The one thing that is always relevant, valued and needed is very simple - Respect.
Respect for one's culture, religion, knowledge, experience, lifes experience, wisdom, upbringing, ancestry and individuality.
The one underlying cause of lack of respect within the workplace seems to always stem from thee most simplest challenge. The lack of communication and understanding that each person is different and wishes to be respected in their own way.
Lets take the following for example - very seldom do we take into account the various underlying human issues that affect people such as Personality Types and Learning Styles. We are all aware that culturally and religiously, we are all different. That is a given. But how many people stop to think about the mere fact that one can clash just on personality.
Yes, Diversity issues are highly important and extremely necessary, but then again, so is the diverse personality types of each team member.
Many people are labelled as introverts or extroverts. The extroverts are put under pressure to perform continiously and to always have an answer to any challenge that may arise within the work environment. The introvert is callously or disdainfully dismissed as not worthy of being listened to as their very quiet demeanor makes them stand out as being useless or their lack of input as being just a part of life.
But looking at Personality types allows one to understand themselves and others at a deeper level. I don't think that people are shown the importance of how relevant it is to know, understand, guage and relate to others based on their personality type.
If you could understand in a simple way, how to assess the Learning style of the person you are interacting with, then you will immediately be able to adjust your body language, tone, eye-contact, words, way of presenting and your ability to get a clear message across without fear of being mis-understood.
The colour of their skin, their religion, age etc, instantly falls away as you now engage in a respectful one on one or in a group environment in a powerful way.
Respect in the Workplace can be quite delicate to balance and we walk a fine line everyday taking into account that every person we interact with, has a sensitive side and carries their own baggage and understanding of each situation.
This does little to appease the pressure of a Manager who is now put into a position to manage the behaviour of adults.This can be rectified by putting into place a Values Based System, where each individual is accountable and responsible for their own behaviour within a professional work environment.
A Values Based system that is based on Human interaction values which adds to organisational values.
These comprise very simply of the following Yes and No Values. How I wish to be treated and how I do not want to be treated on a personal interation basis.
These values are selected, discussed, understood and chosen by each individual. It is then presented to the team with explanations of what is meant by each one - taking into account that each person interprets things differently, hence the need for clear explanations.
See below for the most simplest yet most powerful Management system that works within professional teams.
Until the next time,
take care and have fun!
Arthie Moore
