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Posted by Steve Marr in Untagged
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When managing staff, you may come to a point of frustration when communication has clearly failed. You may even find it necessary to dismiss an employee who simply doesn't listen or who doesn’t execute instructions or policy that you have clearly articulated.
We see an example in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. (For full account, see Luke 16:19-31) In the parable, Lazarus was ill, poor and begging for help near the home of a rich man. Day after day the rich man refused to help Lazarus. When death took each of them, Lazarus went to heaven while the rich man was in torment. The rich man wanted to be sent back to his five brothers so they would have an opportunity to repent and change their behavior. From heaven Abraham spoke to the rich man and told him that “they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them.” (Luke 16:29, NASB)
The rich man said “If someone goes to them from the dead they will repent.” (Luke 16:30, NASB). But Abraham responded: ”If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31, NASB). While the scripture speaks of spiritual matters, the same principle applies in business.
When working with staff, you have a responsibility to clearly communicate what you expect. It is your responsibility to support employees in ways that help them to be successful. From time to time, you will encounter an employee where instructions don't take. After repeating your instructions over a reasonable period of time, you may need to look at terminating somebody who simply will not respond.
Part of the lesson from scripture is that the rich man had access to the writings of Moses, the story of Abraham, and the teaching of prophets sent by God. However, the rich man simply ignored what was available to him. The issue was not whether a man was rich or poor. The lesson is that one placed his trust in the teaching of the prophets while the other man did not.
Think through how to work with any staff member who fails to listen and respond to your instructions. Be very clear with your teaching and directions. Engage in direct conversations when someone fails to follow what you say. If everything you do does not effect change, dismissal may be the only option.
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