Accountability That Applies Not Only to The Boss But To Us All - 2

Last time we began a rich entry in the Rule of St. Benedict by focusing on a boss's accountability to God. But we also saw that each of us can and should understand that we all are accountable to God for all our thoughts, words, and actions in the workplace. This was such a fundamentally important point, we simply excised the first sentence in the entry and left out the rest.

Now for the rest. As you read this, remember that it's subject is the abbot. But with minimal effort, you should be able to easily substitute the boss of a business. Further, we might all see how much of this we can apply to ourselves, even if we're not the boss:

"...and let him know that it is his duty rather to profit his brethren than to preside over them. It behooves him, therefore, to be learned in the divine law, so that he may have a treasure of knowledge whence he may bring forth things new and old; and to be chaste, sober, and merciful. Let him always set mercy above judgement so that he himself may obtain mercy. Let him hate ill-doing but love the brethren. In administering correction, let him act with prudent moderation, lest being too zealous in removing the rust he break the vessel. Let him always distrust his own frailty and remember that the bruised reed is not to be broken. By this we do not mean that he should allow evils to grow, but that, as we have said above, he should eradicate them prudently, and with charity, in the way which seem best in each case. And let him study rather to be loved than feared. Let him not be turbulent or anxious, overbearing or obstinate, jealous or too suspicious, for otherwise he will never be at rest. Let him be prudent and considerate in all his commands; and whether the work which he enjoins concern God or the world, let him always be discreet and moderate, bearing in mind the discretion of holy Jacob, who said: 'If I cause my flocks to be overdriven, they will all perish in one day.' So, imitating these and other examples of discretion, the mother of the virtues, let him so temper all things that the strong may still have something to long after, and the weak may not draw back in alarm. And, especially, let him keep this present Rule in all things; so that having ministered faithfully he may hear from the Lord what the good servant heard who gave his fellow-servants wheat in due season: 'Amen, I say unto you, he will set him over all his goods.' 

Many of these points were addressed in previous entries and therefore in previous posts. But it's still a worthwhile exercise to review at least some of the highlights:

As a boss, you can choose to simply boss others around. But St. Benedict expects your management and supervisory efforts to profit your charges, not gratify your ego or add to your status in the eyes of others. Good bosses understand this, on both a practical, ethical, and spiritual level.

If an abbot needs to be well-versed in the divine law, the boss of a business needs to take time to know all he/she can about their industry, the particular company (including its history), their employees on as specific a level as possible, and best ways to motivate them not only for the bottom line, but for the benefit of the person. 

Look at the character traits recommended for the abbot. Is there anything there that ought not pertain to any boss in any business? Anything that ought not pertain to any of us?

Mercy above judgement? Why wouldn't a decent boss agree find this essential in how people are managed and evaluated? But that doesn't mean you ignore bad behavior. "Hate" the bad; but when addressing the culprit, be prudent in your correction, especially if the person has been a good and valuable employee.

A good boss - and again, any of us - ought to bear ourselves calmly. We should be at peace, even in the midst of busy, even turbulent day. That's the ideal we all need to strive for. Without peace, the business and its workers suffer; our spiritual life cannot thrive.

Whether boss of co-worker, our treatment of others should be driven primarily by charity. Criticism when called for, and ideally constructive, should never attack the person as an individual, a creature of God, as are we all.

Really skilled bosses know how to motivate individuals based on their personality, skills, and experience. Never discourage anyone. Certainly never put them down, or even put them on the defensive. Do your best to lift them up and motivate them to excellence. It takes effort; you need to take time to know people and their circumstances. It's worth the effort for all concerned. And done with charity and with God's glory in mind, will be powerful source of merit for your soul.

In previous entries, in various contexts, St. Benedict has brought out all these points. Their importance has motivated him to collect all these points that pertain to the abbot. And we've just seen that just about every one of these recommendations can and should be applied to each of us as we work each day. Whether we're the boss or "just" a worker, we all share a desire to work first for the greater glory of God. We can add to this: the welfare of our family, the benefit of our clients and customers, and the common good. Every one of St. Benedict's words here will assure that we succeed in our daily endeavors.