I recently read a news report about a recruitment agency boss who was warned that litigation could result from how she worded her vacancy advert. According to the report, “Nicole Mamo, director of Devonwood Recruitment was stunned when a job centre in Thetford, Norfolk, said she could not include the phrase 'reliable and hard working' in her advert.
When she ran the ad past a job centre, she was told she couldn't ask for 'reliable' and 'hard-working' applicants because it could be offensive to unreliable people. 'In my 15 years in recruitment I haven't heard anything so ridiculous,' Mrs Mamo said. 'If the matter wasn't so serious I would be laughing out loud.” (Source: Ryan Kisiel and Andrew Levy, http://www.dailymail.co.uk) I feel this is extremely ridiculous. Should employers require permission from indolent and unreliable persons before wording their job vacancy ads?
It is however quite interesting to note that Reliability and Conscientiousness (being hard-working, being painstaking and careful) are two irreplaceable qualities of the type of worker God wants in his household. While humans may raise court points, God has no reservations, regrets or apologies for His workforce requirements. The bible calls for 'faithful men who will be able' (2 Tim 2:22).
RELIABILITY
According
to Collins English Dictionary, a 'reliable' person is 'trustworthy',
'dependable'. According to www.wisdomcommons.org, “Reliability means following
through on our commitments, doing what we say we will do. When we are reliable,
others can count on us, and we can count on ourselves. Reliability is one of
the foundations of teamwork or cooperation. It allows people to work together,
with each person doing what he or she does best, knowing that friends, family,
or co-workers are taking care of other tasks. In a community, reliability
supports individual growth and discovery. It allows us to take risks, knowing
that others will be there if we fall.” Do people consider you reliable? According
to Wes Fessler, “Reliable people consistently keep their promises and accept
accountability for failing to do so.”
A 'Manual' for Reliability
To
the question, “If reliability were a pet, and you were writing a manual for the
Care and Feeding of Your Reliability, what advice would you give?” the answer
was, “It is very easy to care for. Be sure to give it daily attention and it
will grow big and strong.”
You
can begin changing any negative impressions people may have formed from your
weakness of character in this area. You can begin making Reliability 'grow big
and strong' in your life on a daily basis, but how exactly do you 'care' and
'feed' your reliability?
Two
constant features of Reliability are keeping promises and accountability.
According to Wordweb, the promise is, 'A verbal commitment by one person to
another agreeing to do (or not to do) something in the future'. Accountability
means you have 'Responsibility to someone or for some activity'. To 'care' and
'feed' reliability in your life, you must begin keeping promises and being
accountable.
Leaders
Those
you lead need to be able to rely on your words and actions and thereby find
practical, useful guidance. Nothing discourages followers more than direction
from a wavering leader. A reliable leader is a servant leader. A true leader is
preoccupied with serving rather than being followed, with giving rather than
getting, with doing rather than demanding. Such a person is the epitome of
reliability. Michael Josephson tells the legend of a French monastery known
throughout Europe for the extraordinary leadership of a man known only as
Brother Leo:
“Several
monks began a pilgrimage to visit Brother Leo to learn from him. Almost
immediately, they began to bicker about who should do various chores. On the
third day they met another monk going to the monastery, and he joined them.
This monk never complained or shirked a duty, and whenever the others would
fight over a chore, he would gracefully volunteer and do it himself. By the
last day, the others were following his example, and from then on they worked
together smoothly. When they reached the monastery and asked to see Brother
Leo, the man who greeted them laughed. 'But our brother is among you!' And he
pointed to the fellow who had joined them.'” You're the leader. Then be the
lead, not just by title, but by character, actions and reactions. Let your
leadership be based on example, not command.
Church Members & Workers
Are
you a church member but not involved in getting anything done in your church? I
am well aware that very many do not even serve in their local assembly. That is
another matter altogether. Why should anyone not serve in their heavenly
Father's house? There is never a lack of work in the church, but usually a
dearth of reliable and dependable hands to commit the pending jobs to. If you
don't believe me just ask your Pastor! You have been strategically gifted by
God to serve in one of the many areas of service in your home church. Put your
gift to work! Get admitted into the workers' group, then keep your promises. Be
accountable to your leader and fellow group members.
Or,
are you already a worker? Then keep the rules and guidelines of your
department. Be responsible for whatever is committed to your charge. Play your
part. Carry your weight. Do your bit.
Gerald
Green was a temporary worker who got moved from company to company. He however
hoped that one day he would be retained by one of the companies. According to
Mujaahid, Gerald's supervisor, a staff at Labor Ready, a workforce solutions
company, “As I identify employees who make the most of their opportunity by
being reliable, dependable, and hard working, I provide more and better
opportunities,” he said. “I match these employees to the customers who are
looking for long-term employees -- temporary or permanent -- who bring these
practices to the table. Gerald's performance spoke for itself,” said Mujaahid.
“He was extremely dependable and reliable from the first day he started with
Labor Ready. He would take any assignment offered and put 100 percent into it.
If there was a worker-related service issue with a customer, I would send
Gerald the next day because I knew that he would regain the customer's
confidence. Gerald never had to speak on his performance because the customers did
it for him. I cannot count the number of times Gerald returned from work with a
positive comment on his work ticket or received a phone call from a customer
praising his performance.” Gerald became the lead person on his job site. Any
surprise? Talk about reliability!
Everyone
really has a chance to make themselves the preferred person. Being in church
does not change the rules or results of being reliable. In case you have been
praying for God's blessings, I suggest you consider Gerald Green's testimony
and copy his work-style in your church
work and in the office too! You are closer to your answers than you know. Being
a reliable worker and person will connect you to opportunities that others only
dream about. Trust me.
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