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Fair Deal

InContext works according to the fair deal principle. Ten starting points for a fair deal in organizations:

1. An organization is more than a money machine

   Organizations enable people to achieve special, unique things together. Ensure that what you are achieving together is of real value. Express this value explicitly.

2. A person is more than a unit of labor

   Each person deserves to be treated with respect and receive the opportunity to enjoy his or her work. People who are close to their full potential are of the most value to an organization. Get to know your people and their motives.

3. Behavior breeds behavior

   Be conscious of the fact that your behavior influences others – both positively and negatively. Constructive, respectful action will be answered (sometimes immediately, sometimes over time) with the same behavior. In other words: you get what you give. A negative attitude will guaranteed be punished with negative reactions.

4. Talking about = talking with

   Venting negative feelings about someone entails a responsibility to share those feelings with the person in question. This responsibility is applicable to the person with the problem as well as those he/she is talking with. In practice, this means that they encourage the person with the problem to broach the subject with the appropriate person. This prevents gossip and a build up of unexpressed dissatisfaction as well as giving the person in question a chance to explain and/or defend his/her actions.

5. Do what you say and say what you do

   Use open communication to ensure that others have realistic expectations and view it as your responsibility to follow through with explicit promises and commitments. You may of course choose not to make an agreement in the first place, but if you do make one, follow through on it.

6. No emotions via email

   Express emotions, preferably face-to-face and otherwise via a phone call. It enables you to communicate the right nuances and react adequately to possible emotional feedback, so that further escalation does not occur.

7. Treat others as you would like to be treated

   Be conscious of the consequences your actions have on others. Put yourself in their shoes and adjust your actions accordingly.

8. Take responsibility for your role in a conflict

   By examining yourself and (daring) to be self-critical in an honest way, you minimize the probability of escalation. Do not justify your actions; choose the appropriate behavior.

9. It is in your interest to serve the interests of others

   In all situations, strive for results which satisfy all parties involved. When someone is unsatisfied about the result of a negation for example, then sooner or later, directly or indirectly, it will come back to you.

10. Share information with your colleagues which is vital for their success

    When you hold back information which is important to another person, you affect the total value that your organization can deliver. Collegiality means watching out for your colleagues’ interests and acting accordingly.