The Nature of Leadership and Career

read time 6 minutes

The Nature of Leadership and Career, is a weekly newsletter where I provide 1 illustration and ~3 ideas to help you connect to your career, leadership, or work journey in a more natural way.

Today at a glance

• Illustration of the Week

  - Leading fairly

• The Nature of Leadership

  - Procedural vs Distributive justice

  - The impact of ignoring distributive and procedural justice

  - 9 leadership decisions to apply learnings
  - 5 ways to promote distributive and procedural justice at work. 

• Gem of the week

  - Virtual first free toolkits from Dropbox

Illustration of the Week

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Leadership isn't just about making decisions; it's about making fair decisions.

Spot the difference between these two scenarios:

1. You don’t get a promotion. You are upset and struggle to accept the decision. 

2. You don’t get a promotion. You are upset and accept the decision. 

The difference most likely boils down to distributive justice and procedural justice.

As a leader you strive to make sure every decision that has a fair process and an even outcome.

Sometimes that is not possible. E.g. promotions and raises.

⚠️ It is crucial for leaders to understand that individuals are more likely to accept perceived unfair outcomes, such as not receiving a promotion, IF they belief in the fairness of the process —specifically, it’s transparency and openness.

Returning to our two scenarios, the key distinction is likely that whilst you are upset you believe the performance evaluation and promotion process was clear.

^1,2  Distributive and Procedural Justice for Self and Others: Measurement Invariance and Links to Life Satisfaction in Four Cultures

The impact of ignoring distributive and procedural justice can be dire:

• Employees who perceive unfair treatment are more likely to disengage, leading to decreased productivity and higher turnover rates.

• Tarnished reputation as an unfair employer can hamper recruitment efforts and damage brand loyalty. 

Ultimately, the bottom line takes a hit when fairness takes a backseat.

And the benefits sweet:

• Fairness positively impacts the attitude of employees towards the organization, it influences them to work hard and give good results.³

• When the employees are treated with equity, their output will be almost proportional to the input by the organization.⁴

^3,4  Importance of Distributive Justice, Procedural Justice and Fairness in Workplace

Here are 9 decisions that leaders encounter where the principles of procedural and distributive justice are crucial.

So how do you lead more justly?

^{_{Here are 5 ways to promote distributive and procedural justice at work.}} 

1. Consider both perspectives: Distributive and Procedural justice, in every decision. Ask yourself if the process is transparent and fair, facilitating the best outcome for all. Ensure the process is equitable enough that, even if not everyone receives the same outcome, they will still be willing to accept it.

2.  Empower employees: to voice their concerns, advocate for themselves, and participate in decision-making processes that affect them. Encourage a culture of empowerment, accountability, and ownership

3. Lead with Transparency: Keep your team in the loop about decision-making processes, reward systems, and organizational changes. Transparency cultivates

4. Consistency Breeds Confidence: Apply rules and protocols consistently across the board. Inconsistencies sow seeds of discontent and erode trust. Ensure fairness by adhering to established procedures and treating similar scenarios equitably.

5. Embrace Feedback and Adaptation: Actively solicit feedback from your team regarding perceived fairness. Create channels for open dialogue where employees feel safe voicing concerns. Utilize this feedback to refine processes and policies, showcasing a commitment to fairness and continuous improvement.

In the intricate dance of leadership, clear process and equitable outcomes serve as guiding lights.

They illuminate the path to a workplace characterized by fairness, trust, and collaboration.

It's time to shift the narrative from fairness as an aspiration to fairness as the cornerstone of leadership excellence!

Whenever you’re ready here are 3 ways I can help

#1 Gain clarity and confidence in your leadership or career journey

#2 Join the free weekly Career Soul Sessions for women in tech and sustainability. A safe space to share your thoughts, and feelings on all things career.

#3 Follow me on LinkedIn and Instagram for more Career + Leadership tips to help you thrive.

Gem of the week

For leaders and employees working in hybrid or remote-first environments, Dropbox has put out some great free toolkits: