Applying St. Benedict's Thoughts On "Collegiality" In The Workplace

Our Stability Project continues.   In his Rule, St. Benedict has some brief comments about "collegiality" in his Rule. Let's see how we can apply these in the workplace. We'll see how St. Benedict's remarks can help us produce our best work in the face of any problems and distractions we face, especially those coming at us these days. 

In addition to those issues we've already identified, try these on for size: vaccine mandates and passports that could cause - and have already caused - some of us to lose our livelihoods. The next six months will be critical, historic, perhaps life/world-changing in some way. Some of you may think this one's a bit overly dramatic, or "over the top." So be it. Back to today's post.

St. Benedict doesn't actually use the term "collegial" in his comments, but since it means "shared responsibility" it applies. What the Rule does say is:

"As often as any important business has to be done in the monastery, let the abbot call together the whole community and himself set forth the matter."

While the abbot does have the authority to command obedience, that doesn't mean he must make every decision on his own. So he shares responsibility, in this sense, especially in important matters.

I've worked in both collegial and decidedly non-collegial workplaces. The former not only function better, but they're more enjoyable places to work. And while results may be achieved either way, you do stand a better chance when you get input from others, especially for especially complex or difficult problems. This works especially well when older management can open the floor to younger workers. While they may not have the depth of experience that comes with age, younger folks can add a fresh perspective. And sometimes that fresh perspective, combined with experience, can yield a more innovative and complete solution, which may very well be more effective. 

If you're tempted to limit the value of a new, young team member's perspective strictly to their typical easy facility with technology, consider what St. Benedict said in the 5th century:

"Now the reason why we have said that all should be called to council, is that God often reveals what is better to the younger."

So it's not just about tech. It's about all of us - at least those of us who work conscientiously each day - have something to contribute. That view really lies at the foundation of a collegial approach. You have to believe everyone can contribute in some way.

If you're the leader, of course, your job is to elicit the appropriate contribution from each individual. To do that, you need to know and understand each person - their skills, temperament, strengths, and weaknesses. 

As for those who contribute, St. Benedict tells us how to go about doing that:

"Let the brethren give their advice with all deference and humility, nor venture to defend their opinions obstinately; but let the decision depend on the abbot's judgment, so that when he has decided what is the better course, all may obey."

In a true collegial setting, egos must be checked at the door. Say your piece and respect others' suggestions. Top off with an experience and wise leader who takes his ego out of the mix and, voilá, more times than not you'll find the best solution to any problem.

Doesn't this make eminent sense? Can't it easily be translated into a modern setting, even if we don't like to use words like "obey" these days? You can tell St. Benedict was an experienced and wise leader.

Applying all this to our Stabilty Project, you can't help but see how a collegial workplace helps take the pressure off any one individual, leading to less anxiety, disruption, and distraction.

But what about those of us who work alone? Running a small business with no employees gives me some perspective here. 

I don't have the luxury of calling the "troops" together when it's time to address difficult, complex problems, But while I don't have employees, I do have a network of experts to go to in the form of professional colleagues, vendors, contractors. (Heck, I don't and can't do everything!) These folks have proved themselves, over time, to be knowledgeable in their areas. They're also honest and reliable. They're available when needed. 

Developing such relationships takes time. But good people are out there willing to help. And if you approach such folks with deference and humility, you'll have a dependable team even without your own employees. 

While the buck always stops HERE when you run a small company like mine, I assure you, as in a bigger setting, this will take the pressure off, leading - as we noted above - to less anxiety, disruption, and distraction.

Thus, we see that collegiality in the workplace, especially combined with the principles of the Rule of St. Benedict, will help foster stability which will help us produce our best work in the face of any problems and distractions we face, especially those coming at us these days.