Background and explanation
During leadership development courses, I often facilitate the development of a ‘Code of Professionalism’ where the team starts from scratch and through conversation decides what the main points in their ‘code of professionalism’ should be. Starting with ‘we will at all times’, participants populate their ‘code’ asking ‘what do we really mean by this’?
Athol Davies – Post-matric Director
We will at all times:
- Behave in an ethical way
Choose to do what is right, not what is easy. Abide by the rules, working within an acceptable framework. But, expand your horizons. Be adventurous by questioning and stretching boundaries where it will cause no harm.
- Show respect
Showing respect to the environment, animals, others and ourselves leads to protecting what is good and consciously doing no harm. Tidiness (of the environment and self), dressing appropriately, speech, and manners are all part of respect - and so are punctuality, respecting other’s ‘space’ and belongings.
Respect helps to build positive relationships.
- Lead by example
Self-leadership and leading teams are part of leadership development. Leadership involves setting a vision, motivating others to achieve the goal and helping others to reach potential.
Leaders need to set an example for others to follow. Push beyond current limits both mentally and physically. Aim at the highest from a head, heart and action perspective thus setting standards of excellence.
- Encourage others
Encourage others by acknowledging their achievements and motivating them to do their best. In addition, by exposing them to things they would not normally do, they might find something they will be unexpectedly good at or really like. This will help them to grow and reach higher levels and cause a ‘ripple effect’.
- Treat others with empathy
Be mindful of their needs. Empathy promotes action, enhances capabilities and builds people. It is important to go beyond differences and negative feelings and to ‘tune in’ to the person, their situation and their current needs. Be nice to others, treat them with kindness and caring. They have the right to be treated with respect.
- Practise tolerance
Be patient. Accept people and allow their differences. Tolerance leads to greater understanding. Try to understand why people think and behave the way they do. Listen to their ideas and accept their choices.
Looking beyond differences, we’ll find similarities as we ‘share the same space’. We can use other people’s positive differences (their strengths) to enhance ourselves.
- Listen to others
It is important to go beyond hearing what people are saying. Listen actively. Validate others – ‘I see you, I hear you and what you say matters’. This shows support and builds relationships, generating further growth.
Listening promotes understanding of others and is a skill needed for self-growth.
- Cultivate a positive attitude
Be careful of negative self-talk and limiting beliefs. Consciously see the good in all things and in others. But be objective. Look for value. Cultivate and maintain a positive attitude.
- Be inspired
Believing in something greater than ‘self’ helps to ‘keep you going’. Look for inspiration. Being motivated stems from being inspired. Maintain a level of motivation and results will be better.
- Keep up appearances
Maintain high standards for the group and individually. Make sure the ‘outside’ is not a veneer. Allow your authentic self to shine through.
And don’t judge a book by its cover. The cover is not the book – the contents may be very different.
If you are interested in finding out more about our ‘leadership development’ programmes, or any of the other services we offer, you are welcome to contact us directly on brenda@146.66.90.172 or Phone: +27 33 3425432, Mobile: + 27 82 4993311.