“Racism. That’s a charged word. Companies reprimand employees for blatant, careless comments about color, ethnicity, religion and gender. But most discrimination is far more subtle. It flies under the radar. …
Daily, we engage in prejudiced thinking without even realizing it. Two recent posts illustrate this phenomenon: “Straight Talk on Workplace Prejudice” and “5 Uncomfortable Observations About Workforce Diversity.”
Discomfort with a co-worker often signals bias
Next time you find yourself cringing in a colleague’s presence, fill in one or more of these blanks.
- I do not feel comfortable with this person because …
- I am skeptical about this worker’s ability to do a good job because …
- I would be hesitant to put this employee in front of a customer because …
- I would prefer not to have this individual on my project team because …
Are your answers based on work performance you have observed? Or are you simply uncomfortable with a nonwork-related trait the co-worker exhibits? Wardrobe. A pierced tongue. Sexual orientation. Age. Mannerisms. …
Each of us needs to do a frank self-assessment and come up with a personal action plan for becoming more sensitive. Your organizational success depends on embracing employee talent and suspending judgment of the “packaging.”
