Recently, I’ve participated in a session about Unconscious Bias. Something that I’ve done before and what always brings to light some new knowledge, perspective or action.
Meaning that even though I’ve been to hundreds of these sessions I always walk away with something new (read: don’t be too quick to think that you already have all the answers, especially when it comes to D&I).
And in this particular session I found a new perspective that has changed the way I work ever since and that I feel is really important to share with you.
Put your energy in the right place
More often than not, when we embark on the journey of change we envision this perfect world in which we’ve convinced everyone of the “right way”.
The right way to do business, the right way to engage with one another, the right way to buy and sell, the right to .., well, you get the point.
We already see the end product. We see the world that we want to live in. And we just know that if we can just convince everyone of our amazing arguments they will just follow us.
I mean, come on, it makes total sense that we want to be treated equally, right? That people don’t willfully put other people in harm's way. That we want to be more innovative and creative in our companies and organizations. That nobody wakes up in the morning with the intention to hurt someone always (well, almost nobody).
Not everyone agrees with you, just the people in the room
When we talk on this “meta-level” we’re all in agreement. We nod our heads in agreement and then go about our day.
Because to actually put our money where our mouth is, is a completely different ballgame. That’s where we get uncomfortable. That’s where we make mistakes. That’s where we are challenged to change our behavior.
And as people on a mission to make this change happen we tend to focus on the end of the curve (see picture). We want the most stubborn, the most not-convinced, the most “i-have-so-much-too-lose” people to join us. To see the added value that a more diverse and inclusive society will bring. To make ED&I (equity, diversity, inclusion) a core part of their strategy. A must-have, not a nice-to-have.
That’s definitely been me. I’m so convinced that this is the right way, the only way forward that I’m just frustrated that other people don’t see this. Or worse, see it, but choose that other incentives are more interesting, short term.
So, what’s my point?
Well, we should learn from this marketing-curve. Which was an insight shared in this workshop I mentioned at the beginning.
Instead of focusing on the end of the curve, we need to focus on gaining enough early adopters and early majority. Because if we manage to do just that, that’s when we will see the change happen mainstream. That’s when it’s no longer about activism and being too left. It’s a societal shift.
So stop putting your efforts in convincing the “enemy”. Focus on creating the critical mass needed to turn your vision into common sense.
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