People Not-Like-Me

FountainBlue’s June 18 Front Line Managers’ Online meeting was on the topic of ‘People Not-Like-Us’. 

Our panelists generously shared personal and professional stories about their own personality styles and how to work (and live) with people Not-Like-Them. They also talked about the personal and professional benefits of more openly interacting with people with diverse backgrounds at work and in life. Below is a summary of their thoughts and advice.
Studies show that there are many business benefits of including people with diverse backgrounds into work activities, so helping leaders welcome people-not-like-them on to their teams would benefit the organization overall. With the pandemic and its aftermath, it has become more important than ever to be open to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds in life and at work. Below are some thoughts on how to do so.

• Make communications with others more transparent, more empathetic, more open, more regular, and more multi-channeled in order to make sure everyone feels both more included and more appreciated.
• Build a sense of community so everyone feels more connected, more  empowered, more accepted and more welcome, despite their differences. This leads to a more open and resilient culture, and a more committed and loyal workforce.
• Invite participation, feedback and input so the organization can continue to morph and accommodate the evolving needs of the workforce.
• Define the boundaries around the culture and the work so that you’re compliant with requirements and in alignment with the corporate vision, but welcome input and ideas on how to shape the work experience.
• Choose to push through perceptions and values and be more curious and open about people who are not-like-you.
• Make it SAFE to learn, to make mistakes, to speak up. Empower and reward those who are courageous enough to do so.
• Develop deep and genuine connections with others and listen deeply to what they say, what they mean, what they need, and what they want.
• Practice becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable, to expand your personal comfort zone.
• Facilitate communication between people with different backgrounds and help them come to productive agreements where possible.

The bottom line is that we are all uniquely ourselves, and being open to people not-like-us will help each of us be better versions of ourselves, thereby impacting a broader and larger swath of others in productive and positive ways.

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