Why Patience Matters in the Workplace
As a leader, what role does patience play in effective leadership?
"And we urge you, brothers, and sisters, to warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone." 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NIV
Serving a higher purpose often requires that we put aside our shortcomings and serve. Apostle Paul says out of everyone at work, you will find three types of people:
The lazy
The timid
The weak
For these people, including everyone else, one thread must run through them all.
Patience.
Patience is what helps you instruct those who are lazy instead of calling them useless.
Patience makes you willing to encourage those who are timid (disheartened), giving them the strength to do the impossible.
Patience helps you slow down enough to meet the weak where they are and help them up instead of getting pissed at their errors.
So, how do we get this patience?
Some people have it in greater quantities than others. It is not a gift; it is acquired.
Even if we have a low dose of patience, it is part of the fruit of the spirit. That means we can have it in abundance.
All we need to do is ask.
Then God will present us with opportunities to be patient, helping us manifest what we asked for.
Ask for more of it today.
How does being patient with low performers help us at work?
People who are always lazy, timid, or weak never really get office awards. They are not the celebrated role models.
They often fall short and know they can be let go at any point.
We all become lazy, timid, or weak at specific points in life and for several reasons. These points can be short-lived or last longer than we imagine.
As believers, we are called not to join others in ridiculing people in such situations but to extend the love of God to them through patience.
This is difficult, especially when you have such people on your team and your KPIs get affected.
It doesn’t mean we should tolerate lower standards and not take important decisions when necessary. Patience only defines how we make such decisions.
We can place a lazy team member on probation and put him on a training program with strict assignments.
We can create a support group for those who are timid or weak, so they receive the encouragement or help they need.
By the time you decide to take a leadership decision, if the person doesn't get better, it will be received differently because of the process you took.
Patience is a strategy we should employ more.
"I choose to be a better leader today."
Even if you have no team, self-leadership is important. How do you want to lead yourself or your team today?