We can easily list numerous attributes we want our staff to exhibit; seek out ethical companies or counterparts with whom to conduct business; constantly assess ourselves and those around us against our ‘corporate governance’ barometer.
We are justifiably wary of having scams perpetrated against us or our companies but can, as a result, fall comfortably into a cynical, suspicious mind-set, seeing boogie men where none exist….
What happens if we don’t have these personal and business defences firmly in place? Well let’s be real here, we are not operating in a perfect world, and putting effective safeguards in place is the responsible thing to do. The purpose of this blog is to bring into question just how effectively these safeguards serve to isolate us, one from another. Whilst we’re ensuring our safety in a very rocky world, we can lose some of our humanity. Is this an inevitable casualty or are we building unnecessary separation into many facets of our lives in our bid to remain alert – vigilant – safe?
This takes me back to my original question – are we overlooking the most important attribute of all – head and shoulders above pop psychology speak – above all the ‘corporate-ese’ which has become the linguistic currency with which we ‘communicate’ – the attribute which I feel is sadly lacking in many of our dealings both personally and professionally.
That attribute is – quite simply – the one of kindness.
Bit of an anti-climax - I know! But I worry that it’s really become one of the lesser rated qualities we require or tender when interacting with others – particularly at work.
We scrutinise potential employees for qualities ranging from good presentation, organisational skills, honesty, loyalty, willingness to learn and so on. I’m not minimising the necessity for these. However, do we assess whether this person exhibits any form of kindness? Are we aware of how integral this behaviour is to success in every facet of our lives? It’s not to be confused with dormat status. In fact, quite the opposite. It’s actually kind and honest to put in place and maintain fair and firm boundaries. Kind to those around us as well as to ourselves.
It’s the oil that keeps the machinery of our lives and businesses functioning. Sometimes we’re so busy surviving that we only realise the actual worth when it’s drained away, and things simply stop working effectively. Oh sure – they keep limping along, but the emphasis is on limping.
People, we have to start being kinder to ourselves, each other, at home and in the business arena. That way we can stop peering around the corner of our defensive walls and actually step out, undefended, to meet our fellow human beings. That way, we’ll actually be able to step away from judgement and move into a space where real, beneficial, honest communication can take place.
So next time you’re tempted to assert your rights, even though you can, think about whether or not you actually need to. Is it the kind thing to do?
Staff Training presents a number of workshops addressing Diversity, Etiquette and Equality, contact us at 0861 996 660 or drop us an email.