ABSTRACT
If there were ever a time when the need to understand the role dignity plays in the workplace, it is now. The pandemic has heightened our awareness of the human dimension of work; what people need to feel a sense of safety, belonging, to be seen and heard. This essay will present the Dignity Model, an approach to creating a culture within organizations that fulfill these basic human needs. It will describe what dignity is, the ten elements of dignity, the neuroscience of dignity, and the way evolution has set us up to violate our own dignity as well as the dignity of others. The chapter will focus attention on the need for people in leadership positions to understand what it means to lead with dignity. It will emphasize the importance of developing interpersonal dignity skills as well as addressing the systemic issues that contribute to creating a culture of dignity.
