(intro music)
V/O:

“This is CCTV – Christian Church Television.
Bringing you Enlightenment on Cable! For a low monthly subscription!

Tonight…

We invite you to share your deepest darkest secrets
We encourage you to share your trials and tribulations
And we will bring you

HOPE!
ANSWERS!
APPLICATIONS!

Welcome…to CCTV’s most successful agony uncle show
The highest rated in Singapore, JB and some say Batam!

Welcome to … ASK ALEX!

And here is your host:

Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr Alex Allgood!” (end music)

Good evening.

Tonight we have a very special show. In our series looking at application of Christian Faith in our everyday lives, we will look at the workplace. So we’re asking ourselves:

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO – AT WORK?

The Truth is that we are all schizophrenic characters. We live in different worlds.
The family world – here we are the filial child.
The friend world – here we are the dependable confident.
The dating world – here we are the predator or the bait.
The church world – here we are a goody 2 shoes participant.
The work world – here we are dependable, sociable, aggressive, with an edge.

So many worlds. So many characters. Someone I know – actually 2 people I know – actually go by different names to keep their worlds apart.

In our last show, we asked our viewers to send in some questions, some situations they find themselves in at work and don’t know how to solve. We have received many emails and letters – some viewers are waiting by their phones to give us a call. But before we go there, I’d like to have a chat with my studio audience.

(addressing studio audience)

Good evening.

What’s your name?
Where do you work?
And what kind of environment is that?
Do people at work know about you? I mean, that you are a Christian?
Any challenges or trouble?
(x 2)

OK thank you. You see, we all face these challenges.

Unless you work for CCTV, like me, chances are your work environment is not Christian. That is has different values. That it follows the values of the world.

Let’s ask the audience for some values or behaviours that makes us successful at work: (my beautiful assistant Chantal will write them down)

Aggressive
Ruthless
Confident
Honest

Now, over on this side: What are the values/behaviours of a good Christian?

Forgiving
Humble
Doormat
Meek
Honest
Fair

You can do this at home in front of your TV, too.

See? We have two pretty different, often conflicting sets of values. Which is pretty much what most of us experience in our workplace every day.

OK let’s look at some cases.

I received an email from Tobby in Ang Mo Kio:

“I'm working with a woman, doing something fairly responsible. Sometimes, as a team, we screw up. However, that girl, being a Christian, believes in making making up for her mistake; but I know this bitch, she's just trying to make herself look the victim and thereby gaining pity from others

The problem is, when she plays the drama of the victim, her attempt at restitution also takes on a grand proportion. And it makes me look bad because
a) the problem becomes much bigger than it actually is
b) our team becomes an open game for other departments to step on
c) I don't care a damn about the initiating problem.

She's an unstoppable wreck and there's no restraining order. Help.”

Tough one, Tobby. Especially since here is another Christian who is using her beliefs to make herself look good. Extra tricky.

Maybe we should deal with something easier first. Let’s go to the phones.

Hello?

Miriam: “Hello?”

Yes, this is Alex Allgood. Who am I speaking with?

“Hi Alex, my name is Miriam. I am a big fan. I think you’re a blessing from God, with your answers and all. I always …”

Thank you Miriam. Do you have a question?

“Oh. Ok, yes, I do. You know, at work I have this colleague. Another girl. She always sucks up to the boss. She has no morals. I think she may even have slept with him. Anyway, she is lazy but street-smart. She presents my work as hers. She is rude and exploits her staff. She is sugar-sweet and sucky to our boss. She never takes responsibility for mistakes. Always puts the blame on me. But the bosses like her. They think she gets things done. A go getter. And compared to her, I look like a lame duck. How can I fight her? It’s not fair that she should be more successful.”

Thank you Miriam. That’s a pretty typical situation. We have all been there at work – you have a ruthless colleague. They play the game so well. And you? You may be better at what you do, but you’re not as cruel. Not backstabbing. Not sucking up. So they advance and you stay behind. Unfair right? Well, I have news for you. How you can keep your values and still win. A little later in the programme. Just keep watching ok?

“OK.”

Let’s take another call.

Hello? This is Alex Allgood.

Bruce: “Oh, hi Alex, I am Bruce.”

Hi Bruce. What do you do?

“Oh, I work in an advertising agency.”

Wow, advertising. How interesting. Do you find it’s a very tough place to work in?

“Yes and no. Some people are assholes. Oops, can I say that on TV?”

It’s ok. Too late anyway. So what makes them … not nice?

“Well, they only care about themselves. How to get ahead. How to look good in front of the boss. They lie and they cheat. They are not nice at all. But that’s not my problem. I can deal with them. I have another problem. Money.”

Money? You have a money problem?

“Not me. My account. You know, we shot this big TV commercial recently. We calculated the cost and billed the client beforehand. Now that it’s finished, I found out that we overbilled the client. By 20,000 dollars.”

Oh, ok, sounds like a good problem to have. They should be happy to get the money back from you.

“Well, that’s just it. My accounts department doesn’t want to give the money back. They want to keep it as a buffer for future shortfalls.”

Shortfalls?

“Yes, if we make a mistake and have to redo an ad or pay for the media ourselves. It happens. The accounting people say to keep the money.”

So how do you feel about that?

“I feel it’s wrong. If the client finds out, they will lose their trust in me. But if I pay them back, accounting will tell my boss and he will give me a big talk about the profitability of my account.”

Ok Bruce, I can see your dilemma. But there is actually a pretty simple solution for you. A little later in the programme. Just keep watching ok?

But I’d like to introduce you to my guest tonight.

He is a successful plastic surgeon at NUH. He has made many people beautiful (and rumour has it he has also done some work on himself). He is totally OUT – as a Christian – in his hospital workplace. Let’s find out how he copes and whether plastic surgeons DO have problems.

Please welcome … DR JEN JUE QUAH.

Hello. Welcome to my show. Can I call you JJ? Ok thanks.

Firstly, what made you want to be a doctor in the first place?

JJ: “Well I dunno, it kind of just happened. I liked biology at school and – well – I wanted to work with people, help people, I guess. Of course, there was the promise of money hehe …”

So, tell me, what’s it like working in a hospital.

“Oh, it’s like any other place.”

Really? I would have thought you’re dealing with matters of life and death?

“We do, but after a while you get kinda used to it. You have to achieve this level of numbness, in order to cope. You cannot take things personally or let them get to you.”

Oh I see – so what’s the working environment like with the other doctors?

“Well, it’s ok. Doctors are human after all, you know. So you get some great characters who really care and are humble and sweet. Then there are those who backstab and feel they are better than anybody else.”

Hmm, how do you deal with those?

“Well, I don’t. Try not too. I mingle with the nice people as much as possible. But there is this one woman doctor in my group… we’re very different and we often have rows. Bad rows. Which is not good because we have to work together. Then we patch up and for a while this kind of truce holds. But then we have another row and we’re back to square 1.”

So how do you deal with that situation?

“I dunno, Alex, that’s what I wanted to ask you.”

Oh ok. Thank you, JJ, for sharing. And good luck in your work.

Well, it’s time for my final thought.

It’s tough sometimes to work in an environment that is so different from our Christian values. And you know what – sometimes a so-called Christian company or so-called Christian colleagues can be even worse. Because they should know better. Because we expect more from them.

If we ask ourselves – What Would Jesus Do – at work?, it’s not always easy to find answers. But let me try.

To start with, we need to ask ourselves – why are we here? In this studio, in this life, on this earth. What’s our purpose and priority? This would remind you that human advancement, success, money and fame are maybe not the things we should crave for. Easier said than done, I know.

But I said earlier, that I have good news for you. That you CAN be successful, often (but not always) even in this world’s definition, and still uphold your Christian values. In the next life? Well yes, there too. But even now. Because I believe that ultimately, good wins over evil. In the long run, nice people beat the rotten eggs.

So for survival in the workplace, I’d like to offer you 6 B’s:

1: Be open.
Do not hide at work. If they ask how you spent your Sunday, tell them you went to church. That may start an interesting conversation. They will respect you for your openness.

2: Be active.
Let your actions speak, not your words. Walking from desk to desk dropping little bible flyers and tracts probably won’t work. If you feel you have to evangelise at work, let your actions speak. Do things differently, better. Treat people nicely and give them the respect they deserve. Get to know the janitor by name. Say hi to the tea lady. And when people ask what makes you do this – THEN you tell them.

3: Be authentic.
Don’t put on your work personality with your tie in the morning. Be yourself. You are living one life, a fine balance of work, family, relationships, friends. Be the same in each of these compartments. Allow your family life to intrude into your worklife – have lunch with your partner, bring your kid or dog to work on a Saturday morning. Be human. Be yourself.

4: Be honest.
Don’t run around with a sign hanging from your neck stating your religion or sexual orientation, but at the same time: Don’t lie. If people ask you, answer them truthfully. Chances are they really want to know you better. And if they have an evil agenda and want to use the information against you, let them. In the end they will fail. Don’t make up stories how you played beach volleyball with hot babes on Sunday morning when everybody can see you’re terrible at ballgames.

5: Be unafraid.
Here is our big competitive advantage as Christians. We don’t have to be afraid. The backstabbers are constantly looking over their shoulder. Any time now one of the enemies they created will stab them back. They assume everybody is as bad as them – so they have to be on the lookout. No rest for the wicked. It’s different for you. You have backup. A backup with a promise that you will always, always be bailed out. No matter what. No exceptions. With that kind of support. You can sleep at night. And speak your mind at work. Because nothing will happen to you? No. things may happen. But nothing BAD will happen to you.

6: Be responsible.
Live up to your responsibilities and stand up for what you believe is right, for what you have done, good or bad. Give credit and take blame. Be fair and forgiving. Treat others like you want to be treated. Have high expectations of yourself and live up to them. And if you don’t – try again tomorrow.

So, coming back to our callers:

Tobby:
Pray.
Then tell your colleague how her behaviour is affecting you and both your work. Then stop worrying. Others will find out who is really responsible and who is the drama queen.

Miriam:
Pray.
Then concentrate on your work. Do it well and in the open. Stop fretting about who your colleague sleeps with or whether she got an unfair promotion. Help others be successful. If you’re accused unfairly, openly rebuke the accusation – but with a smile. In the long run, you will win and she will lose.

Bruce:
Pray.
Talk to your finance people. Say if you’re responsible for the account, you must have all the tools. Make them issue a credit note to the client. Explain to the client how this happened. And next time you face a shortfall, you will have goodwill in the bank to use and make up for the mistake.

JJ:
Pray.
Then buy her coffee. Discuss how you want to work with her and how it is in both your interests to get along. Speak openly about the areas where you disagree with her and why you stick to your opinion. Invite her to share hers. You may need to agree to disagree. But it doesn’t have to get personal.

In this world, we’re often facing difficult decisions. Because we need to survive in the workplace. Because we follow the worldly values just a little bit, we’re human, we crave some recognition and fame. But just asking the simple question

What would Jesus do?

Can sometimes help us make the right decision.

I am Alex Allgood. Thank you for watching.

Good night. (Music – fade out)