Rules of Considerate Conduct: Inclusiveness
October 11th 2007 02:40
One of our strongest yearnings is to be accepted by others. We love being welcomed by individuals, and we delight in the feeling of belonging to a group. Part of our identity is shaped by and within groups; within our groups we find shelter, meaning, and direction. Thus attitudes and words that exclude rather than include are rarely funny. In most cases they hurt. Shouldn’t we be allowed to draw boundaries as we go through our everyday lives? Of course we should. We owe it to both ourselves and others to become good at defining and protecting our own spaces. But we should be careful never to engage in self-serving, unfair, and mean-spirited strategies of exclusion. Being inclusive means applying the principle of respect for persons to all persons. When it comes time to show respect and consideration to others, we do not pick and choose.
THE INCLUSIVE MIND-SET: A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS
*Reevaluate your dislikes. Are they all warranted? Are you at ease with all of them? Are you fettered by habit and inertia? Is change long overdue?
*Try speaking and listening to somebody you never liked.
*Make the effort of spending a few minutes with somebody you always found uninteresting.
*When you have several listeners, do not turn to just one or two of them while treating others as though they weren’t there.
*At a social gathering, choose conversation topics that can be enjoyed by all present. Make sure that no one feels excluded. If you happen to know an interest of someone who seems shy or intimidated, steer the conversation in that direction.
*Summarize the contents of an ongoing conversation for a newcomer.
*If you are responsible for teamwork, elicit input from all team members.
*If you are making plans with a coworker for an impromptu cafeteria lunch, include any other coworker who is present at that moment.
*If you know more than one language, speak the one known by all or most of those present. Don’t use your linguistic knowledge to communicate with some while shutting out others. This, of course, applies to both the social and professional sides of your life.
*Make a new neighbor feel welcome by just stopping by to say, “Welcome.”
*Tell a new in-law, “Welcome to the family.”
*Welcome a new colleague who has just moved to your town. Set aside time to help him or her understand and adjust to the new work environment. Give him or her tips about life in town.
*Develop and show an interest in cultures other than your own. This does not require that you endorse enthusiastically every aspect of every one of them. It is civil of you to consider different mores and values with an open mind. Nobody, however, should expect or demand that you adopt these mores and values as your own.
THE INCLUSIVE MIND-SET: A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS
*Reevaluate your dislikes. Are they all warranted? Are you at ease with all of them? Are you fettered by habit and inertia? Is change long overdue?
*Try speaking and listening to somebody you never liked.
*Make the effort of spending a few minutes with somebody you always found uninteresting.
*When you have several listeners, do not turn to just one or two of them while treating others as though they weren’t there.
*At a social gathering, choose conversation topics that can be enjoyed by all present. Make sure that no one feels excluded. If you happen to know an interest of someone who seems shy or intimidated, steer the conversation in that direction.
*Summarize the contents of an ongoing conversation for a newcomer.
*If you are responsible for teamwork, elicit input from all team members.
*If you are making plans with a coworker for an impromptu cafeteria lunch, include any other coworker who is present at that moment.
*If you know more than one language, speak the one known by all or most of those present. Don’t use your linguistic knowledge to communicate with some while shutting out others. This, of course, applies to both the social and professional sides of your life.
*Make a new neighbor feel welcome by just stopping by to say, “Welcome.”
*Tell a new in-law, “Welcome to the family.”
*Welcome a new colleague who has just moved to your town. Set aside time to help him or her understand and adjust to the new work environment. Give him or her tips about life in town.
*Develop and show an interest in cultures other than your own. This does not require that you endorse enthusiastically every aspect of every one of them. It is civil of you to consider different mores and values with an open mind. Nobody, however, should expect or demand that you adopt these mores and values as your own.
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Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Great post. It's true we really all want acceptance. I recently started a new job (about 2 months ago) and it was so nice to feel included in the team. As opposed to a job that I had a few years ago. The role I was taking on wasn't a popular one in the company (for reasons that had nothing to do with me) and my god those people were hideous. It was the worst working environment I've ever been in.
Kylie
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
I'm with Kylie on comments about work.
Your daily snaps await you, if you can find them under photography tips, when you're out of bed and having a coffee.
katyzzz
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
It is so dehumanizing to have a job whereby inclusiveness is nil! I am glad that you have a more ideal working environment. I hope that you have a great weekend!
Mis
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I am so glad that you like this post. Thanks for the info regarding the daily snaps. I so look forward to them!
Thanks for stopping by!
Mis
Comment by Mrs M
Mum's Word
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Always good see you!
Comment by Lilla
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
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Just doing a Mrs M...
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
HAHAHA!
Mis