June 22, 2011

E-mail to an Unbeliever

Dear A:
After some thought about our conversation yesterday, I have a few thoughts I’d like to share with
you.
 
First, thank you for drawing my attention to your concerns. They are valid ones.
 
I think a large part of this problem is cultural differences in communication and work style. Let me repeat that. I think a large part of the problem is cultural differences in your communication and work style. I have worked with B_____ since 2003, and in that time I have never found a lazy bone in his body. Indeed, I have found him to be a diligent deep thinker with a sound sense of news judgment.
 
That said, let me pull back the veil on my thinking.
 
2011 1518 page29Like you, I place a premium on our newspaper’s content. Even if our work activities do not run as smoothly as we might want, there are certain principles that actually outweigh the quality of the newspaper’s content. These principles are mercy, peace, forgiveness, and love. Above all, I strive to nurture these principles in our newsroom. This means I aim to find and capitalize on each colleague’s strengths. If I see a possible weakness, I try to find a way to address it with positive language. I sincerely believe that every word we speak as top editors should encourage and edify our colleagues. When we have a workplace atmosphere of mercy, peace, forgiveness, and love, our team will look forward to coming to the office every day. Our team will work harder to produce the best copy. As a result, the quality of the newspaper will improve to levels we never thought possible. I have seen this happen at our newspaper.
 
Since being offered the privilege of serving as editor, I have taken great delight in forgiving mistakes in the hope of encouraging colleagues to grow stronger as journalists and people. I forgive without limit. If indeed a person shows signs of being lazy or rude, this can be forgiven and corrected with encouragement and patience.
 
At the same time, however, there is a day of reckoning. If a colleague is forgiven without limit but continues to harden his or her heart in a path of intolerance, conflict, censure, and hate—antonyms of the very principles I value—he or she, unfortunately, will ultimately not fit in with our corporate culture, and we will be forced to part ways.
 
I think I have detected a pattern in your thinking. Pressure points that B_____ almost certainly presses unconsciously leads to “meltdowns” like the one yesterday. I’m sure you never plan to feel this seething anger at the start of the working day. I’m also sure that B_____ does not want to provoke you, but—just the opposite—wants peace.
 
So what can we do?
 
I suggest breaking this cycle. When you look at B_____’s work and see that it does not meet your expectations, immediately change your thoughts by 180 degrees. An abrupt change in thought will stop the brooding that leads to confrontation and then a “meltdown.” Find a way to shift your thoughts radically.
 
One way I’ve found helpful is to repeat to myself these words from memory: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Phil. 4:8). By the time I have made it through that long list of good things to think about, the cycle of negative thinking is usually completely broken. If it isn’t, I repeat the words again, and by the second time the cycle is always broken.
 
I know that our newspaper will continue to grow and improve in the months ahead, and you are playing an important role in this process. Join me in promoting mercy, peace, forgiveness, and love, and our delight in our work and in our newspaper’s content will grow to lengths we never dreamed possible!
 
Andy.
 
_____________
Andrew McChesney is a journalist in Russia. This article was published June 23, 2011.
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