Gods Model for

Workplace Relationships

Presented by
Lori Yingling, SPHR, Associate Director
General Conference of SDA Human Resources
Pune, India ARM International Conference
February 2014

People, its often been said.

! The world would be a better place if we didnt have to deal with
people
! Life would be so much easier if there were no difficult people to
spoil things
! The only problem with people is that they are human!

Relationships . . .
The Meaning?
! The state of being related or interrelated
! The relations connecting or binding participants in a
relationship: as kinship or a specific instance or type
of kinship
! A state of affairs existing between those having
relations or dealings
Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Words of Wisdom
Gods servants are to labor in perfect harmony.
Contention brings alienation and strife and discord. . .
When a spirit of contention struggles for the
supremacy, call a halt, and make things right. . . Let the
Spirit of God search through mind and heart, and
cleanse away all that hinders the needed reformation.
Until this is done, God can not bestow on us His power
and grace. And while we are without His power and
grace, men [and women] will stumble and fall, and will
not know at what they stumble. The love of Christ is
the bond that is to unite believers heart to heart and
mind to mind.Review and Herald, August 20, 1903.

Food for thought. . .

Why do we need effective
workplace relationships?

How do we build effective

workplace relationships?

How will we know an effective

workplace relationship
when we see it?

How do we blend our

workplace & church
relationships?

As church leaders how do we

make workplace
relationships work?

Are there things we should or

should not do in building
effective workplace
relationships?

Why build effective workplace

relationships?
! The conference/church/union operates best with the cooperation of everyone
! We can have a profound effect on our constituents and
communities
! In order to meet and foster the needs of our constituents and
communities
! In order to do our part in fulfilling the gospel commission given
in Matthew 28:19,20

What is an effective workplace

relationship?
!Listening so we can understand others
reasoning and feelings, without judging
!Being able to openly express our positions
and feelings, without anger
!Treating ourselves and each other with
genuine respect, no pretenses
!Discussing our different points of view
directly, without resentment
!Working towards solutions where both
parties win, without competing

What can get in the way of effective

workplace relationships?
! History of mistrust or stereotyping
! Blaming the other party for a difficult
relationship

! Focusing on the task and excluding

the feelings and needs of others
! Unclear objectives, roles and
expectations of each other

How do we develop effective

workplace relationships?
! Always put forth your best effort
! Keep your promises, to the best of your ability
! Be upfront, dont play games, be professional
! Just because you occupy the position of greater authority doesnt
mean we cant learn from those who work for us
! Resolve any conflicts or disputes at the earliest opportunity
! Never back-stab or blind-side
! It takes time, effort, commitment and compromise to build an
effective relationship, put in the time!
! Communicate, communicate, communicate

How can we have smooth workplace

relationships?
!Highlight departmental accomplishments
!Encourage your employees to compliment each
others accomplishments
!Compliment all staff members, dont consistently
single out certain employees
!Celebrate your diversity/Be intentional about
inclusion
!Give back to your community

Key Words
! Ongoing two-way
communication

! Feelings
! Perceptions

! Trust
! Expectations
! Ethics
! Fairness

! Prompt conciliation &

dispute resolution

Who are the happy & motivated

employees? Employees who receive:
! Acknowledgement

! A nudge

! Care

! Opportunities

! Equity

! Question

! Forgiveness

! Reward

! Feedback

! Shared information

! Honesty

! Are included/talked with

! Involvement opportunities

! Time

! Are listened to

! Allowed to Q Why

! Managed effectively

! Zest

Communicate, Communicate,
Communicate
! Keep people informed, even if the news is not good
! Use multiple communication methods
! Seek input from coworkers
! Safeguard your credibility
! Be a morale booster
! Dont neglect ongoing communication
! Conflict arises when the relationship focuses on the differences
! Common ground reduces conflict and builds relationships
! Success with communication depends upon finding common
ground

!Tell me, I forget

!Show me, I remember
!Involve me, I understand

!The single biggest problem in

communication is the illusion
that it has taken place.
George Bernard Shaw

Easier said than done!

A Key Ingredient for Effective

Communication & Finding Common Ground
!Listen with attentiveness
!Mirror behavior
!Clarify meaning and intent
!Ask questions then wait for the answers
!Summarize what you hear
!Meet on a regular basis
!Give the benefit of the doubt
!Appreciate criticism

Do you Act as you tell others to act?

! Do your actions match your words?
! Do you say what you mean and mean what you say?
! Are the ideas youre promoting in line with your core beliefs
and values?
! People dont care how much you know, until they know how
much you care
! Lets examine ourselves..

Understanding yourself & others

! How do people perceive you?
! How do you perceive yourself?
! How do you want people to perceive you?
! How do you think people perceive you?

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How do you want people to

perceive you?
! Do you want to be liked?
! Do you want to be regarded as strong?
! Always right?????
! In charge????
! Got it all together, dont need anything, anyone
! Authentic, genuine
! Spiritual

Tips on following your own counsel

!Model the behavior you want to see from
others
!If you make a rule/process, follow it, until
you decide to change it
!Act as if you are part of the team, not always
the head of it
!Help others to grow professionally
!Do what you say youre going to do
!Build commitment to the organizations
goals
!Make sure expectations and directions are
clear

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Tips on defusing conflict in the office

! Prayer with, for, about, always
! Operate from biblical principles
! Be positive
! Be respectful
! Be patient
! Breathe & step back and look at it from all angles

Top 10 dos & donts for building

effective workplace relationships
10. Bring suggested solutions
with the problems to the
meeting table
9. Dont ever play the blame
game
8. Your verbal and nonverbal
communication does matter
7. Never blind side a
coworker, boss, or reporting
staff person

6. Share credit for ideas,

accomplishments, and
contributions
5. Help others to grow and
develop
4. Do take a sincere interest in
your coworkers
3. Express appreciation for a
job well done
2. Keep your commitments
1. Tell the truth, in love

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Summary . . .
! Building effective workplace relationships aims to
bring you and your coworker or staff member
together!
! Building effective workplace relationships will
usually involve you working as part of a team to
complete a task.
! Building effective workplace relationships means
utilizing your strengths and improving your
weaknesses.
! Building effective workplace relationships can
increase employee productivity and organizational
efficiency.

Building effective workplace

relationships can improve the way
coworkers interact, improve support
and trust levels in the workplace,
reduce stress, and develop healthy
inter-group relations.

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In closing . . .
By our unity we are to bear strong, indisputable evidence
that Christ came to this world to save sinners. Satan works
with all his ingenuity to prevent human begins from bearing
this evidence. He wants them to develop an unsanctified
individuality so that they shall not love one another. Too
often professing Christians yield to him, and then the merest
trifle causes a difference to spring up among them. Men and
women professing godliness build walls of separation
between them and their fellow workers, because not all think
in exactly the same way or follow exactly the same methods.
Those who stand apart, refusing to harmonize, dishonor God
before the world. Christ prayed for unity. It is His will that
His followers shall labor together in Christian fellowship.
The Upward Look, p. 271.

Thank you!

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