What does ‘humanity’ mean to you?
Yesterday, I wrote about this idea I’m starting to explore:
How trust and humanity can build the conditions for courageous change in public sector reform
Over the years, I’ve been exploring what humanity means.
Through our work at Spark, my working definition has become: ‘open, kind and fair interactions for all’.
In our context, those interactions are whether you give or receive public services.
Give, meaning create policy, design, commission or deliver services
Receive, meaning have awareness of, access, use or require services
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines humanity as: “compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behaviour or disposition”
I haven’t explicitly asked the people we work with for their definitions. But through the work, I hear that people know when humanity is there, and when it’s missing:
“It's wonderful to have such dedicated staff here. They genuinely care and love our babies just as much as” First time mother
“I just wish people would listen, hear – and respect that we do know our children. Come walk a day in our shoes” Mother of a child with additional needs
“They may understand what's happening in my brain, but they don't understand me. Professionals may have a degree - a qualification - a certificate. But I don't feel they have empathy and understanding other than what they have read. They need more emotional understanding about me, and my life. Be less rigid and structured.” Young person
“They’d show up if they cared… if their child’s health is important to them - then make it a priority. Put it in your diary. Turn up. But it’s not. They just don’t care.” Staff member
📍Idea
What if we asked more people: what does humanity mean to you?
Are you more aware of it when it’s present, or when it’s missing in interactions in public services?
Thinking Out Loud is where I share short pieces of thinking from the middle of the work. Ideas, questions and lived experiences, shared while they’re still forming. (Tiny Experiments Pact: Day 4/100).