As a leader, having team members with a strong work ethic was always extremely important to me. A strong work ethic can include a number of items, some of which are:
- Attitude
- Integrity
- Reliability
- Dedication
- Initiative
- Adaptability
- Responsibility
- Accountability
- Quality
- Discipline
What would you add to this list?
As a leader, I would rather have team members with an excellent work ethic than those who might have greater skills, but a poor work ethic.
Recently, I was teaching an Adult Foundations/Sunday School class at our church on the biblical value of work. I was considering what God says about our work. During that class, my wife Tammy brought up our friend Carlos.
Some years back, we first met Carlos at the pancake house we frequently eat at after church. We noticed that Carlos was an extremely hard worker, demonstrated a positive attitude and approach to his work and always had a smile for us.
For younger workers, it’s important that you develop a strong work ethic early on, even if you don’t think that the job you are doing is very important. Some of my early jobs were janitorial, detasseling corn and working at a fast-food restaurant. How I approached those jobs was important to how I would approach my work at a Fortune 50 organization years later. It’s also important to know that others are watching how you work, even if it is doing entry level work at a pancake house.
As we observed the way Carlos approached his work, Tammy said to me “You should hire him at State Farm”.
Fast forward a few years, we found out that Carlos and a friend of his, Jorge, both work at a large electric vehicle firm in town, and had formed a lawn care and snow removal business. At that time, we weren’t pleased with the firm that was doing this work for us, so we made the move over to Carlos and his company. And although we haven’t had much snow the past two winters, we have gotten to see the work Carlos and his team bring to their lawn care work. In addition to regular mowing and trimming, they have done spring and fall cleanups, tree trimming and even tree removal services, all at a high quality with responsibility and reliability. And yes, Carlos still occasionally works at the pancake house.
Demonstrating a strong work ethic is one important way you can integrate your faith and work, and do your work for the Lord:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3: 23-24