What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

The quality I most appreciate in others (and it is an attribute that I have always tried to practice professionally and it personal and social terms), is that of discussing issues of concern about performance face-on and not behind one’s back.

Sadly, in this life, it is all too common for people to talk about others behind their backs. That’s particularly the case if their denigration is likely to be to their advantage because of the demise of the person being criticised.

It is the height of hypocrisy, in my opinion, for somebody to be regarded favourably in face on discussion, only for them to be rubbed out by the same people when they are not around.

That’s particularly the case with professions dealing with people. It is something that I encountered as an issue when a school principal (for many years) in the Northern Territory of Australia.

I once took over a school and thought I was doing alright. I did change some things but there was never any criticism, rather encouragement, for the way I was doing things.

Imagine my shock and horror when my Regional Superintendent approached me and said that he was being given a lot of criticism about myself.

I was aghast because I knew nothing about this. My Regional Superintendent whose name was Charlie Carter, wrote me a hand note telling me of the issue and asking if we could meet privately so that he could talk to me about what had been told.

That took place and the way he approached the issue to me face on rather than perpetrating the behind the back methodology, helped me greatly. His support of me and the changes I made led to me spending another 19 years in that school as principal before retiring I think as a respected person.

I thank Charlie Carter (who sadly is now deceased) for what he did for me in that instance. His approach inspired me to emulate his example in terms of my dealing with others in education. Sitting down and discussing things face-to-face leads to respectful understanding.

It is the best way and most decent way for people dealing with people. Unfortunately, that particular approach is all too rare. Up front people in my opinion are top of the pile when it comes to decency and people management.