As a LinkedIn Editorial Top Voice, thought leader, author, educator, and change leadership practitioner, I write a weekly article that benefits leaders who want to improve their organizations significantly.
I am one of what I hope are many Americans who find our current level of political divisiveness taken to extremes to be unacceptable. Instead, we should take a centrist view and focus on what most people agree. That was the approach I went with the term humanist manufacturing to describe my framework.
"The essence of Christianity, as I see it, is love. The essence of Humanism is love. At that level, we're not far apart." – Mark Thomas
As we see in the quote from Thomas, he believes that the essence of both perspectives is love. You could likely substitute any religion with Christianity, and the quotation would apply. However, it is then necessary to define love. I see our purpose in a business setting as the Greek form of love that is Philia. Philia love encourages affection, goodwill, and friendship where shared values and common goals maintain strength, focusing on helping people achieve their highest potential. From my experience, these are also essential attributes of effective leadership, where they must share this form of love for the people in their care.
In her book Applied Humanism: How to Create More Effective and Ethical Businesses, Jennifer Hancock simplifies the definition as "A commitment that you make to yourself to be a good person." Hancock states that it is our choice to shift from the "false dichotomy" of the necessity of a heartless approach to business to avoid failure. Hancock has four basic rules of humanist business management: 1) do no evil, 2) reality matters, 3) respect people, and 4) it is your responsibility. Again, these are rules that most of us, believing in a higher being, can agree on with this humanist as rules for Christian business leaders. The approach would also benefit the United States public if adopted by our political leaders.
Hancock's rules resonated with me as I unknowingly followed them in my leadership approach. The practice would also likely align with the manufacturing exemplars' work in leading their organizations to high levels of success. She writes that "adopting a humanist approach should help you think better, have better relationships, and feel more fulfilled" – seemingly something we should all at least be interested in exploring further, emphasizing the adoption of humanism in the manufacturing sector.
I am one of what I hope are many Americans who find our current level of political divisiveness taken to extremes to be unacceptable. Our purpose in a business setting is to avoid this polarity and instead adopt the Greek form of love, Philia. Doing so while following the rules of 1) do no evil, 2) reality matters, 3) respect people, and 4) it is your responsibility.
I recommend taking a few moments to think of someone with whom you disagree. Instead of what you take exception to with this person, consider what things you agree on. If these are many positives, consider how you can compromise on the contentious issue to benefit from the greater good the person does for you.
I am grateful to those who excel at constructive compromise. Former senator Henry Clay was known as the "Great Compromiser" based on his ten significant accomplishments during nearly half a century of service as a Representative, Senator, and Secretary of State. We desperately need an infusion of great compromisers in many aspects of human life.
Next week's blog will introduce the humanist commitments that comprise the humanist manufacturing framework.
To learn more about our work or read more blog posts, visit emmanuelstratgicsustainability.com.
I encourage you to read my book Humanist Manufacturing: A Humanitarian Approach to Excellence in High-Impact Plant Operations. The paperback and eBook versions are now available at Amazon and many other booksellers. You can also view the Humanist Manufacturing Book Launch to gain additional insight into the Humanist Manufacturing framework.
If you like what you have read, I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn. I am honored and humbled to be recognized as a LinkedIn Editorial Top Voice, an invitation-only group featuring senior-level experts and leaders. Less than 0.5% of LinkedIn members receive this invitation of 1 billion LinkedIn members.
Contact me if you need help with the manufacturing support services of consulting, coaching, or training/reskilling in change leadership, strategy, tactical planning, and change management by calling me at 734-664-9076.
See my virtual TEDx videos at Reinventing the Prison Industrial Complex and Humanist Manufacturing.
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