“Harmony is the strength and support of all institutions. …”
As a first line manager, I know one of my prime responsibilities is to promote and assure that the work place is a place of harmony. Harmony allows employees to focus on the mission of our department.
I am a Freemason. One ancient teaching and the fundamental teaching of the fraternity’s first degree is, “harmony is the strength and support of all institutions especially this of ours”. We are told not to bring anything offensive or defensive into the lodge. Defensive means personal protective weapons. Offensive is more about individual’s political and religious ideas. We are informed the discussion of these issues in our meetings is prohibited. These personal beliefs can be very emotional and controversial. The fraternity is not about resolving these personal beliefs. The discussion of these beliefs during our meetings leads to disharmony. The fraternity is about learning the work of our degrees, and bringing these degrees to perfection with an ancient standard. This is the harmony we seek, who can best agree and work in each degree.
In the world of today we have so many discordant issues. These discordant issues can come into our department in so many new ways: Internet, email, facebook, MS messaging. These are not only interruptions to an individual’s work processes; but, can involve our employees in another department’s problems and issues. In addition, these new means of communication can lead to addictions. I have had employees become addicted to a program; and, thus, barred them from using the program. These new means of communication, if used correctly, can bring to our department a more productive means of working. It is our responsibility to monitor these communications to keep us and our employees focused on the mission of our department.
Focus on our department’s mission is our means of perfection. The perfection of this mission is the department’s contribution to our company’s success. As company employees, we are not volunteers; we are paid to accomplish a mission. Any person or issue that creates disharmony within our work group must be addressed. First line managers must address these issues in a timely manner, and with compassion for the individuals involved. After proper counseling, an employee who continues to create disharmony in a department must be removed. This is not pleasant for a front line manager. Our overall responsibility is to the harmony of our department, not to the disruptive employee.
Our department employees deserve to work in a company and a department that allows them to accomplish their career desires. Employees expect their front line managers to maintain harmony in their workplace. Discord divides. Harmony unites. Harmony brings strength to our organization.
Front line managers must always keep department harmony as a prime goal.
