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Behaviour
Helpless

Managers often know when things aren’t going well with their team members. They may encounter expressions of defeat or hopelessness, like "What’s the point?" More often, it’s evident not in what staff say but in what they do. In many well-established cultures that seem okay from the top down, we often encounter a psychological condition known as Learned Helplessness in the middle ranks.

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Behaviour
Avoid the Empathy Cliche

When brand values are being set out, so many cliché words tend to be used. Trust, Innovation, Professionalism and Integrity are probably the most frequent ones. But if an organisation isn’t trustworthy, innovative, professional and has integrity, customers and employees should avoid it anyway. Another word which is being increasingly overused is Empathy: ‘the ability to understand and share the feelings of another’.

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Behaviour
Volunteers

It’s always nice when another person puts their hand up and says, “I’ll do that for you.” Whether it's a family member volunteering to organise an event, or a colleague performing a small service for their team, volunteering usually produces gratitude in others and generates smiles all around. If it happens at work, it’s often a sign of a positive culture. Cultures where this happens naturally enjoy higher productivity.

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Behaviour
Humble Inquiry

Use obligatory language sparingly and only when necessary to convey critical information or ensure compliance with important policies. Try combining obligatory language with a clear explanation of the rationale behind the directive and the potential consequences to the organisation of non-compliance. Better still, encourage a culture of open communication where employees feel comfortable giving feedback.

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Behaviour
Authenticity

Authentic Leadership was first popularised by Bill George in his book of the same name. It highlights the importance of leaders being true to themselves and their values. Authenticity sounds like the approach every leader should aspire to. But it’s much rarer than you’d think. Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway is often cited as a model of authentic leadership due to his straightforwardness and humility.

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Behaviour
Consideration

Uber is a brand built on the belief that transportation should flow like water. People should be able to step in and out of the flow and reach their destination with the minimum inconvenience. Now, inside the car or the company, the experience can be very different. In short, if you are a passenger in this kind of car - or an employee of this kind of boss - the journey may turn out to be uncomfortable and unpredictable.

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