Based on interviews with a range of professionals--from accountants to zoologist--I found that when most people find themselves in the minority, they may encounter one of ten common barriers to inclusion, such as, the inability to recover from mistakes. As I watch cable news' coverage of the presidential campaign, I see how Barack (because of his race), Hillary (because of her gender) and McCain (because of his age) have encountered this barrier and have finessed their way around it. Smart and savvy employees should take notice.
For instance,have you noticed how Hillary makes her mistakes seem human? While her critics tried to discredit her when she claimed that she dodged sniper fire during a trip to Bosnia, she escaped from being branded with a scarlet letter "L" for liar. Instead, she admitted that she "misspoke" and that we all misspeak from time to time. She did not get mired in endless apologies or explanations. Instead, she just moves on to the next topic--one where she can shine. She even appeared on Jay Leno and poked fun at herself.
Similarly, professionals of color, women, and other underrepresented groups in the workplace should deftly move beyond their mistakes in the workplace. They should not allow their critics (or themselves) to diminish their confidence or their contributions to the workplace if they make mistakes. Professionals in the minority should look for the next project where they can show their skills and talent.
For more on this topic, click here to watch my appearance on Good Morning Connecticut, discussing the parallels between diversity in the
workplace and the presidential election.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khIpQjSWUjM
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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