顧別人的事。」（腓立比書 2章3-4節）。
透過服務建立典範。在許多工作環境中，員工被期望來服務「老闆」，但有一種激勵員工動機最好的方式，就是那在領導位子的願意做榜樣來服務員工。「正如人子來，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命，作多人的贖價。」（馬太福音 20章28節）。
© 2021. Robert J. Tamasy 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com
備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關內容，請參考以下經文（因篇幅有限，請參閱未列出的經文馬太福音5:38-47）：
箴言 3章13-15節
3:13 得智慧，得聰明的，這人便為有福。
3:14 因為得智慧勝過得銀子，其利益強如精金，
3:15 比珍珠（或譯：紅寶石）寶貴；你一切所喜愛的，都不足與比較。
箴言 11章17節
11:17 仁慈的人善待自己；殘忍的人擾害己身。
箴言 13章20節
13:20 與智慧人同行的，必得智慧；和愚昧人作伴的，必受虧損。
箴言 16章24節
16:24 良言如同蜂房，使心覺甘甜，使骨得醫治。
箴言 17章17節
17:17 朋友乃時常親愛，弟兄為患難而生。
路加福音 6章37-42節
6:37 「你們不要論斷人，就不被論斷；你們不要定人的罪，就不被定罪；你們要饒恕人，就必蒙饒恕（饒恕：原文是釋放）；
6:38 你們要給人，就必有給你們的，並且用十足的升斗，連搖帶按，上尖下流地倒在你們懷裏；因為你們用甚麼量器量給人，也必用甚麼量器量給你們。」
6:39 耶穌又用比喻對他們說：「瞎子豈能領瞎子，兩個人不是都要掉在坑裏嗎？
6:40 學生不能高過先生；凡學成了的不過和先生一樣。
6:41 為甚麼看見你弟兄眼中有刺，卻不想自己眼中有樑木呢？
6:42 你不見自己眼中有樑木，怎能對你弟兄說：『容我去掉你眼中的刺』呢？你這假冒為善的人！先去掉自己眼中的樑木，然後才能看得清楚，去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。」
反省與討論問題
- 你如何描述自己與他人的關係呢？你是外向、渴望甚至需要處在人群中呢？或者你更內向，在必要時才會與人打交道，但不與人相處時感覺更自在呢？
- 每天與人打交道時你會面對甚麼樣關於人的挑戰？當每天處理這些需求和責任時，與人打交道是否會讓你感受到特別的挫折與困難呢？
- 想一想你的上司讓你感到特別有價值和被需要的那一刻，對你產生了什麼樣的影響？尤其是當這種感覺衍生出的成就感和滿足感時？你會開始如何看待自己的工作。
- 為什麼把別人放在首位，為他們服務而不是期望他們為你服務是很困難的？在認知和反應他人可能正在面對的需求或困難，你認為自己的敏銳度如何？
PEOPLE – PROBLEMS, OR POSSIBILITIES?
By Robert J. Tamasy
“Business would be so much easier – if it weren’t for the people.” Have you ever heard this, or thought something like it yourself? If so, you’re not alone, because the vast majority of problems we encounter in life and work have something to do with people. However, eliminating people is obviously not an option – and why would we want to?
Author and business executive Max DePree wrote, “People are the heart and soul of all that counts. Without people, there is no need for leaders. Leaders can decide to be primarily concerned with assets…or they can go beyond that and capitalize on the opportunity to leave a legacy which provides greater meaning, more challenge, and more joy in the lives of those whom leaders enable.”
A company might be focused on products, but it requires people to design and make those products. If a company specializes in services, it requires people to provide those as well. Each of the individuals we work with every day is unique, with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, personalities and quirks, but we could not get anything done without them.
As DePree stated, rather than complaining about the issues people can present, we would be wise to constantly consider how we can take advantage of opportunities to leave an enduring legacy through them. By helping them to discover greater meaning and joy in their lives through their work, we can make a profound difference, not only in their lives but also in the lives of everyone around them.
How can we do that? How can we ensure that our primary focus is on the people we work with and for whom we have responsibility? The Bible gives us some sound principles to follow:
Keep careful watch. Just as a diligent farmer seeks to protect the welfare of the animals that generate his livelihood, those in authority should remain alert to how the people on his or her staff are faring. “Be sure to know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds…the lambs will provide you with clothing and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your and your family…” (Proverbs 27:23-27).
Treat others as you would want to be treated. When asking, ‘How should I direct others?’, a better question might be to ask is, ‘How would I want them to direct me, if we were to trade places?’ “And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them” (Luke 6:31, Amplified).
Put people first. We can easily become consumed by goals and objectives, the “bottom line.” But for workers to perform at their best, they need to know they are cared for and valued. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Set the example by serving. In many working environments, the staff are expected to serve the “boss,” but one of the greatest motivating factors is demonstrating that the one in authority is willing to serve those who work for him. “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
© 2021. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life with a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; andThe Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- How would you describe yourself in terms of relating to other people? Are you extroverted, eager and even needing to be around people? Or are you more introverted, dealing with people when necessary but feeling comfortable when you are not with people?
- What are some of the challenges you face in dealing with people on a daily basis? Do they present any particular frustrations as you approach each day’s demands and responsibilities?
- Think of a time when someone you reported to made you feel especially valued and needed. What kind of the impact did that have on you, especially in how you perceived your job and the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction you derived from it?
- Why is it often difficult to put people first – to serve them – rather than to expect them to serve you? How perceptive do you think you are, in terms of recognizing and responding to needs or hardships they might be dealing with?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:
Proverbs 3:13-15, 11:17, 13:20, 16:24, 17:17; Matthew 5:38-47; Luke 6:37-42
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