What does being non-judgemental actually mean?
Many people claim they are, but what is actually involved to truly not judge someone?
I help HR professionals and business owners with their HR emergencies. This means things like dismissals gone wrong, appeals, complex grievances or difficult employee issues that take a while to untangle.
When I first speak to people, it’s important they tell me the whole story. My advice is only as good as the information I am given, so if people miss out a bit of the story because they are concerned I will judge them, it won’t end very well.
So, here’s some of the ways I show I am non-judgemental:
- I’ll encourage you to tell me everything and when you do, I won’t be shocked or surprised. Believe me, I have seen a lot in my HR career, so it takes a lot to shock me. My aim is to help you sort it out not blame anyone.
- I won’t think any less of you. The fact that you contacted me shows that you want help sorting it out and that is a good thing.
- I’ll provide you with the facts. I’ll explain what you are dealing with, what the risks are and what your options are. Everyone feels better when they know what they are dealing with and what the potential solution is. I’ll evaluate circumstances objectively, focusing on facts, behaviours and policies rather than personal opinions or assumptions.
- I’m a trained Samaritans listening volunteer. I say this because they are the experts at non-judgemental listening. I practice active listening, empathise and will withhold personal judgement to better understand the nuances of a situation.
- I’ll try to understand what caused this to happen. Was it human error? Lack of a clear policy? Or just ignorance? Whatever it is, I’ll also help you make sure it doesn’t happen again.
- I’m an external HR consultant – this means I don’t have a vested interest in the internal politics of a business. Sure, I care about my clients and their businesses, but in the cold light of day, it doesn’t matter to me who is right and who is wrong. I just want to help you fix it.
The benefits of remaining non-judgemental are:
- My clients are far more likely to confide it me and tell me the truth. This means we can get to the bottom of the issue and fix things quickly.
- My clients are far more likely to call me earlier on before things escalate. This means that they will likely save money dealing with a bigger issues or having to engage an employment lawyer.
- It not only builds rapport, but trust. And in any relationship with your HR consultant, trust is essential!
If you would like a chat about how my approach could potentially help you with an issue, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]
#grievance #conflict #conflictresolution #communication