Two high profile sports commentators are dismissed for making sexist remarks when they thought they were off air. Evidence is subsequently shown that they were serial offenders. So how come their bosses didn’t take action before? In failing to do so were they not guilty of collusion? Is management not about challenging inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour? Is leadership not about setting the tone within an organisation promoting the right culture?
Are there parallels here with management and leadership in all organisations including local government? These offending comments and behaviour may have been made off air but they were made at work so wouldn’t senior management expect line management to take action to make it clear this was unacceptable and will not be tolerated? As a senior manager I would have but I have chair enough grievance hears and disciplinary cases to know that some line managers either do not have the confidence to challenge , don’t want the hassle or don’t believe that the organisation really wants them to act despite what it says in the policy and procedures.
So how should managers show effective leadership?
Blair McPherson is a former director of community services in a large local authority and author of An Elephant in the Room an equality and diversity training manual published by www.russellhouse.co.uk