Fairness is treating people as equal and doing so in ways that, within that culture, are seen by everyone to be “fair.” Fairness is an interesting challenge when working in different cultures in that local understandings of fairness differ. Every society has clear notions of what is fair and unfair. Every society has rules and norms that everyone understands as fair (and unfair). Essentially, people feel it is fair when those who “deserve” things get them, and those who do “not deserve” them do not get them.
 
As a behavior, fairness comes from an attitude of respect for local priorities and an eagerness to learn from people—from many people at many levels—what the rules of the game are for them, in that context.

Using Fairness

Ask yourself how a six-year-old would see the situation. Better yet, ask a six-year-old. Children are very attuned to notions of fairness and often vocal about violations of the norms they expect. Adults stop vocalizing their discontent as much, but do not stop feeling outrage.

Put yourself in their shoes.

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Related Topics
Patterns of Behavior and Mindsets
Using the RAFT
The Connecting Mindset
The Dividing Mindset
Three Spheres of Behavior
Messages through the RAFT