Why It’s So Easy to Misrepresent Christ at Work
Integrity in Your M.O.
A Latin phrase, modus operandi is approximately translated as “mode of operation” and commonly used to describe someone’s habits. Our habits at work, how we operate not just what we do, say a great deal about our integrity. Consider these aspects of your days in the marketplace, and you will see what I mean:
- Do you always arrive rushing in or late for your shift or for meetings, or do you get there in time to relax and prepare for what lies ahead?
- Do you plan out your day the afternoon before so you are certain you’re ready for any deadlines, conference calls or encounters you know you will have the following day?
- Do you complete projects on time and under budget to the best of your ability?
- How do you respond when you don’t know the answer to a question? Do you make something up or say, “I need to get back to you,” and then really follow up?
- Do you behave in a way that is consistent with your company’s culture? (In some companies it is better to plow ahead and seek forgiveness later if necessary. In other workplaces, it is essential to ask permission before launching into something.)
These are just a few of the basic work habits that can convey your commitment to excellence in all things and therefore a level of integrity that is too often missing in the workplace today. These are ways you put feet on your faith and solidify your standing as a valuable employee.
I got a low mark once in the integrity department on a performance review. It had to do with grandstanding. “Grandstanding” means to act so as to impress. In the integrity category, this can convey that we are only out for ourselves.
I felt a need to make sure everyone knew how competent I was. Instead of letting my accomplishments speak for themselves, I had tooted my own horn a few too many times.
Yes, we have earthly roles and responsibilities, and we should do our work with excellence. But ultimately, we are presenting our work to the Lord and relying on His strength and timing (see 2 Tim. 2:14-16).
The last thing you want to do is talk yourself into a position or a set of responsibilities that you are not really qualified to handle. Grandstanding can lead to a huge lapse of integrity and career disaster as well.
Another aspect of your M.O. at work is the need to persevere. In the face of ongoing struggle, perseverance dramatically displays your integrity to a world that is quick to throw in the towel.
Indeed, a heavenly view of life and work helps us keep our ambition and therefore our integrity in check. We don’t need to rush God’s plan for our careers. He’s had our lives mapped out from day one of eternity.
The Golden Rule
Probably one of the first things our mother taught you was: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (see Matt. 7:12; Luke 6:31). Simple messages of great truth are easily forgotten in our frenetically busy society. We miss moments of grandeur in our lives and the lives of others because we’re too busy. We have forgotten how to enjoy one another’s company even at work.
Making the golden rule part of our modus operandi is the fastest way to demonstrate our integrity at work and in the workplace. It is also the primary way we demonstrate the love of God to others.
We sometimes equate kindness with weakness, or we assume that one can’t be kind and be competitive or relentlessly focused on the business’ goals at the same time. But we can treat others as we want to be treated and still make tough business decisions. We’ll just do it more humanely.
It takes less effort to be kind and see the best in people and overlook small offenses. But there will always be a few people we have to walk away from or endure, recognizing that regardless of what we do, they will not respond in kind. It should not be our mission to conform them to our level of interpersonal grace. Just walk away. And put that business card in the x-file.
Jesus’ teaching is clear on this subject. Not only are we commanded to love as Jesus loved, but we are told that our commitment to treating others well will show the world whose we are (see John 13:34-35). Wouldn’t it be great to love more of your marketplace sisters into the kingdom based on your example of love and kindness?
It’s not easy to do the right thing in a world that so often accepts what is not right. However, a commitment to integrity in speech, image and how we do our work will demonstrate our faith to our co-workers more fully than a thousand tracts or bumper stickers.
It will also allow us to approach our work and our careers with the confidence that we are seeking God’s path and His timing for what we do and how we do it in the marketplace. When we don’t rush Him and let Him give us the wisdom and strength to live out our callings, our faith doesn’t falter in the workplace. In fact the opposite is true—it grows and intensifies, just like the integrity that He cultivates in our hearts.
Amy C. Baker is the author of Succeed at Work Without Sidetracking Your Faith (New Hope Publishers) and Slow Dancing at Death’s Door (Life Journey). A former human resources professional at Dell Inc., today Baker speaks and offers professional development training to a variety of groups, organizations, businesses, conferences and churches. She and her husband live in Austin, Texas. They have two children. For more information go to her website, amycbaker.com.
