More About The Cellarer

Last time we began to review of the character and strengths of that individual known as the Cellarer - the guy in charge of all the stuff in the monastery. Today we continue with the objective of seeing how the Cellerar can shed light on our how we can be more effective in our role as employee, manager, or business owner. 

Recall that the cellerar holds a position of great responsibility. The smooth running of the monastery depends on the care with which he handles the physical possessions of the monasteries, as well as the care with which he interacts with the monks. Such care will be critical to our promoting stability in our workplace. Stability is critical to minimizing the distractions and disruptions imposed on us by the various problems we've identified that the world has cooked up these days.

First, consider the care the cellarer must take when managing the stuff of the monastery: 

"Let him look upon all the utensils of the monastery and its whole property as upon the sacred vessels of the altar. Let him not think that anything may be neglected. Let him neither practise avarice, nor be wasteful and a squanderer of the monastery's substance; but let him do all things with measure and in accordance with the instructions of the abbot."

Note right away just how much care St. Benedict expects from his cellarer when managing the stuff of the monastery. He compares such care to that which is given to the sacred vessels handled by the priest at Mass. We may think this an excessive standard when applying this to our own business. But is it really? 

Before answering that, consider that reducing waste and maximizing the full efficient use of our business resources will be one measurable way to defend our profits as inflation forces up our cost of goods sold. We can, of course, pass on all increases to our customers and clients. But my experience has been that the businesses don't do this immediately or on a one-for-one basis unless their product or service is so essential that no one can do without it. And even in that case, using the example of oil and gas, you've likely noticed how the federal government has been badgering and even threatening producers to reduce prices - or else. Dealing with our current bout of inflation won't be easy.

So careful management of resources, reduction of waste, getting the most out of what you have, while always a good idea, can be critical to our controlling our costs in the face of this inflationary wave. Unless we critically evaluate all our expenditures and how much use we get out of our resources on an ongoing basis, we're not following St. Benedict's instruction to the cellarer that he not "think that anything may be neglected.

While handling the stuff of the monastery must properly engage the cellarer's attention, he must not overlook the importance of his relationship with the other monks. And - no surprise - it starts with humility:

"Above all things let him have humility, and if he have nothing else to give, let him give a good word in answer...If the community be a large one, let helpers be given him, so that by their assistance he may fulfill with a quiet mind the charge that has been committed to him. Let those things which have to be asked for and those things which have to be given, be asked for and given at the proper times; so that no one may be troubled or vexed in the house of God."

With humility as our base, we can more easily, when we're short of resources to provide to our boss, our employees or colleagues, at the very least give them "a good word" - not in a fawning or obsequious manner, but as a natural manifestation of our humility. This isn't the prattling of mindless positive thinking, but a sincere expression of respect and charity. 

And the consideration and care for the person extends both ways. Those who seek items or other kinds of assistance from the cellerar should do so "at the proper times." For example, just as the boss should respect the time, personality and temperament of their employee, the employee should do the same when making a request of their boss. 

The objective here is "that no one may be troubled or vexed." In the case of the monastery, that's "in the house of God." For us, it's in our business. 

Reducing trouble and vexation goes a long way in establishing a calm, peaceful environment so necessary for stability in the workplace.

We've learned a lot from the cellarer. Now it's time to apply what we've learned to our particular workplace.