Telling Terminology
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 11:30 am
Respect for each other in the Body is an important concept for honoring the Lord and loving His sheep. Recently I had a conversation in a leadership team meeting concerning an evaluation form I was to fill out. My job was to have 6 of my direct reports complete the evaluation of my job performance. I raised my hand in the meeting and asked if there was another term we could use instead of "direct reports" (a common business term). I suggested that we could use "team member" in it's place. My comment was met with opposition and even seen as a threatening challenge. The people I work with on my team are not objects filling a role and doing a job. They are people I am called to care for, honor and serve. We are on the same team. The same ministry team and the same team of God's kingdom builders. I won't call someone, "the intern" or the "rookie" or my "direct report". God doesn't. They are prized and valued regardless of where they fit on the business meets ministry pecking order.