“I am tired of listening to corrections. I’ve been working in the office for so long – preparing projects, writing reports, doing the accounts. So far, I have never heard a positive word from sister. She speaks only to correct and that too with a sour face. When I am hearing only negative remarks, from where will I get the energy and enthusiasm to do my best? If she cannot find anything else that I do well, she could at least tell me that after mopping the floor I wash the mopping cloth well. At least that would be an encouragement.” This is what I heard from a qualified and highly competent lady working in the office in one of the Christian institutions.
As part of the ministry of leading a community, the superior may have to give corrections occasionally. Let us examine how this can be done effectively without making the others resentful.
Part of Being Generative
Some superiors think that their main duty is to lead the community by watching out for mistakes or misbehaviours and correcting them. This is not right. The main duty of the superior is to be generative, not to correct.
Fr Jose Kuttianimattathil SDB
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