If you've been in the business world very long, it's likely you've run into a manager who just wasn't doing the job right. We need to know biblical principles in dealing with these people.
Someone once told me that you can learn as much from an incompetent or bad manager as you can from a good one, and I think that's probably true. But the learning is more difficult and painful! I get many letters from listeners telling me sad stories of their experiences in trying to work for a boss who is either lazy, disorganized, inexperienced, or unqualified for their job as manager. Others work for a boss who uses tactics or methods that are either unethical or ineffective or contrary to company policy. Their "people skills" are usually sadly lacking, and they are not willing to accept suggestions or help from anyone else.
The first biblical principle we need to consider is our attitude toward those in authority. While we recognize that level or position does not make anyone better than anyone else, Romans 13 gives us clear teaching on authority. Verses 1 and 2 tell us:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
God has established authority as the order for the universe. And if it were not for the principle of authority, we would have nothing but chaos. The same is true in our business world. Authority is essential.
Therefore, the people in positions of authority are part of God's plan for authority. And as Christians, we are directed to submit ourselves to those people who have risen to those authority positions.
But we see so much evidence that many people in authority are neither godly nor competent. Can their authority be God-given? Yes, even though they may not use their position well or appropriately, their authority is nonetheless from God, and as Christians we are to respect it. To rebel against that is to rebel against God's order, and, Paul said, it will bring judgment on us.
Obviously, we're going to need special grace and strength to be able to submit to and respect incompetent management.
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Obviously there have been and are people in positions of authority who should never be there. But that was true when Paul wrote this letter to the Romans. The principle still holds; we may not respect the people themselves, but we must respect their position and submit to them as long as they are in authority over us.
This is contrary to the times. I remember a woman telling me, "Mary, I'm older and I treat my boss with lots of respect, do things for him that the other assistants don't do. The other women are angry at me for treating my boss like I do, and they keep telling me that it makes them look bad. What do you think?"
She was taught to respect authority almost to the point of fear. But during the 60's and 70's we saw a backlash against all authority, and that generation was taught to reject and challenge all authority. The teachings of Romans 13 to submit to authority seems very much outdated and out of place today.
But as Christians in the marketplace, it is where we start. First Peter 2:18 says that we must submit not only to those masters who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. An incompetent boss is harsh, difficult, unpleasant. But the principle of submitting and respecting their authority still applies. The facts are, if you're not willing to apply that biblical principle, you will invite trouble into your life.
How do you apply it when you don't feel it? You do it by faith, not by feelings. You pray it into your life on a daily basis. You ask God to change your attitude and change your thinking so that you can accept their authority. Easy? No. Effective? Yes. It works.
I want to encourage you to apply this biblical principle in your own life, and be willing to respect and submit to those in authority over you. When you do, you're in a position for God to bless you and perhaps even change the situation. But whether or not it changes, we find freedom through obedience.
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First Timothy 2:1 - 2 tells us to offer requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving for everyone, for kings and all those in authority. We are to pray for those in authority, and we are to pray for peaceful relationships with them. Now, if you're dealing with an incompetent boss, have you been praying for him or her regularly? This is where it starts, and until you begin to truly pray for them, you won't see much change in your attitude or in their behavior.
We begin by accepting God's principle of authority, respecting that incompetent boss for their position, not their behavior, praying for them, praying that we will be able to get along with them in peace, and displaying a godly attitude.
Smart employees understand that their job description includes making your boss look good. The world uses that principle as a manipulative tool, but we have other reasons to do it. First Corinthians 13 describes the kind of love we are to develop in our lives, a love that is like God's love. And that kind of love "does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
As Christians we are to ever be seeking to have God's love fill us and overflow through us to everyone in our lives, including our incompetent bosses. Therefore, we should try to make them look good, not for manipulation purposes, but because God's love motivates us to protect others from bad exposure, to delight in the good things they do, not the bad things, to try to cover up their mistakes whenever we can.
Can you begin, by faith, praying for your incompetent or difficult boss and asking God to give you His love for that person? Are you willing to allow God to give you the desire and the wisdom to want to make your boss look good, to promote his or her welfare? If you will take just that first step toward God in this direction, you're going to discover that He will pour His grace into your life and enable you to do what now looks impossible.
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There are certain key relationships for us on our jobs that make all the difference in the world. And, of course, one of those is our relationship with our managers. If you work for a terrific manager, you can almost put up with anything. But the best job in the world can be ruined by an incompetent or difficult manager. Proverbs 17:9 says, "He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." One of the typical things that happens when we encounter an incompetent boss is that we talk about that person in derogatory ways. It's easy to do. A friend was sharing with me that her boss is very difficult and no one agrees with the way her boss runs the department. She has no trouble gaining confirmation from her coworkers that her negative attitude toward her boss is justified; everyone feels the same way.
It's likely if you truly work for an incompetent boss that everyone else feels the same way you do, and therefore, at lunch and on breaks that's what you talk about. Instead of covering up the offense, you repeat the matter and make the situation much worse.
If you work for an incompetent or difficult boss, stop talking about him or her to other people. Pray for that boss; talk to the Lord; get counsel from respected Christians outside the company. But don't be a part of the office gossip and character assassination that usually happens when you have this type of boss.
Now, when you've got those biblical principles in place in your life, then you can start to consider whether it is ever right to confront an incompetent boss, or to blow the whistle on them. Well, there aren't any black and white answers here because the circumstances would dictate what type of action to take. However, I believe confrontation or exposure should be the last thing we do, after other attempts have failed, and after much prayer.
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Should we ever confront an incompetent boss or take any steps to try to correct this kind of situation? I'd like to share some guidelines to consider in deciding whether or not to confront your incompetent boss.
First, is this person's incompetence truly affecting the quality of the product or service that the customer receives? Is it truly causing unfair treatment for employees, others as well as yourself? Is she or he doing things which are contrary to your organization's stated standards and policies? In other words, is there a larger picture here than simply your own irritations and frustrations at having to work for an incompetent manager?
If you're convinced there is a larger picture, then confrontation may be advisable. But, again, this must be done with great respect for their authority. You look for ways to make suggestions for improvement without pointing the finger at them. You try to find a way to make it look like their idea to which you are contributing. You do everything you can not to undermine their own self-image as the boss.
Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness, as we read in Proverbs 16:21, and if we truly want to help our incompetent manager to improve, we have to make our suggestions with carefully chosen words. I am not suggesting we use flattery or deceit of any kind. But if we look long enough, we can find something good to say about them and to them, something positive to lead off with, some way to confront without seeming confrontational.
It's not easy; I know. But let me tell you this. It's a whole bunch easier than doing it the other way. If you've been stewing and fretting over your incompetent boss; if you're constantly frustrated because you want to get rid of him or her or tell them off; if you've been angry at having to put up with their incompetence – tell me, has that been easy?
Of course not. It's more natural than following biblical principles, but it's not easier. It's harder - takes a much greater mental and emotional toll on you. Doesn't it make sense, then, to simply ask God to give you His perspective and His power to deal with your incompetent boss in a Christ-like way? The good news is, because of Jesus we have the power to do it. But we have to be willing to follow His principles and allow Him to do it through us.
Mary Whelchel is founder and president of The Christian Working Woman. This set of radio talks was broadcast between May 22 and May 26, 2006. © christianworkingwoman.org Used with permission. Content distributed by WorkLife.org > Used for non-profit teaching purposes only.
