It's OK to be Professional! By Olan Hendrix   The para-church leader was conducting his weekly staff meeting. I was a guest at the meeting since I was on-site doing management consulting for the organization. He went on and on about the fact that working in that organization was a ministry and not just a job. Fine, so far, I thought. Then he said that they were not professionals, but servants of God and His people. Why did this respected leader find it advantageous to pit serving God against being professional? Perhaps he was trying to emphasize the importance of the work and the need to sense a calling to be a part of that team. Surely this could have been done without demeaning professionalism. Or, he could have been searching for a way to rationalize the disarray and slovenliness that was so evident throughout the organization. I suspect the latter.   Being professional, being our best, rising above the ordinary ought to be the natural outcome of being in ministry. Why should the people at IBM dress with more discipline than we do? Why should the people at EDS work harder than we do? Ours is the highest of callings and everything about us ought to reflect that calling. All of this is not to say that we should adopt the styles or the corporate cultures of the world. It is to say that we should be our best.   I have been searching for ways that are within my grasp to become more professional, more excellent. There are at least the following areas that are possibilities; appearance, attitude toward work, orderliness and language. Appearance A friend once excused his sloppy appearance by reminding me that God looks on the heart. I rejoined that man looks on the outward appearance, that is all man could look on.   When I began my ministry in the early 50s we were taught that pastors should wear suits and ties every day. Today we live in a different world. I know pastors that rarely ever wear suit and tie. We need to adapt to the changing morays of the times. But we need to insure that we dress well, even if casual. Frequently I encourage young clients to wear nicer casual trousers rather than jeans, nicer shoes rather than sneakers and better shirts than T-shirts. It is possible to dress casually but attractively.   Consider your appearance from the viewpoint of your donors. Do you think it is more likely that a donor might be more inclined to contribute a large gift if your dress is appealing? It is difficult to imagine someone remembering an organization in an estate plan if he/she is offended by the manner in which staff dresses. Dressing down is almost certain to offend someone while dressing up will seldom offend anyone.   There are exceptions. An old friend of mine appeared on the platform at the Urbana Missionary Convention in blue jeans. The crowd of thousands of young people roared their approval and gave him a standing ovation. He was smart. He was adapting to the situation. Knowing the man as I do I'm sure he dressed differently the next day as he called on a major donor. Attitude Toward Work My late friend and mentor, Philip Armstrong, used to say that he could hardly believe he was paid to do his work in the mission. He loved his work so much he said he would be willing to pay for the privilege. What a refreshing attitude! Work is one of the greatest gifts to man. Great care must be exercised to maintain our attitude.   No single activity will sour the attitude quicker than complaining. We need to guard against this with diligence.   I frequent a coffee shop near my home early in the morning to read the papers. For years I have greeted one of the servers by asking how she is. Without fail she answers by saying she is tired. This response is counter-productive. Telling someone we are tired will indeed make us tired.   Many years ago a friend and I made a pact that we would try to avoid saying that we were tired or busy. I know I have succumbed to the temptation to violate that pact and I wouldn't be surprised if he has too. But, it's a good strategy. What is a hearer to do with that information? How can saying I'm tired or busy help me? This helpful commitment is within the reach of all of us. Orderliness We have all smiled at the sign that says that a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind! Clutter and disarray can never contribute to productivity. Making a joke of it does not help.   Orderliness is within the reach of all of us, regardless of limited budget and office space. The beginning point is to create places for all our materials. Recently while working with a very young client I asked if I might sit with him at his desk to go over his files and materials. As with many of us he had limited space. The clutter was considerable. To find a file was always a time consuming chore. We worked away at getting things in order. He promised to read, The Organized Executive, by Stephanie Winston. I encouraged him to get some file boxes at the office supply store since he could not afford filing cabinets. He promised to have only one file on his desk at a time. These are simple habits that will serve him well for years to come.   Take a good look at your car. What does it say about you? Does it say you are orderly, disciplined and in control? You are walking back to the parking lot with a donor after a lunch where you were sharing your vision for the future of your work. The two of you stand alongside your car as you say goodbye. He looks through your car windows. What message does he take away with him? Language Earl Nightingale used to say that you can put the finest clothes on a man and surround him with expensive gadgets but the minute he opens his mouth you know all about him. Nothing reveals us more clearly and fully than our speech.   No one I can remember could say more with fewer words than the late Eric Hoffer. Edwin Newman's books, A Civil Tongue and On Language are the most helpful books I can remember on the subject of language. Both authors are out of print but still available in your library. William Safire and James Kilpatrick are still writing columns on language and are worthy of your attention.   The issue is not to use words no one understands but to speak correctly, succinctly and precisely. John Stott never wastes a word in both his speaking and writing. Read Stott and seek to emulate him. Ken Davis of Dynamic Communications in Colorado Springs has the best training I know of on public speaking.   Here are some steps within your reach to improve in this area. Read authors who will stretch your thinking. Look for new words and keep a list of them on your note pad. Use one new word each day. Keep a dictionary not only near your desk but also in your brief case. Tape record your messages and play them back to hear for yourself your mistakes. Encourage your spouse and friends to correct your grammar.   The issue is excellence not perfection. Perfection is for self-gratification. Excellence is that we might glorify God.