In the context of knowledge professions such as the software industry professions, the dignity of people and their tone of conversations is often overlooked in the name getting work done.
Knowledge workers such as software professionals in the engineering profession face this often in traditional settings. I hope that is changing in the more modern network organizations of today but still doubt it - hence this blog.
Software engineers and other related professionals in the industry are mostly professionals with a 4 year degree or are graduates, trained in their field of work. Many times, in the situations that arise at work place they expect to be listened to for their holistic view on the subject area and be involved in decision making.
I will not discuss on the software professionals lack of training/ insufficiencies in this post. It involves the subject of responsibility and accountability. It is an equally important topic for another post.
When software professionals are micro managed or asked for strict yes or no type of questions, confusion arises. Perspectives vary when high order thinking begins. Everyone involved in the context are to be extra sensitive to such issues. Tone matters. Open discussions more frequently may be the approach that helps. Everyone must listen more to their counterparts in the profession irrespective of the inherent rank.
In practice, this problem arises in traditional organizations when the people involved are either not so qualified or not trained to work amongst knowledge workers. Or they are too busy to pay attention to the subtleties of tone and logic irrespective of the context.
"...Fuller uses the term rankism to describe the abuses of power....
There are 10 ways to combat rankism in the workplace and transform a corporate culture into a dignitarian one: Recognize and listen: Leaders should acknowledge the importance of every job and the individuals who hold them. Choose listening over defensiveness and instill a policy of respect. Facilitate questions, protect dissent: Good managers create an open work environment where everyone, regardless of rank, exhibits a questioning attitude. People should feel free to challenge any action. Hold people accountable and assign responsibility: A critical element of a dignitarian work environment is accountability...".
"Flatten unnecessary hierarchies: Flattened hierarchies, instead of vertical ones, should be run by happy employees who are proud of their products. Dignity comes from a decentralized organization because it approaches its employees respectfully. Consider peer-to-peer organization: Networks - a free cooperation of equal partners performing a common task for the common good - are replacing hierarchies everywhere....
The dignity movement is already underway and quietly gaining momentum. No one can say how quickly a dignitarian society will evolve...."
[Business Book Review Library; 2009, Vol. 26 Issue 45, p1-10, 9p]
Reference:
All Rise by Robert W. Fuller
