Objectivity, Empathy and Compassion towards weaker sections

As per the Nolan Committee, objectivity refers to carrying public business which includes making public appointments, awarding contracts and making recommendations for various rewards and benefits, purely on the basis of merit. All these values compliment each-other. Any evaluation based on merit leads to impartial decisions and any kind of biases towards any individual, organization or authority.

As per UK Civil Services Code, objectivity is described as follows:

• Gives information and advice to government based on evidence. There is no meddling with the facts.
• All decisions are taken based on merits of the case under scan.
• Taking care of expert and professional advice.
• At the same time, all public officials should not avoid any uneasy facts and considerations.
• Carry on implementation of all policies with full zeal till the end.

Empathy

Empathy involves giving due importance and value to understanding of one’s thoughts, feelings and concerns for others even when they are not explicitly expressed. It means trying to understand other’s feelings, perspectives, emotions, actions (reactions) etc. and thereby communicating it to the person concerned. It is the competency for emotional intelligence. There are 18 competencies in the field of emotional intelligence which can be grouped in 4 clusters as follows:

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship management

Thus, empathy represents a social awareness competency and is a person’s ability to connect with others. This is vital to building and managing healthy relations. Empathy is highly important as otherwise people will only see things and situations from their own perspectives with utter disregard to others feelings. Lack of empathy often takes decision away from its purpose and generates mistrust amongst people. In public service, there are many levels of empathic situations. It ranges from understanding the content to creation and promoting the environment of mutual respect and service. This can be categorised in 5 levels:

• Understanding unspoken content: This basically involves demonstration of active listening skills; recognizing body language, facial expressions, unexpressed thoughts, concerns and feelings etc.
• Having concern for others: This involves diversity of opinion
• Expressing concern for others
• Acting as a role model
• Creating and promoting an environment of respect

Tolerance and Compassion towards weaker sections

Compassion stands for feeling of empathy for others. It is the emotion we feel for suffering experienced by others. Compassion in Latin actually stands for ‘co-suffering’. It also gives rise to a desire to alleviate the suffering of others. In words of Dalai Lama, “compassion is a necessity, not a luxury, and that without it humanity cannot survive”. It is considered as a process of connecting with others. It is often regarded as having an emotional facet. Even though compassion and empathy are two different things, however compassion for someone often leads to feeling of empathy for that person.

Other Values

Selflessness

Selfless service can be defined as service that puts our personal concerns behind. This is not regarding oneself when serving. Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Efficiency and Effectiveness – because people pay for them

The community pays for the resources that Public servants use. The community expects Public servants to make best use of these resources. This means that Public servants must work efficiently and effectively, avoid waste, extravagance and improper use of the community’s resources, and maintain high standards of professionalism, probity, and performance.

Procedural Fairness – No biased and discriminatory decisions

Procedural fairness denotes that decisions of Public servants must be reasonable, fair, just, and transparent. This means that the reasons for the decisions must be explained. It also means that decisions must be made without bias or the apprehension of bias, that they must be based on the evidence available, and that anyone who is adversely affected by the decision has the opportunity to provide their views.

Avoidance of Conflict of Interest

To ensure that the community perceives the Public servants as impartial, effective, and fair, it is necessary that the personal and financial interests of the Public servants do not come into conflict, or appear to come into conflict with their official duties and responsibilities.

Accountability to Law and Government

The Public servant is accountable for upholding the law and adhering to the policies and guidelines of the government. The Public servant is accountable for ensuring that the programmes, schemes, and projects of the government are delivered effectively, impartially, and courteously. Finally, Public servants are accountable for maintaining clear records of the reasons explaining the decisions that they take and implement.

Responsiveness – sensitive to government policy and public expectations

While Public servants must be impartial and fair in serving the government and delivering services to the public, they must also do their best to familiarize themselves with the policies and aspirations of the government of the day and ensure that it receives frank, professional, timely, and comprehensive advice that is relevant to these policies. Responsiveness also means that service delivery is professional and sensitive to the diversity of the community.

Avoidance of Discrimination

Impartiality, fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness in the Public service depend on objectivity in personnel decisions. This means that Public servants must avoid discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, race, linguistic or cultural background, or disability in personnel decisions and in their relationship with colleagues. It also means that Public servants must treat all their colleagues, and members of the public, with courtesy.