So I decided to commit to the immersion because harassment is a reality in our workplaces today. It's a symptom of the very thing I try to help my clients avoid or overcome -- a toxic, unhealthy, unproductive work environment.
Dealing with these issues and those surrounding them can be approached from a variety of perspectives. From what I know about company culture and human behavior, I'd like to suggest 3 key elements to what I see as the most useful approach.
1). Take the opportunity to address harassment NOW since it has become part of our country's collective conscious. All this reporting has heighten awareness -- don't let that go to waste!
2). Decide to view it from a big picture perspective. Anything about employee behavior is related to company's culture and it's relationship to human resources. It's probably time to do a culture check. Here's a post to get your started, It recommends 6 check points from which to begin. So, it's also a great opportunity to conduct a company culture check up and reset initiative where needed.
3). In deciding to deal with it from a company culture perspective -- it must also be seen therefore, as a leadership issue.
Leaders must ask themselves, "What about me and my leadership team has given the impression that it's ok to act this way...to threaten or harass another employee in any way?"
This is absolutely the best time to look at your own leadership values and vision and the variety of ways its being communicated.
> What vision do you have for the kind of company you create and continue to build?
> Does your leadership team support and promote this vision?
> Is your leadership voice and the behavior modeled clear and consistent with this vision?
You know what really needs to happen? Every business leader where something has occurred should publicly apologize, restate their vision and ask for help from every employee at every level to support that vision. Being humble and authentic is really the call of the hour!
Here is the chance to lead from vision vs. fixing symptoms!
With my clients, if they don't have a vision yet, I ask them to borrow mine until they get their own. It summarizes helping leaders develop a culture and leadership philosophy and style that reflects the best of what humanity offers, believing that when we're at our best as human beings, we'll have our best businesses. I've coined it The Human Quotient(tm)
Imagine for a moment...
a company's leadership whose highest intention
is to create an exceptional, quality work life for its employees.
And in doing so,
consistently model, foster and champion
the qualities in individuals and an organization to make it so.
Respect
Dignity
Trust
Grace
Focused
Bottom-up Collaboration
Truth by way of Tactful Candor
Constructive Conflict
Emotional, Psychological, Physical Safety
Inspiration
Encouragement
Appreciation
Humility
Creative Problem Solving
Innovative Process Improvement
Personal Maturity & Responsibility
Tough-minded
Healthy Tolerations
Talent Challenges
Agility
Responsive
These positive human qualities, activate and amplify the best of each employee
and in so doing produce a highly satisfying, productive work environment.
These conditions, maintained, produce and sustain a company that continually thrives, no matter the market conditions.
This is The Human Quotient™
of business.
of business.
Also imagine if all leaders in partnership with their human resource department promoted these qualities in their cultures and organizational development? This really means creating an optimal operation... and what leader would not want that? Ask yourself as as leader, "What's my company culture feeding - constructive or destructive behaviors?"
If your company is not functioning at its best, one or some of these qualities in the vision statement are missing, or are not functioning as need be. Let us help you improve the Human Quotient™ of your business and it's leaders.
We specialize in helping leaders understand the human experience in the workplace for better business building. This lack of understanding slows and undermines growth as well as allows for a lot of unnecessary people problems.
// The Human Sphere™ is a holistic talent management-organizational develoment consultancy that partners with forward-thinking senior leaders to bridge the gap between people, performance, and profits. We focus on business growth by creating optimal operating conditions through human-focused, results based leadership. // email: joann@thehumansphere.com // Ph: 888.388.0565
Learn More
If you want to learn more and read case studies in detail, I recommend 2 of our latest executive briefings:
> Show Me The Money! Solving the Mystery of ROI to Unlock Profits & Increase Company Value - click here to access This is one of the best, easy to read discussions on how to connect human behavior to profits (a critical knowledge point for all leaders).
> I've Been Around the Block a Few Times: Let me Save You a Few Trips and Some Money Along the Way (my 20th anniversary briefing of insights and advice, which includes my top 6 business building tips through the lens of leveraging the human element) - click here for a complimentary digital copy.
Both are full of unique business building strategies and concepts that have proven to impact any company's P/L. Want to improve your people management? Want to generate operational improvement? You'll want to get both!
Schedule a complimentary advisory call and receive a copy of our latest executive briefing.
