assumptionsbiasCultural IntelligenceDiversitydiversity and inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is Not Just Having an Open Mind

By September 15, 2014 No Comments
A participant in one of my Diversity and Cultural Intelligence 
programs this week said that it was just a matter of having an open mind. That’s like using the word “respect.” To many people having an open mind is being around people who are just like themselves. I don’t even know what that means any more.

Most people think they have an open mind. Consider this- how open is your mind to people who are different or don’t agree or have a really different perspective.

Becoming Culturally Intelligent is learned and conscious. It doesn’t just happen. Getting rid of bias about others is learned and conscious.
In order to understand diversity you have to learn to understand yourself. In order to open your mind you have to be aware of where your mind is closed. Be conscious of your actions that you take based on a bias you have from what you’ve heard from others.

Do you look for ways to confirm a bias or an assumption or do you consider that you might be wrong?