Business, like any other part of society, is fundamentally about people and how we think about people crucially affects everything we do. Over the last 30 years or so there has been an implicit assumption in business that:
These assumptions have led to what we refer to as a ‘double disconnect’:
But also:
Philosophy and faith traditions, together with empirical work in neuroscience and behavioural studies, offer a richer and more realistic view of the human person (see additional resources for some of these sources).
The starting point for our view of people is the idea of the dignity of the human person – each person has an intrinsic value and is worthy of respect because of our shared common humanity.
Our Blueprint Framework sets out what this means in the context of business:
The central premise is that people are not seen as merely a means of business success – they are not a ‘something’ but a ‘someone’ whose dignity is respected.
Dignity
Dignity…is an attribute that we are born with – it is our inherent value and worth. …Respect is different…Respect must be earned. If I say I respect someone, it is because he or she has done something that is extraordinary – gone the extra mile to deserve my admiration…Dignity is something we all deserve, no matter what we do. It is the starting point for the way we treat one another. To clear up any confusion, I think it is imperative to respect each other’s dignity.
Donna Hicks, Leading with Dignity (p2)
So what does respecting someone’s dignity, treating each person ‘as a someone and not a something’ look like?
Donna Hicks has developed a ‘Dignity Model’ consisting of ten essential elements of dignity and ten temptations to violate dignity – these are both reproduced below:
Ten Essential Elements of Dignity
Extract from Donna Hicks: Dignity Model – Organizing Engagement
Ten Temptations to Violate Dignity
Extract from Donna Hicks: Dignity Model – Organizing Engagement
Different manifestations of dignity
One part of respecting dignity is to recognise that we are beings that evolve, and that part of this is finding some meaning in our lives.
Donna Hicks talks about different manifestations of dignity – in ourselves, in others and in the world around us. She calls this the 3 Cs (connections):
This 3rd can take on different interpretations such as a faith, a connection to the natural world or a purpose that contributes to the greater good – something that gives meaning to our lives.
‘..a severing of any one of these three connections is a source of emotional upheaval and suffering. If we are concerned about only our own value and worth, and we fail to see the dignity of others and the world around us, we run the risk of behaving like narcissists. If we have a connection with our own and others’ dignity, but we don’t see the need to honor the dignity of the world we inhabit or pursue a life that contributes to the greater good, then we may suffer from a lack of meaning or purpose in our lives’.
Donna Hicks, Leading with Dignity (p40-41)
The following sections discuss human nature, meaning and motivation in more detail.