When Work Gets Complicated: Fidelity, Values, and Dual Relationships: Part 2

Last week, we explored what we can do as mentors, professional supervisors or coaches to help our clients when they are challenged with their professional fidelity. We looked at the two most common reasons: dual relationships and misaligned values. 

As a reminder, a dual relationship occurs when a person has more than one relationship with someone at work. For example, they are a coworker and a close friend, or a coworker and a brother-in-law. These two relationships with one person can make it difficult to know how to treat them in the workplace and can lead to treatment different from that of other, less familiar coworkers.

A misalignment of values occurs when a person’s own values do not line up with the values of their place of work.  

These issues don’t have a simple black-and-white answer, and no secret book exists to instruct the client on how to handle such situations. At times, the client may be right, especially when their workplace is asking something unreasonable or unethical of them. In other cases, the client may be wrong and place themselves, their coworkers, and their organisation at risk. Each case needs to be approached individually. However, focusing on maintaining certain competencies can greatly help guide our clients toward clarity. 

Accountability and Trustworthiness 

Is the client being reliable and honest? This is crucial for building and maintaining trust with clients, patients, or employers. Accountability and trustworthiness can be maintained by making time for open and intentional conversations. Who is there at work that your client should speak to? Their boss? A co-worker with whom they have a dual relationship? Their professional supervisor? 

Integrity 

Is the client performing their duties with honesty and not engaging in backstabbing or other unethical behaviours? Are they being honest with themselves? Is their conscience questioning their actions? Do they believe they are honouring God with their choices?

Loyalty

This involves being a proud representative of your profession and fulfilling your obligations with dedication. Is your client proud of what they do? If they are not, that says a lot about their work and indicates a misalignment of values. Do they have conflicting loyalties? For example, would the client rather avoid hurting a dual-relationship coworker’s feelings than have a difficult conversation? If so, that relationship is impacting their loyalty. 

Confidentiality

A key aspect of fidelity is respecting the privacy and confidentiality of those you serve. There should be clear boundaries and established expectations when it comes to what information can be shared with other people after a private conversation. 

See the recent blog (Confidentially)

Professionalism 

Professionalism means behaving in a way that promotes the well-being of others and maintains the integrity of your field. 

Is the client putting their best foot forward? Are they managing their responsibilities? Are they weighing the needs of all: their co-workers, employees, managers, the organisation and themselves? 

Conclusion 

Struggles with professional fidelity shows the necessity of having a confidential space where a person can safely and honestly explore who they are, the role of work in their lives, what adjustments they need to make and how to make them. Most of the time dual-relationships and misalignment of values can be managed, if the client is true to the competencies above. 

Reflection Questions: 

– What conversations is your client having? Who are they talking to? 

– How are they maintaining integrity for themselves and for their organisation? 

– Is your client acting as Jesus would?

– How is your client maintaining empathy and loving relationships in conflict? 

What’s next: where is a safe place to have an honest conversation about fidelity to your profession? Professional Supervision gives that space.