It’s High Time Leaders Embrace the Power of Decency

When we think about the most effective leaders, strong IQ and EQ usually come to mind. After all, leaders are expected to be intelligent and insightful to help meet the needs of both their business and their employees. But what we overlook too often is a leader’s DQ, otherwise known as a Decency Quotient.

Decency is defined as behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality and respectability. Being a decent leader means practicing empathy for employees and colleagues, doing the right things on their behalf, and ensuring everyone feels respected and valued in the process. It also means avoiding doing the wrong things like cheating, lying, stealing, or taking advantage of others.

Why is decency in leadership so important? When you are decent to people you are actively building trust and respect. The more your employees trust and respect you, the more loyal they feel and the more willing they are to support you and your business endeavors. Yet despite the multitude of benefits that decency offers, it is hard for many people to conduct themselves with decency.

Spanish cellist Pablo Casals said it well, “Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it.”

Leaders make decisions each day: big and small, positive and negative. The reality is that these decisions trickle down throughout the organization and can impact customers, employees, and even society. But leaders who lean into their DQ are much better equipped to harness it as a superpower. Back in 2020 I shared a LinkedIn article on this important topic while we were in the midst of the COVID pandemic.

Since then, leadership teams have continued to face a slew of challenges, from managing the talent crisis to adjusting to remote and hybrid work models. We’ve seen technology, innovation, and automation dramatically transform the nature of work. But instead of shying away from these changes, decency can help advance business goals without leaving anyone behind.

Throughout my career, I’ve learned that even a little decency can go a long way in helping employees feel cared for and valued. On its own this is an accomplishment, but when you see the link to improved retention, job satisfaction and productivity, decency becomes an important differentiator. If this doesn’t come naturally to you, here are some things to keep in mind:

Take the work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.

Humility is an intrinsic part of decency. A leader who practices decency knows they are not perfect, and they don’t take themselves too seriously. They realize that when they can motivate their team to do their best, they can accomplish much bigger and better things. Being willing to poke fun at yourself and graciously accept your mistakes also sends the signal to your employees that it’s okay to misstep or stumble.

Surround yourself with a diverse team

Being able to listen and accept diverse perspectives and approaches is one of the hallmark signs of an effective leader. Diversity can drive innovation and create greater value. When you have a team that represents different backgrounds and experiences, you are showing a willingness to collaborate and treat everyone with respect.

Say thank you

Don’t underestimate the power of gratitude in leadership. By actively thanking your team for their contributions, you are able to show genuine appreciation for their hard work and commitment. Acknowledging the good surrounding you will help you focus less on yourself and your achievements and more on what others are bringing to the table.

Gone are the days when leadership decisions are solely focused on profitability. Instead, leading with decency considers the impact that decisions can have on people’s lives. IQ and EQ are still important aspects of sound leadership, but I believe that today’s business leaders need to be much more intentional about practicing decency. Decency has been proven to help rebuild trust with employees and customers, retain top talent and redefine how people come together and work with purpose. So now it’s time for leaders to make decency a fundamental part of their leadership playbook.