你有過「工作壓力」的經驗嗎？我們當然不能指望每一天的工作都沒有壓力。我們會有生產進度、報告期限、預算決定，還有工作職責上的要求和期望。職場壓力是無法避免的。然而，研究顯示，工作中過度的壓力，可能會對健康造成不良影響。

只要稍加努力，高階主管和領導者，就可以盡力創造和維持，一個有助於減少壓力和建立更健康工作氛圍的環境。

著名的《哈佛商業評論》，定期發佈各種主題的管理祕訣。其中一篇文章，談到如何為團隊設定健康的工作標準。該評論提出，領導者如何幫助團隊，在健康的界限內運作的三項建議，這些建議將促進他們的心理和情感的福祉，並還可以提高他們的生產力。

有趣的是，這些建議，與聖經中，關於如何建立強大和健康的人際關係的原則有所契合，這當然包括在工作的職場。以下是《哈佛商業評論》的建議，以及與之相符的聖經教導：

首先，作為領導者，應樹立良好的榜樣。生產力固然重要，但優秀的領導者，了解健康的「工作與個人生活」平衡（work/personal life balance）的重要性。例如，考慮深夜發送電子郵件給員工，或自己從沒有午餐休息時間，會造成的影響。下屬在實踐和行動上，往往會模仿他們的領導者，這是很常見且可以理解的。

使徒保羅，寫信給當時腓立比的基督徒時，說：「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）作為領導者，我們一直受到關注。我們應該以自己感到自信的方式行事，因為知道別人都在仿效我們做什麼和如何做。

其次，每週計劃額外的時間。我們中的許多人都過於樂觀，制定行程表和完工時間時，並未考慮到，意外問題和延誤的可能性。我們應該鼓勵員工，每週預留時間，來處理拖延或未能及時完成的計畫。

在耶穌的教導中，祂這樣表達：「你們哪一個要蓋一座樓，不先坐下算計花費，能蓋成不能呢？恐怕安了地基，不能成功，看見的人都笑話他，說：『這個人開了工，卻不能完工。』」（路加福音14章28-30節）

最後：增加工作量的透明度。了解員工的工作負荷，聆聽並用可以減少不必要壓力的方式回應。這將有助於避免，因為感到負擔過重而產生的危機。箴言 27章23節以一個農業時代的例子作為建議：「你要詳細知道你羊群的景況，留心料理你的牛群。」

我們的團隊需要健康的工作界限，包括休息和恢復的時間。希伯來書 4章10節指出：「因為那進入安息的，乃是歇了自己的工，正如神歇了他的工一樣。」

@2023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

備註：如果你有聖經，想閱讀更多相關的內容，請考慮下面的經文：

箴言 11章14節
11:14無智謀，民就敗落；謀士多，人便安居
箴言15章22節
15:22不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。
箴言16章9、21節
16:9人心籌算自己的道路；惟耶和華指引他的腳步。
16:21心中有智慧，必稱為通達人；嘴中的甜言，加增人的學問。
箴言19章20節
19:20你要聽勸教，受訓誨，使你終久有智慧。
馬可福音12章31節
12:31其次就是說：『要愛人如己。』再沒有比這兩條誡命更大的了。」
路加福音6章31節
6:31你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。
提摩太後書2章2節
2:2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。

反省與問題討論

1. 你如何描述一個健康的工作環境？
2. 一個領導者的言行舉止對工作環境有何影響？是否應該期望，領導者對於工作場所的做法和行為作出適當的榜樣，並對其負起責任？為什麼？
3. 在你的經驗中，當專案在規畫和安排的行程中進行時，是否通常會預留充足的時間，來因應意外問題、延誤和其他障礙呢？請解釋您的答案。
4. 你能否想到一個時刻，當你的主管花時間詢問你的近況，展現出對你個人福祉的真正關心呢？如果你擔任領導職責，你也會對他人展現這樣的關懷嗎？你做得多好呢？

SETTING HEALTHY WORK BOUNDARIES

By Rick Boxx

Stress at work – have you ever experienced it? We certainly cannot expect to go through every workday stress-free. We have production schedules, presentation deadlines, budgets, as well as the demands and expectations of our job descriptions. Workplace pressures are unavoidable. However, studies have shown excessive stress on the job can be unhealthy in many ways.

With a bit of effort, executives and leaders can strive to create and maintain environments that help to reduce stress and build healthier work atmospheres.

The esteemed Harvard Business Review regularly publishes management tips on a variety of topics. One listing concerned the setting of healthy standards of work for one’s team. The Review highlighted three recommendations for how leaders can help their team operate within healthy boundaries, ones that will promote both their mental and emotional well-being, as well as enhance their productivity. 

Each of these, interestingly, has biblical counterparts, principles from the Bible about how to form strong and healthy interpersonal relationships, including in the workplace. Here are the Harvard Business Review recommendations as well as biblical teachings that align with them:

First: As the leader, set a good example. Productivity is important, but a good leader understands the importance of a healthy work/personal life balance. For instance, consider the impact that sending late-night emails to staff, or never taking a lunch break, can have. It is common – and understandable – for subordinates to emulate their leaders in their practices and actions.

The apostle Paul, writing to followers of Jesus Christ in the ancient city of Philippi, said, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9). As leaders, we are being observed. We should conduct ourselves in ways that we feel confident about others imitating what we do and how we do it.

Second: Plan extra time each week. Many of us are overly optimistic, setting schedules and time frames that do not consider the possibility of unexpected problems and delays. We should encourage staff to set aside time to work on lingering projects each week.

In His teaching, Jesus expressed it this way: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish’” (Luke 14:28-30).

Finally: Increase workload transparency. Check in with staff about their workload. Listen and respond in ways that can reduce unnecessary stress. This will help in avoiding crises that could result if and when they feel overwhelmed. Using an agricultural example, Proverbs 27:23 advises, “Be sure to know the condition of your flocks; give careful attention to your herds.”

Our teams need healthy work boundaries, including time for rest and restoration. As Hebrews 4:10 points out, “For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from His.”

Copyright 2023, 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

1. How would you describe a healthy working environment?
2. What is the impact of a leader’s speech and actions? Is it fair to expect leaders to be held accountable for serving as appropriate examples for workplace practices and behavior? Why or why not?
3. In your experience, when projects are being planned and scheduled, is ample time usually allotted for unexpected problems, delays, and other obstacles? Explain your answer.
4. Can you think of a time when someone you reported to took the time to ask how you were doing, showing genuine concern for your personal well-being? If you hold leadership responsibilities, how good are you at demonstrating such care for others?

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages:

Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 16:9,21, 19:20; Mark 12:31; Luke 6:31; 2 Timothy 2:2

相關（靈修文章）：

• 週一嗎哪
• 讀經日引
• 荒漠甘泉
• 成語靈訓
• 真理再思
• 歲首到年終

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