Recently, my 18-year-old daughter, now off at college, told us she was planning to get her nose pierced. Norah didn’t just come home with it done; she let us know ahead of time before going through with it. She’s an adult and we’re not in a position to forbid it. Nevertheless, as parents we appreciated that she cares enough about us that she was upfront about her plans instead of surprising us with it when we see her in a couple of weeks.
This made me reflect on how, in the workplace, we often deal with the balance between asking for permission and forgiveness. My daughter’s approach—ahead of time—parallels the best kind of employee-manager relationship. When employees feel comfortable sharing their plans, seeking input, and then moving forward, it fosters trust and mutual respect. Without trust and mutual respect, a workplace cannot function effectively.
Employers can learn from this. Encouraging open communication and a culture of transparency allows you to build stronger relationships with your team. Employees who seek guidance ahead of time are showing respect for their role and their leaders, just like my daughter did with her decision.
In the end, it’s all about creating an environment in which asking for permission feels right, and when necessary and appropriate, offering forgiveness can help people learn and grow.
Ohio Pint Day Returns for 5th Year — via The Brewer Magazine
LGBTQ+ adults would consider leaving employers that cut DEI, Human Rights Campaign says — via HR Dive
5 Tips to Avoid Being Weird Around Your LGBTQ Coworkers — via EntertainHR
How DEI Can Survive This Era of Backlash — via Harvard Business Review
Is a reminder to vote too political? — via Ask a Manager
EEOC sues company for supposedly imposing a one pregnant-employee limit for its workforce — via Eric Meyer’s Employer Handbook Blog
The Misguided Appeal of the Aggressive Lawyer — via Attorney at Work
