This was a good word. Healthy relationships among co-workers, especially in a church staff where one is the supervisor of the other, are a blessing. This happens only when both persons are committed and willing to make the relationship worked. It was clear that Stan and his fellow minister were willing to do this.
I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to be in such situations. When you like the persons with whom you work, you are more productive, supportive, and creative. How does this happen?
First, you have to trust one another. The leader is the one who must model this behavior. He or she must be trustworthy, a person of integrity, who calls out this same in others. Trust and transparency are not the same thing. There is information that should not be public knowledge; healthy co-workers recognize the need and honor confidentiality.
Second, you have to have clear lines of communication. This means both finding ways to do life together through conversation, social events, and celebration and setting clear boundaries. If some topic or subject is off limits, there must be clarity about this and the reasoning behind the boundary.
Third, all parties must understand the nature of accountability. Even in a healthy work environment, decisions must be made and executed, projects have to completed and delivered on time, and results have to be evaluated. Accountability is not a bad thing and everyone, even a supervisor, is accountable to someone. Although often seen as negative, accountability moves us forward and keeps us on track.
In order to like the people with whom you work, you have to be willing to make the investment to in both personal and group development. When you do so, the benefits are great.
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