Teamwork as a Spiritual Value

by Alice Houghtaling

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

For many people in the workplace, work is not a "calling" but a means to an end. Here is one thoughtful woman's reflection on the challenge of making her job have value and meaning without becoming worn down by her work experience.

Once a month or so, I get together with a friend who is a retired pastor, to work on a personal study. (We just finished Primary Speech by Ann and Barry Ulanov.) At one point, she was doing some interim work for a church that was looking for a full-time pastor. My friend expressed her deep satisfaction at being able to do that which she loves and feels "called" to do. She asked me what it was like to be in a job where that is not the case. I am the office manager for a lumberyard, and I also manage "accounts payable".

For many people in the workplace, work is not a "calling" but a means to an end. There are many reasons why we stay where we are: lack of education to get something better, fear of risking change, inability to go back to school because of family commitments, laziness to go back to school and get a different degree, loyalty to the people one works for and with, the desire to be productive – but not the need to have money to live ( a second income in a two-income family). The reasons are probably as varied as the people who hold them. The bottom line, however is that we choose to stay in the job.

The challenge then becomes to make the experience of being within that particular job have value and meaning rather than allow oneself to be worn down by the experience.

For example: Is teamwork a spiritual value? Of course it is! Teamwork is a thing of beauty when it is done well. It has the capacity to bring satisfaction to our efforts and learning to our minds and hearts. And always there is the challenge of learning to get along with all different kinds of people. People who hold different values make life challenging and interesting. It is a challenge to learn to be open to others, and yet hold your own ground when it is essential to do so. It is a challenge to strive to do one’s best when others on the team simply want to get the task done –well or not. The conflicts and tensions that are produced are the stuff of real spirituality – can I accept and work with the person who consistently half completes a task and leaves others to clean up? This is the place to be very clear and very intentional about what I want to accomplish in my interactions with this person.

Remember – all actions have rewards and consequences, both personally, for the other person, and for the other team members. Do I think that God is concerned about this? I consistently come away with the feeling that God is right in the middle of it, concerned about how I can learn to create a condition where love (my definition: “The desire to do good to others”) is found.

Does that mean that I don’t do the tough "calling on the carpet" response? Absolutely not. Love here is no wishy-washy ideal but a careful calling to craft a response born out of spiritual maturity and responsibility to do the best for the whole as well as for the individual and oneself.

Career Search – Quest or Curse

by Nina Ham

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

If you’re in the midst of a career search, undecided about the next direction for your work life, you may be struggling to keep your self-esteem strong at the same time that you’re trying to answer the all-important question about what you want to do. People often seem to be aching for a sympathetic outlook on their stories of career dissatisfaction. They tend to be their own harshest critics, often riddled with self-doubt and embarrassment about not getting this "career thing" right. Maintaining a constructive attitude is challenging.

In spite of contrary statistics - such as, the average American changes jobs eight times over the course of his/her lifetime - we still tend to harbor the expectation that we "should" decide by our late 20’s/early 30’s what we want to do and follow that path for the remainder of our working lives. As T. puts it, "My search for work I’m passionate about is regarded by my friends like a child’s drawing that’s put up on the refrigerator...isn’t that cute!" In this context, career dissatisfaction can feel like a curse.

It’s often the case, when facing a challenging transition, that there’s some subtle – or not so subtle – finger-pointing at yourself going on. Does any of these sound familiar?

• I must be crazy to contemplate embarking on a new venture in this economy.
• Maybe I should stop worrying about my calling and get a job.
• If it doesn’t look good on my resume, it doesn’t count.
• I’ve never been happy in a job...I need to look elsewhere for fulfillment.
• I have responsibilities. I can’t afford to look for work I love.
• What if I find my dream job and I’m still dissatisfied?
• How will I explain to people...?

Whether you’re considering moving from one industry to another or into self-employment, you’ll probably agree that support systems for people in career transition are lagging woefully behind the sea changes that are occurring in the way we do work. As evidence of this, ask yourself the following:

• What did you learn in your formal education about making a good career choice?
• When were you encouraged to match your abilities, values, and personality to career options, and shown how to do it?
• Would you ever consider marrying someone you hadn’t dated first?
• Were you ever told that what you’re qualified to do, even if it earns a decent wage, is not sufficient reason to keep doing it?
• Do you know where to go for support and reinforcement to continue the search for work you’re passionate about?
• Do you have models for matching changes in life stages or circumstances with changes in values or priorities concerning work?
• Did you know that having an identity crisis or upheaval every 10 years is considered normal and healthy? Experts agree that adult identity is largely shaped by love and work.

Chances are, your answers to these questions point out how poorly you’ve been prepared for the transition you’re engaged in. Imagine how different it would be if we lived in a culture in which the longing to work well – to have work that fulfills and stretches us – was recognized as one of adulthood’s quests, as human and dignified as the longing to love well or parent well. As the poet David Whyte tells us so eloquently, creating meaningful work is how we forge our place in the world, how we create belonging. Many of us find belonging where personal meets personal, in friendship or intimacy; in work, where personal meets public, a larger sense of belonging can be claimed. To forge our place we must be fully engaged both with who we are and who we want to become. Through working we express our unique natures – our values, our skills, our creativity - and we challenge ourselves to become even more fully what we’re capable of. Given this perspective on working well, not only should it take exactly as long as it takes – with no self-reproach – to do the necessary inner and outer research, but it may be an on-going, lifelong process. Just as personal change and growth distinguish aliveness from death, so must we require our work to keep pace with those changes.

The next important question to address, for those of you committed to the quest for good work, is how to sustain yourself during the process, both practically and emotionally. Meeting the daily ups and downs of a career search can be a formidable challenge. Here are some suggestions:

Prepare financially.

Consider either reducing debt to cut monthly payments or borrowing, to repay when you’re reemployed. Also consider making a temporary job move, to give yourself more time with less financial pressure. This can be a good opportunity to explore some career ideas.

Fortify a positive attitude.

The territory between your ears can be a bad neighborhood to hang out in alone at times, specially if there’s excessive worry, confusion or self-criticism. Make a point to talk with someone, a friend or a professional, on a regular basis. That person is likely to be more objective about you and your abilities than you are.

If you haven’t already, read Po Bronson’s What Should I Do With My Life? And check out his chatroom: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/life_goals. You’ll realize with relief that you’re not alone.

Maintain perspective.

Find a hero or heroine, in your personal life or in the media, someone who has drawn on courage and persistence to continue the search until finding his or her right work.

Don’t overlook the value of intuition for this process. Trying to "figure out" what to do may not be the best way. Let some insights/hunches/visions come to you.

Remember: You’re learning career development skills here. These are skills that will serve you over the long haul.

When you need inspiration to stay in the quest, try this quote from William Blake: "In good work that is a heartfelt expression of ourselves, we necessarily put our very identities at risk. Perhaps it is because we know, in the end, we are our gift to others and the world."

Employers Will Be Nice

by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

competition for qualified employees was intense. Employers, who had not seemed to care much about people in the early part of the decade, changed their demeanor. In their campaigns to attract enough good workers to fill their positions, they offered all sorts of incentives. Small fortunes were invested-expended-to lure applicants and get them on the payroll. All sorts of wonderful benefits were lavished on workers to entice them to stay. Employers were nice and warm and loving…until the economy slowed.

Suddenly the façade evaporated. Employers became mean, cutting payroll like a knife through warm butter. The caring attitudes disappeared. People lucky enough to still be employed rankled at the way they were treated by managers who took them for granted. Even the human resource professionals, who are expected to be more sensitive, didn't seem to care about people anymore. They were administrators, executioners.

People who were unemployed were actively looking for jobs. The reactions of the employers were radically different during the slow economy. Phone calls were not returned. Resumes were ignored. E-mails went unanswered. Yes, employers were busy, but their behavior toward applicants was often downright rude. A recent survey by monster.com revealed that 73 percent of applicants never heard back from employers after submitting their resumes. Anger, irritation, and resentment grew as these wonderful workers were snubbed and insulted.

Now the tables are turning again. With the economy picking up and the labor shortage rearing its ugly head, employers are in for a nasty shock. We're moving into a sellers' market for labor again-sellers who have vivid memories of their recent mistreatment. Employers who didn't have the courtesy to be considerate and polite during the slow economy may find themselves in a very difficult position in the hot economy.

Employers who were warm and receptive, even if they didn't have openings, will find it much easier to recruit talent. They've built communities of prospective employees who appreciate the humane treatment they received from organizations who wanted them, but couldn't justify hiring yet. These people-centered employers will enjoy a significant competitive advantage.

Any Job Is An Honorable Job

by Teresa Proudlove

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal foundation upon which a career change can be built.

At fifteen, my first job was that of a waitress at a local truck stop. One day, back then, I happened to meet the elementary principal of my past. She mentioned she had heard I was working part time and wondered at what.

Shamefacedly I mumbled, "Oh, I am just a waitress." That wise, old, stern headmistress said to me, "Teresa, any job is an honorable job. Don't you ever forget it!" And I never have.

Of course, seeing the honor in our job is not always an easy task.

Societal Values Demean our Work & Worth

Our societal values make it difficult to honor so-called menial jobs. Our sick societal values esteem big bank accounts, fancy houses, new cars, extended paid vacations, prestigious jobs, beautiful, youthful looks, and perfectly cloned behaviors. These societal values wring the worth from the vast majority of hard-working folk.

Create your own values by looking for the honor and worth in your work now. Any honest day's work is honorable and worthy. Finding the honor and goodness in everything you do builds dignity and honor within you. Even if you wanted to career change but instead returned to the field you had hoped to leave, remember, there is huge honor and courage in this. Taking care of your family and responsibilities does not mean you are a failure. It means you are a responsible, caring human being.

If you cannot find any worth in your current job, that lack of worth will likely haunt your career change. Before jumping jobs, seeking fulfillment elsewhere, consider your current job as sacred work.

Your Job as Sacred Work

Monastic writers have described their day-to-day, menial work as the path to holiness. Your job is much more than a means to pay bills. Try envisioning your job as your ministry.

I have a very health conscious, spiritual friend who, at this moment in her life, sells lottery tickets, liquor and cigarettes in a liquor store to help pay her bills. Rather than bitterly resent her position, she has made it her ministry to create a positive atmosphere, giving kindness and care to every human being that passes through those doors. Not surprisingly, wonderful little miracles occur often. (And yes, she is also doing the groundwork to create new employment.)

Rarely are things what they seem to be on the surface. In every relationship, in every job, and in every life experience there is much more going on than meets the eye.

"The three foundations of spirituality: hearth as altar, work as worship and service as sacrament." -- A Compilation of Triads, Volume I, John F. Wright

We are always being called to see the bigger picture and to grow nearer to our soul. To find more meaning within the work you do now, query your soul as to the larger view.

Ask Your Soul

Try sitting quietly for awhile. Practice letting go of passing thoughts while lightly noticing your breath coming in and going out. Relax your body and mind. Ask your soul, "What is my work really about. What work am I really doing here?"

When I had grown weary of facilitating the same career assessment program for nine years, I sat and asked my soul this same question. Within the whisper of my small, still voice I heard the truth, "You are bringing light and hope to people."

The work I was doing was not about self assessment tools or job search but about bringing light and hope to people. From that day onward the program was no longer repetitive for me and as I gained more depth and meaning in my work, so did the program.

When we see our work as sacred and honorable, we feel good about what we are doing and who we are. This goodness spins off into our family, workplace and ultimately the world. This also, builds an ideal foundation for career change, if we so desire. From honoring ourselves and our current work we can then successfully begin taking small steps towards change.

Sorting Out What's Next Takes Patience and a Career Plan

by: Bradford Agry

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

Many of us when faced with career transition jump immediately to the tactical aspects of job hunting. The knee jerk reaction is to immediately start faxing resumes, contacting executive recruiters and researching Internet sites. People often incorrectly assume the best career path is that of least resistance which is “to continue doing what you have always done well.”

But this period of unemployment may actually give you a chance to really to take a hard look at your career—both in the short and long terms. For many, a career interruption may be the first time they can stop the career “train” long enough to know if it is still on the right “track”.

For many the challenge has the important spiritual dimension of “waiting and listening for God”. Discerning what is next demands re-training our action-oriented selves to also spend some time in quiet reflection. If we are immersing ourselves 24/7 in doing and acting we may not hear the subtle hints God is giving us as to where our vocations could be headed.

One way of focusing our intentions is to consider three important elements to consider when tackling the question of “What do I really want to do?”

Skills

This means taking an in depth look at what you see as your natural talents or “gifts” Take an inventory of several enjoyable past work experiences and analyze them to see which skills you were using. You may see a pattern that never occurred before. A director of marketing, for example, may really like the numerical analysis they do but not the prospecting and presenting. Perhaps this quantitative piece of the position could be leveraged elsewhere.

Interests

Here you need to determine where you want at apply these skills. Just because you for instance have done accounting well for years, been rewarded for it and promoted as an accounting manager, doesn’t necessarily mean you may want to continue doing it. Take the time to see if there are other fields you might want to pursue. By talking to people in these fields you can determine if there is any gap between needed skills and those you currently have. This will then allow you to determine ways of getting this new training and what the cost/benefit proposition of doing this is.

Values

Recall which environments you have worked in previously where you were most content and productive. Identify what your ideal environment by looking at what kinds of people you work best with. Understand which corporate “cultures” are a best ‘fit’ for your personality. Describe in detail what the place looks like—what are the people wearing, how their workspaces are arranged and what kind of schedules they keep. Paying attention to these details will assure that you pursue interviews at places where you will be successful.

There certainly is no formula that will instantly produce the ideal job. But having a good understanding of your natural talents, potential interests and ideal environment will help focus your career search.

A corporate trainer doesn't let unemployment get her down

By Beth Carey

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

Dara was a 9-to-5 career woman for 20 years. She commuted daily into Houston, looking confident with her auburn Halle Berry haircut and power suits, her cell phone and organizer at arm’s reach.

But when Dara lost her job with the large corporation where she’d earned the best salary in her career, the family income was suddenly cut in half. She’s been doing a lot of soul-searching in the many months since her layoff. Now the question friends constantly ask her is, “How do you keep such an upbeat attitude in the face of such loss?”

Working full-time and raising two children with her husband, Rodney, was a fact of life for Dara. She worked professionally as a corporate trainer for 20 years. The family never imagined Dara’s last job would end in just 18 short months. The job had boosted their income enough so they’d decided to sell their starter home and buy a larger home to accommodate their growing family. They also replaced their old van with a new one. Both purchases came with large monthly payments.

The family expected Dara to land a new job without too much trouble. But the months keep going by and no full-time job has come her way. Is it the economy, or a dried-up job market in their city? It’s hard to tell.

Living My Faith at Work

by A Christian

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As a federal law enforcement officer, I face many challenges in living out my Christian faith. I have a sense of calling that my work is what God wants me to do which empowers me in my faith life.

I believe God calls each of us to what has been described as "Ministry in Daily Life." This is basically to live out the Gospel wherever we are, believing that God has placed us there for His purpose. Each of us has been given a unique "ministry" based on who we interact with every day, whether at home, at work or in social settings. Some writer has noted, "You may be the only Jesus they ever see." I have a sense of responsibility to help others and share my faith as God gives me opportunity. I believe God has blessed me in many ways and I in turn should strive to be a blessing to others.

I often see the worst side of people, those who I investigate for federal criminal violations. Over the last 19 years, I’ve investigated outlaw motorcycle gangs, teenage prostitution rings, organized crime in New York City, and most kinds of white collar crime.

Two of the driving forces I've seen as being common in these people are greed and power. Many people show no remorse when caught, only disappointment that they were caught. And yet, in God's eyes, I know I'm no better than them, for "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." But praise God, I know I'm forgiven and serve a risen Savior who has conquered sin and death and who gives me hope and a purpose every day, along with the promise of eternal life. I am privileged by God’s grace to live the "abundant life" the Apostle John described. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!