Commentary: Character in the workplace
“Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Character can be thought of in various ways with certain traits. As Airmen we sworn to an oath to protect our country and made a commitment to embody certain standards to live by with our core values of integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. Integrity is one of the most important qualities that defines one’s character and should be carried out whether or not someone is watching our actions. Lt Col Jeffrey Casey said it best in that “service before self is doing your duty with respect, whether pleasant or unpleasant, and relinquishing your stake in the outcome.” We have committed to performing our duties with excellence with putting our best foot forward with our personal maximum effort. He also said “anything worth doing is worth doing right and integrity should compel us to do our best at anything we do.” As Airmen we have chosen to live our lives according to these qualities.
What does character and our core values look like in a work center? One way to display character is by demonstrating respect by listening to teammates and asking for their input. Each person has unique talents that they bring to the table so recognizing each person’s experience, competence, and opinions are important. Also, incorporate member’s ideas to change or improve the work center and let the individual know that their ideas are influencing a positive change. Another way to show respect is to maintain positive non-verbals while communicating with the team. Non-verbals make up 70-93% of all communication so these actions definitely speak louder than words. Examples of positive non-verbal’s are maintaining eye contact, open arms, and nodding to demonstrate an understanding.
Character can also be displayed by taking responsibility for your actions and this shows true professionalism when actions are owned. There is an opportunity to give members autonomy in their decisions and innovate at their level. A sense of responsibility, ownership, and leadership qualities will follow. Help explain the why behind the job to instill pride in the team for the work they do in executing the mission. This will allow members to own their work and have a sense of responsibility for their part. Also, keep your word…if you say you are going to do a certain task then ensure you follow through until complete. Failing to have follow through with something is a surefire way to degrade trust and credibility. Create an environment where employees feel comfortable in bringing mistakes forward and use them as learning opportunities to encourage growth. At times, we will fail at a specific job but reshaping the perspective and mindset into failing forward is important as it helps the organization to learn, innovate, and build resilience.
Another way to show character in the work center is by being an empathetic leader and showing concern for your team. This quality allows for one to understand others in the workplace while having a good grasp on their feelings and thoughts. In doing so, it is helpful to teach listening skills among the team which entails giving undivided attention to the speaker, maintaining positive non-verbal communication, and allowing the person to speak without interruption. Demonstrate a willingness to help whether it is to lend an ear or to assist in another way. I have seen this in various ways throughout my career. Whether it is noticing one of your co-workers who does not look like their normal self and pulling them aside to chat to check on them or seeing a team from the unit assist a deployed member’s spouse in times of need.
Demonstrating character traits of our core values is the foundation of a healthy team and a positive work environment. Showing respect in the work place will help reduce stress, tension, and conflict. Respect enhances communication and teamwork while promoting a healthy culture. Taking responsibility for your actions takes courage but ultimately it results in a true professional who is willing to take onus of their behavior. Showing concern and being an authentic leader is so important in a work center as listening and caring for your team will go a long way while solidifying strong relationships.