But this is exactly why my argument is that we should stop worrying about why there’s a gap. He cannot prove any of his opinions and he’s allowed all of them, whether I like them or not.
So leadership would be wise to say to someone whose mind is immovable —
“Look Mr. White Guy Smarty Pants, This is not your shitshow, it’s ours. That means that we are going to fix what we believe is a problem. We have our ideas about solutions for this issue. If you have an idea, please feel free to share. However, please understand that we are completely uninterested in blaming or debating the ‘whys’ of the thing. We develop the employees which are identified as having the aptitude and attitude, passion and drive required to do the jobs we need done. Employees are identified in a variety of ways for these opportunities. There are opportunities for you as well. This is a business and undermining leadership direction publicly without merit identifies you as a bad cultural fit. Your behavior is what we can see and measure, your thoughts and feelings are only our business when you share them as if they are facts. You are not the ‘woman SME,’ please see a woman for answers about their abilities and stick to speaking about your own insides going forward. Xoxo, Sir Randolph E. Xecutive IV”
That is if they are immovable. It is ok to need time to shift our mindsets. This guy had a weakness that needed correcting. That doesn’t make him bad. There’s no way a white man can grow up in this country and not have these ideologies to overcome.
We can help them or ostracize them. I don’t think dismissing them outright (if they are good employees and have no history of wrong doing) is healthy. These things are learned. We have to give people the chance to unlearn them. Or we risk breeding more of what we don’t want.
We can do better. But there will be 10% at least that cannot change or grow. They will show that quickly, so there’s minimal risk if we take the time to mentor. And that in and of itself sorta renders his argument moot — won’t he feel like a horses ass if he gets the opportunity to challenge his own beliefs instead of being carted by his pants out the door?
Or maybe not. But to me it’s worth a try…
