Me and my values are off to ACE!

Values - how do yours send you?

I tend to think about how my personal values fit with whatever I'm doing. It can help me to go places and be there, with purpose.

With a sore back making me reflect on why I'm pushing through to CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition (aka ACE) I've decided to share how my values guide me 're such events this in a blog. In no particular order...

Connectedness

Conferences, exhibitions and events provide a great opportunity to engage with peers and connect to their content, to catch up on old connections and make new ones both personally and in terms of connecting ideas and content cerebrally.As a blogger, it also means I can give back by giving a sense of connection to those who can't attend.

Passion

In my case, I am passionate about people and the world of work (amongst other things!). People who attend conferences tend to be at least interested, if not passionate, about conference content. I find it a real shame when some people lack any passion towards their profession and don't see the value in being amongst others at events such as ACE.

Image from Pixabay

Kindess

In this context, for me, this value is about the how we do the connectedness bit. We may for example have different views from the ones being presented but how we express that should always be done in a kind and considerate (not to mention professional) manner. It's also about making sure that we're building our networks based and/ built on kind, respectful relationships and not just a match in the thinking space.

Kindness to self is also something to consider. For example introverts may need to take care if their energy and emotions (see Mark Hendy's blog here: https://hendyshrblog.com/2018/04/16/introverts-tips-for-conference-survival/) I will need to practice self-care to get through the travel and the days this week. For me this will be pretty practical - wearing easy clothes, heat packs and sensible shoes are among my considerations!

Curiosity 

I am a bit of a sponge when it comes to learning, I try and soak up something wherever someone spills out content. Even if I don't agree, it gets me thinking. Curiosity scratch itched! But it's not just the content I appreciate at events like ACE, it's the exhibition bit too. My curiosity leads me to seek different ways of presenting things and so I also love seeing how people get engagement at their stands.

Curiosity often leads to creativity in my book and I've already been bowled over by the example fellow Blogsquadder Gary Cookson set with his creative vlogs about ACE. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=OOxk-jUnCUE) 

I'm not going to top his video efforts, but I'll keep you connected. You be kind, I'll be curious and let's be passionate about our profession together. 

So, that's me. How do your values send you or show up at, or in your planning for, events?

See you there or read about it here!
Denise.


Note: I was invited to be part of this years #cipdace blogsquad and received a free ticket so I could attend the sessions and share my insights. My thoughts and reflections will be my own and unedited.

100% honesty, honestly?

Is this one of your values?

Yet another discussion about values, yet another discussion about honesty, and yet again gasps when I suggest it's not a value I'm comfortable to sign up to!

Hear me when I say, it's how I associate the word and not the principle that makes me hesitant. It's not that I believe in dishonesty at work (or anywhere*) but I think that having honesty as a value can be quite challenging because there is often more than one truth, it sometimes hurts, and there's often more than one way of presenting it.

For example, as a HR professional, I may get asked for details about someone or something that I can't disclose. My likely response is that 'I'm afraid I'm not able to discuss that with you'. And that would be A truth, one honest response, and only in part. In part because, I'm probably not really afraid, but I am polite. And secondly not the only truth because the other truth would be to disclose what I know and that truth just isn't an option.

Similarly, on a personal level, when I've been asked my opinion of someone - If my honest answer is negative the chances are I may have said - I don't know them that well, or I've shared something positive about them despite my personal feelings. Otherwise, honesty can become the ingredient for gossip. Honesty - good. Gossip - not so!

And in my role as an image consultant, I'd also be cautious of being 'honest' because sometimes honesty is brutal (which is often the case when people self-judge). Imagine someone wearing something I considered really didn't suit them at an event and was asked publicly if I liked it. Would anyone think it a good idea that I said straight-up that I hated it? I certainly wouldn't. Whilst I wouldn't lie and say 'I love it, you look fabulous darling'!, I would temper the truth, eg 'I prefer your x outfit' or 'it's nice' (not the same as 'you look nice') or 'you are wearing it with a swagger and that's always a good look'.

In summary: I tell the truth, but sometimes it's tempered.

I've met people (who I'm sure you have too) who have lost their sensitivity, and more, behind the mask of honesty.

So for me I prefer to wrap my honesty in a value like integrity which I feel allows me to to make a judgement about how I apply the principle with some reasonableness, kindness and diplomacy.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about honesty - if it's one of your values, what makes it so; and if it isn't, why, and how do you deal with people's reaction to that?

* Confession: it would be dishonest of me to say to my 7yo that there's no ice-cream in the freezer when there is, but I've done just that #naughtymummy!

Thanks for reading,

Denise x

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