Managing ‘Nones’ In The Workplace

How Business leaders can evangelize unchurched millennials in the workplace.

They don’t believe in much of anything. They seem apathetic with regard to matters of faith. They might admit to atheism or agnosticism, or they might simply describe themselves in terms like “spiritual, but not religious.” They might have some vague belief in God or Jesus, but they don’t identify with any particular religion or denomination. And they’re not even “searching.” Predominantly, they are young millennials, born between 1981 and 1996; some 40 percent of millennials self-identify in this category, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.

Four steps to workplace evangelism:

Writing in Catholic Answers magazine, staff apologist Michelle Arnold recently offered a four-step technique for sparking a faith discussion with a co-worker:

1. Ask sincere questions that show genuine interest in the other person. That means questions the person will enjoy answering — that gets the ball rolling. But watch for any hints that the question is unwelcome.
2. Find common ground. Don’t water down what you believe, but seek interests or past experiences that you share. Those help advance the conversation.
3. Share personal experiences. You’ve got stories; they’ve got stories. When you share them comfortably, mutual trust grows.
4. Offer resources — when the time is right. Whether it’s a book, a website, a parish group, pass something along where they might explore faith on their own. “Your enthusiasm may inspire people to want to learn more,” Arnold said.

On-the-job evangelism isn’t easy, but you don’t have to be an apologist to do it well: “You just have to genuinely care about other people and Be able to project that love for them into your conversations about the Faith,” Arnold concluded.

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