7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? 8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? 9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”
Luke 17
Of course the present day employee is the slave- But notice the lack of reward for merely following orders. Gratitude of course.
But unless a person brings more than is asked, Jesus says no special recognition is warranted.
I bring this up to point that the Lord has a definition of excellence--- in 1 Cor 12 it is “surpassing”…. Beyond … when Paul writes now I will show you the most “excellent” (surpassing) way or method .
In our work as managers and leaders we ought not reward that which is expected. We ought to appreciate it, and be grateful, and say so, but reward should come when someone goes “beyond” what is expected. Of course this implies that we also identify and communicate clearly what is expected.
Jeff Pelletier
[1]The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1989 (Lk 17:5-10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
When we were in China the people would often say no thanks is needed for doing what I am suppose to do. As Christians we felt like recognizing what people do, even if it is what we expect, is a way to honor people. So I think my answer is that it is a both and, not an either or.
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