Toxic Work

Ever since I wrote about “Take Your Pastor to Work” day, I’ve had the privilege of visiting several workplaces. I’ve been to schools, diners to meet those searching for work, Dunkin Donuts to meet Realtors, a national plant nutrient group, a world-wide database company, a tax accountant, a world-wide missionary mobilization center and a fitness boot camp (yes, I did push-ups).

What impresses me about all these people at work? They all like their jobs. Even the guy looking for work was having fun doing it. Perhaps I caught him on a good day, but he was leaning into the opportunity to be part of God’s next adventure for him. These folks talked about working with great people who supported and respected one another – even prayed for one another. They all had great talent for the work they did and felt a connection to the mission of their organization. But this wasn’t always the case.

I heard some of them talk about previous experiences working in toxic environments. They spoke of distrust. They spoke of gossip tearing at the company culture and undermining its mission. They experienced people who had power and liked to use it for their advantage and people without power who passively sabotaged those who had it.

Those conversations came to mind as I read a New York Times Opinion blog this week by former Goldman Sachs executive, Greg Smith. He spoke of the culture when he started at Goldman Sachs almost 12 years ago and how it changed over the years.

He writes, “[When I first arrived, the culture] revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility, and always doing right by our clients. The culture was the secret sauce that made this place great and allowed us to earn our clients’ trust for 143 years. It wasn’t just about making money; this alone will not sustain a firm for so long. It had something to do with pride and belief in the organization. I am sad to say that I look around today and see virtually no trace of the culture that made me love working for this firm for many years. I no longer have the pride, or the belief.”

Not having the power to change the culture of the company and not being aligned with its current toxic culture led Mr. Smith to resign. That choice is difficult in any economy, but in one that’s struggling, it’s even harder. Some of you know exactly what that is like and think, “Hey, toxic work is better than no work.” Maybe.

If you are in a toxic work environment, let me ask you this: Is God compelling you to stay for some reason? Just because your workplace is toxic doesn’t necessarily mean God wants you to leave. There are plenty of Biblical stories of God sending people into toxic environments with a mission in mind. [See Elijah, Jonah, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jesus and his disciples]. Those folk had a calling to run toward toxic places like rescue workers toward a burning building. God had given them power to speak truth, model a new way, be agents of change. Even though the sacrifice would be great, they were led by a higher calling. Some people have that calling. Do you? If that’s your calling, then lean into it with all your heart.

In fact, that’s good advice for all of us: “Lean into your calling with all your heart.” Called to stay? Then stay. Called to leave? Then leave. Either way, it’s a leap of faith in the face of fear.

There is something of God that can only be known when we are obedient to go where he calls us to go, no matter what the environment is like.

Next blog will be about the practices of discerning God’s call. How do you know where God is calling.