Thoughts on Life & Work: Faithfulness

Welcome to #7 in this series based on a list of characteristics penned by the ancient Saint Paul, a 1st century contemporary of Jesus. As I’ve noted before, the list ended with the phrase “against such things, there is no law,” and I believe these traits serve us well in life and at work. I’ve already written about the first six items on the list: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, and Goodness. (If you missed one, feel free to get caught up before you read this one – they’re pretty short.) This week, we’re talking about Faithfulness, which is DEFINITELY not a word you hear much around the office. So, let’s see how it might be relevant in the world of work.??

First off, the idea is tied to the concept of being “faithful,” which is not a word we often hear in an office (or Zoom) setting. (Ironically, this word IS often applied in three typical settings—long-lasting marriages, great dogs, and geysers—but I guess I’ll have to explore those ideas in the future.) It conveys that one person (or animal) remains faithful and loyal to another. And, in the geyser context, I guess it would also imply that they are very, very dependable. However, when we think about ignoring the geyser for the moment, it would seem that this is happening in the face of other alternatives or temptations. If there are NO alternatives, it’s not very difficult to be faithful and loyal. It’s when we have other choices that Faithfulness comes into play. And now, we may have some things to talk about related to work.???

The world of work has, in some ways, become a giant “gig economy.” Even those who work for an employer tend to see themselves as independent contractors, willing to provide their services for a limited time and an appropriate compensation model. The work is compelling (and, of course, so is the pay.) This idea of unlimited freedom to move at the employee's whim dates to a semi-ugly period in work history when “downsizing” became the norm. In that era (the late 80s into the early 90s,) companies routinely looked for ways to reduce workforces that had sometimes grown stale or bloated, which provided instant improvement to the bottom line. The trouble was that many of those employees had entered into an unwritten contract to work hard and serve the company through thick and thin in return for an “unofficial commitment” to lifetime employment. When that ended, it changed the way people looked at work, at least in corporate environments. People felt that if their company showed them no loyalty or Faithfulness, they didn’t owe any back.???

In contrast, I’d argue that in companies that provide healthy, caring environments AND focus on ensuring people can learn and grow along their career journey, employees can and should consider being more faithful. In today’s world, most high-caliber workers have many alternatives to consider, probably even more so as we’ve seen a heightened level of “re-shuffling” (which sounds a lot better than a Great Resignation.) It’s generally positive when someone jumps to a supposedly better job, often for more compensation. What is less common, especially lately, is for people to pause and consider the benefits of being loyal and faithful—to a company, a team, or a leader.???

?When a company is healthy and growing, unexpected new opportunities often arise. Workers who have proven themselves capable in one role are often tapped for something new that might not have been on their radar. They get an unexpected growth opportunity because they performed well and chose to stick around. This is even more true of employees who have helped the company navigate difficult circumstances (for example, a global pandemic) because they’ve proven their commitment. I’m not saying faithful employees need to check their brains at the door or cease considering alternatives forever.???

?I would also note that there are times when the company and its leaders must make the difficult decision to offer new or essential roles to those not already on the bus. This might be viewed as the company being “unfaithful.” Still, suppose dedicated employees are given every opportunity to stretch to their limits or try new things. In that case, the company can feel that it balances the need to be faithful with the recognition that sometimes new players are required. Net-net, I do believe that more people would benefit from seeing how their career might develop over time with a single, good company, rather than just hopping around as a way to get to the next level or take home a bigger paycheck (well, no one receives paychecks anymore, but I digress.)?

Jumping from one 10-minute YouTube video to the next and the next (and so on) can be entertaining, but it’s rarely as satisfying as a great 2-hour movie. So, before you “click” on the next job, make sure you’re not already in the middle of a great story at your current company. And, who knows, maybe there’s a big plot twist right around the corner.?

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