Kent M. Keith was a 19 year old sophomore at Harvard College when he wrote The Paradoxical Commandments. He wrote this guide during the turbulent 60’s when student activists were turning to violence with sit-ins, direct confrontation and conflict with police. He saw a need for this document since many of these young people became disillusioned about the lack of social change they were able to create.

The basic premise to Keith’s manual is no matter the challenge, it is important to do what is right, good and true even if you feel unappreciated or come up short on the progress you seek.

As I read the commandments, I was struck with how applicable they are to creating engaged workplaces where everyone feels value and able to meet their full potential in the worplace.

Commandment 1
People in the workplace are sometime illogical, unreasonable and self-centered.
Appreciate them anyway.
 
Commandment 2
If you do good things in the workplace, people will accuse you of selfish motives.
Do good anyway.
 
Commandment 3
If you are successful in the workplace, you will acquire phony friends and permanent enemies.
Be successful anyway.
 
Commandment 4
The good you do today in the workplace will often be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
 
Commandment 5
If you say exactly what is on your mind in the workplace, you will be vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
 
Commandment 6
Great ideas are often shot down in the workplace.
Think big anyway.
 
Commandment 7
While the workplace may appreciate underdogs they follow the big dogs.
Fight for the underdogs anyway.
 
Commandment 8
Projects you have been working on for years can be torn down in one day in the workplace.
Build it anyway.
 
Commandment 9
People who need help in the workplace may attack you in the process.
Help them anyway.
 
Commandment 10
On some days in the workplace, your best efforts may get you a kick in the teeth.
Give your best anyway.
 
The simple lesson of these 10 commandments is satisfaction in these disengaging days has to come from within particularly when the good you contribute is not recognized. While we may not be as successful as we would like in our efforts to make our workplaces the best places to work in the world, we can take solace in the fact we are in this fight for the right reasons; to do good anyway for the sake of engagement.