Everyone knows that when your job description says “must be willing to work in fast-paced environment,” what that really means is that “we want you to start today, but we won’t have time for anyone to train you till the middle of next month.”
When your job description says you must be “deadline-oriented,” what that really means is that you will, no doubt, be six months behind schedule by the end of your second week on the job.
It’s also widely known that when your job description states that some overtime might be required, you will be working overtime some each night and some more each weekend, and probably not be adequately compensated for any of said overtime.
The “wide variety of experience” your job description speaks of means you will be required to possess the experience of the three people who just left the company and whose positions this “competitive” company has chosen not to fill at this time. Hence your job description is loaded with these phrases that say one thing and mean another.
If your job description states “problem-solving skills are a must-have,” the real meaning is that the company is in a crisis situation and the “good communication skills” will need to be partnered with the “problem-solving skills.” In other words, you need to understand that, in this company, communication means listening to the boss and problem-solving means you need to figure out how to always make the boss look good.
On a job description, the only phrase that has a merit of truth is the one that says you will be responsible for “other duties as assigned!”
Everyone knows these job description phrases have hidden meanings, and that it’s the hidden meaning that contains the truth.
We’re no different in church. We utter phrases that have hidden meanings. When faced with trying something new, some of us are notorious for saying, “We’ve never done it that way before.” What that really means is that we’ve been too lazy to try other methods, and we don’t really want to try this one, either.
When someone says, “Hey, let’s do this,” some of us will say, “It can’t be done.” What that really means is, “I don’t want to do it, and I don’t want you to do it, either.”
When we say, “We can’t afford that,” what we really mean is that we will not give one red cent of our money towards that cause. So don’t ask!
It’s time for a little honesty. Those catch phrases don’t fool anyone. The fact is that people need Jesus. Every program, every project, every ministry of our churches must be focused on bringing people and their needs to Jesus. Those programs, projects, and ministries may cost money, time, effort, and change on our part. But that’s OK. It’s not about any of things It’s about Jesus. Without Jesus our money is worthless and our talents are mere hobbies.
Our job description should read: “Jesus is a must-have. We can’t even walk without Him holding our hand.”
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, lives in Frankton. She can be reached at VrdSpeaks@yahoo.com.
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Verna Davis: The truth behind job descriptions
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