Co-workers should be honored, not manipulated, chaplaincy director says_110804

Posted: 11/05/04

Co-workers should be honored, not
manipulated, chaplaincy director says

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

BURNET–Co-workers are not pawns to be manipulated on the way to a promotion but teammates to honor while working toward a common goal, said the Baylor Health Care System's chaplaincy director.

Mark Grace, director of pastoral care and counseling at Baylor, believes a working environment where supervisors include employees in decisions and concentrate on worker development is a happier, more productive workplace.

Speaking largely from Robert Greenleaf's servant leadership books, Grace told participants at a Baptist General Convention of Texas-sponsored retreat for chaplains that supervisors need to be willing to listen to people who work with them.

That creates a workplace where each person feels valued. People have choices in all areas of their life and want them at work, too.

When all workers have input, they are more willing to commit to the same principles, Grace said. The quality of ministry and ethical behavior will increase. Clients will not be viewed as a way to make money but as avenues for service.

“Humans are not the capital,” Grace said. “Humans are the reasons institutions exist.”

Because they feel valued, employees will begin rallying around each other, Grace added. A sense of community will form. Workers will be involved in each others' personal development, he added. They will support a manager who is open and honest, even when he or she must take a stand.

Grace reminded the chaplains that institutions are not compared to each other, but judged on how well staff members serve their clients.

An improved workplace leads to improved ministry, he asserted.

“How this is put to us at Baylor (Health Care System) is we are not compared to Methodist” Medical Center, he said.

“We are compared to Disneyland or somewhere their needs were best met.”