From Pain to Humane

Blogger is still malfunctioning, so we are using HTML which causes some loss of formatting. We have vastly different world views. A fifteen year relationship has afforded many opportunities to understand our similarities and differences. A good employee was hurting. The hurt had built up over a long period of time. She was targeted by her boss and she was not alone in that experience. It was eroding her coping. We talked about symptoms of hurt, but not the hurt itself. Last week that changed when the situation reached crisis proportions. Humane workplaces has been a theme on this blog. What was happening at work was not humane by any rational person’s standards, but what could I do? I used reflective listening, made affirming statements and stood by her through the pain. It did not require me to solve her problem. Indeed I couldn't. Nor was that my place. Through no effort on my part she found a healthy solution to bring the situation to light and get it resolved. What takes place at work matters? An unhealthy work environment can permeate all areas of life causing a person to lose perspective, and in fact to rob them of their joy. A humane work environment starts with respect, but it takes more than that. It takes building people up, and filling in for them so they can bring in the next big project. It means celebrating small successes and standing with co-workers when things aren’t going well. A healthy work place requires reciprocity. It allows co-workers the freedom to do what they do well, and to strengthen weaknesses not just in a non-threatening environment, but in a rich supportive setting where good work is rewarded. The next three posts are 1. Humane Work Appraisals 2. Three Healing Hurdles; and 3. Trait, Traitor or Treachery.