Challenging Learned Behaviors: Celebrating Our Differences
The recent rash of terrorist attacks continues to be haunting. As revolting and ridiculous as they are, these attacks are nothing new. Bullies, tyrants and extremist have been imposing unprovoked violence around the world for 1000’s of years.
Every society, nationality, race, religion, age and gender have fallen victim to attacks driven by intolerance for each other’s differences. On a more subtle and less publicized front, bullies and tyrants in the workplace intimidate and terrorize their victims day-in and day-out, and usually without consequence for their actions.
What’s most disturbing about these situation, is that their actions are the results of learned behaviors.
Cloaked in misguided passion and sometimes falsely identified as leaders, these individuals may have been victims themselves. Being abused, neglected or bullied doesn’t justify their behavior, but, it makes the trail of evidence-to-outcome more compelling and believable.
As easy as it is for human beings to learn intolerance and hate, they can learn acceptance and love. Watch the way a rainbow of very small children play together. They have no concern for the differences between themselves and their playmates.
If we, as adults, maintain a child-like point of view about the differences of our fellow man, will our children remain free from biases against other children and adults? If we build a child’s self-esteem, will we be giving them the tools needed to avoid becoming prey to bullies and tyrants in school, the workplace or in any other situational activity?
If we, as business owners, managers and supervisors mature those concepts and carry them into the workplace, we will foster healthier environments for our associates, colleagues and ourselves to thrive.
If we, as business owners, managers and supervisors mature those concepts and carry them into the workplace, we will foster healthier environments for our associates, colleagues and ourselves to thrive.
Cultivating a business where everyone respects and accepts each other’s differences, helps channel learned behaviors into positive outcomes. When people are accepted for who they are, and valued for their contributions, behavioral deficits are less likely to surface, and performance will reflect their confidence.
Consider implementing several New Year’s resolutions to help you and your team plant seeds for the future and close the door on bullies, tyrants and extremists in our workplaces and corners of the world…
- Don’t settle for tolerance. Work toward total acceptance.
- Confront / get on the front side of poor attitudes, behaviors and performance before they escalate into conflicts.
- Keep the faith, lose the fear. Mahatma Gandhi said it this way – “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
- Be a trendsetter – openly acknowledge the value associates bring to the table, and teach them how to acknowledge the same in each other.