Decency - what is it all about?
Tracy-Anne Barker
Director, Trainer, Coach and Mentor | Training and Development (HR)
Like many, I am signed up to receive information from all sorts of places, and now and then something drops in my mailbox which gives a refreshing view on a topic close to my heart.
Leadership and Management training is without doubt a favourite subject. So when I saw a recent article from www.Avadolearning.com (an organisation I have studied with in the past) it made me think. You can find the link to the full article at the bottom of this edition of my LinkedIn newsletter. ?
The article highlights how decency can transform leadership and drive organisational success. ?I would highly recommend that you read the article. It leans into manager and staff relationships, something we talk about in the training we provide for organisations.
Using this article, here is my take on it; ?Decency in Leadership.
The great writer Charles Dickens was quoted as saying, “If men would behave decently, the world would be decent”.
This goes well with another of my favourite quotes, “Be the change you want to see”. Gandhi.
I could just leave it there.
Those two quotes alone are so powerful and embody the way that I want to show up in my business, and also how I encourage others to lead and manage their teams.
Decency isn’t a word you come across too often today, let alone in management, which is a shame, as now more than ever, I see that our roles in our businesses, and our interactions, need to be a beacon for decency.
A haven of safety, away from the noise and often madness of the world around us.
It is a word which should be recognised across the entirety of our business, in our dealings with clients, suppliers and staff alike. So, what does it mean?
If you look it up in the Cambridge Dictionary, it will tell you that it is behaviour that is good, moral, and?acceptable in society. ?
For me, being a decent manager and leader means considering every decision and its impact. It is about a genuine attitude. It isn’t tick-box exercises, or seeking glory with grand gestures, just because it looks good.
I would like to think that we have all experienced a manager, leader, ?or colleague in our careers who has shown these qualities. Or perhaps received a service which left us feeling like we had been given the red carpet experience.
So, I would ask you how that made you feel, did you enjoy going to work more as a result? Did you go back to the business and use them again? I am sure the answer will be YES!
At the same time, I am sure you have experienced the opposite, where you experienced something difficult at work, and asked for help but didn’t feel heard or appreciated. Or, where the service wasn’t up to scratch, and you gave feedback and wondered why you bothered.
There I believe is a straightforward answer to “Why Decency is so important”.
As managers and leaders, we hold the power of decision-making in our businesses, and that can be hard. We have to juggle what is right for the business and employees. Decency isn’t about avoiding the difficult decisions we have to make, but it is about making those decisions as fair and as acceptable as possible, in the circumstances and ensuring that good news or bad news is communicated in the right way.
Here are a few ways that you can demonstrate decency in the workplace:
-??????? Encouraging praise and positive feedback
-??????? Accepting mistakes, and learning from them
-??????? Valuing all your staff, from the cleaners to the CEO
-??????? Treat your clients and customers well. Accepting the feedback whether good or bad
-??????? Communicating important information well
-??????? Having a genuine interest in the people who support you, whether colleagues or clients
-??????? Empathy, listening and hearing
-??????? Leading by example and demonstrating this through your behaviours in the workplace
When the team and clients trust you and your moral compass, they will show up differently. Not just because they need the paycheck, or you are the only one who sells the product they need.
Wouldn’t that be a great feeling?
I regularly share more Hacks on key management topics here on #LinkedIn, follow me to get posts straight to your inbox, each week. Or drop me a DM if you have any questions about our programmes or services.?
If you are ready to chat or have a question to ask about a management situation or need some advice, book a virtual cuppa with me at https://calendly.com/tracy-anne/chat-with-the-managers-training-co ?
Tracy-Anne is the founder of The Managers Training Company Ltd – a leading, high-quality, management training provider for educational establishments whose mission is to equip your leaders and managers with the strategies, tools, and skills that enable them to create a positive and productive team culture that puts rewarding pupil experiences at its heart. To find out more: www.themanagerstrainingcompany.co.uk ?
?Thank you Avado for my inspo. Avado HR Article
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3 个月Always #CommonSense posts from Tracy-Anne Barker
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3 个月Love this piece - it's about time that decency made a comeback and not just in management behaviours. As Charles Dickens said we'd have a decent world if decency was part of individuals' code of practice - especially on social media
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3 个月Enjoyed reading this well edition 21 remember when you started this ! Tracy-Anne Barker
A strategic marketing & communications leader who helps organisations reach their target audiences with engaging messages. I am a Fellow of both the CIM & IoL and a conscientious team-player who turns ideas into actions.
3 个月Such a great topic Tracy-Anne, and such a simple concept that unfortunately isn't universally prevalent. It amazes me that some leaders seem surprised about the direct relationship between they way they treat their colleagues/customers/suppliers and the level of engagement/trust those same colleagues/customers/suppliers have with them and their businesses. The notion of "treating others how you want others to treat you" is a simple one and one I try to live by.