Anyone can google a concept. The trick is learning to apply it correctly. Diverse in the City® In one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes, New Yorker and comedian Jerry Seinfeld voices frustration when the rental car clerk acknowledges Jerry had a car rental reservation, but informs him they didn’t have the car he reserved: See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don’t … Continue reading Knowledge and Understanding
It’s always the right time to think for ourselves. Diverse in the City® Creative thinking, analytical thinking and critical thinking are different types of thinking that involve different processes and have different objectives. We likely engage in all three when seeking to understand a problem, find new solutions for it and decide on the best course of action. So what is critical thinking? I’ve noticed … Continue reading Critical Thinking
“I need a minute to sort out my brain.” My Second Grader When a second grader speaks the kind of truth we can all relate to, it’s cute, right? What if I had said it instead of my second grader? What about if your least favorite person said it? We receive and value a statement differently depending on who said it. Authority Bias; Halo & … Continue reading Second Grader Wisdom
“So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” Will Rogers How much of what really goes on in our homes would we feel comfortable exposing to the world? The craziness, the gossip, the candid conversations? Of course some aspects of life are just private, but if that privacy was breached, would we be able to stand by … Continue reading The Family Parrot
We don’t see the light by being beaten over the head with the lamp. Diverse in the City™️ When we seek to enlighten or persuade others to see things our way, blunt approaches aren’t the most effective. Even the most open-minded of us can be pretty tied to our beliefs, unless it’s an area in which we truly haven’t formed an opinion yet. So what … Continue reading Seeing the Light
We don’t shine a spotlight on a star. Diverse in the City™️ We think everyone is noticing us so we don’t need to draw attention to our accomplishments because surely, they will be acknowledged. Or, we are horrified about an embarrassing moment because we are convinced no one will ever forget it. Do either of these sound familiar? The “spotlight effect” is a cognitive bias … Continue reading In the Spotlight
Hearing crickets is not a clear answer. Diverse in the City™️ In the workplace, we have announced an action plan and asked for objections but no one speaks up. Or in a social context, we have taken a position on something controversial and no one openly disagrees with us. Do we assume that a failure to object means general agreement with us? We might, due … Continue reading Hearing Crickets?
Implicit biases affect not just what we do and say, but also what we hear. Diverse in the City™️ Implicit or unconscious biases affect not just what we do, say and perceive about others, but also how we hear and perceive things about ourselves. We know that hidden biases can affect our perceptions of others and our actions towards others. But when we say we … Continue reading A Few Words on Biases
Rather than choosing between “culture fit” and “culture add,” let’s choose the fit, that adds. Diverse in the City™️ “Fitting in” and “adding to” the workplace culture are not mutually exclusive criteria for selecting who to hire, promote, or choose to work with on a project. They are often treated as opposites, though, when talking about affinity bias. “Call out” your bias and “make a … Continue reading “Culture Fit” or “Culture Add?”
