The future is you. And it doesn’t matter what school you went to…
By Heather Gibson, Managing Director at
Pendulum PartnershipIt doesnt matter what school you went to. Or how old you are. Or what car you drive. Or how many kids you have (if any).And that’s before we get to the facts about the colour of your skin, your gender, sexual preference or disability.It’s the nuance of a human that generates the real stereotypes; and here is the black hole of diversity. The world has progressed far enough to ensure political correctness is imprinted into the psyche when it comes to the big ticket agendas.Unconscious bias is sweeping. It creeps in at every level and affects all of us, resulting in informal and formal barriers throughout our entire lives. Here is the real elephant in the room and where I position the leadership challenge in the diversity debate. A debate which is central to innovation and creativity; that collective human-centric leverage we need to influence the solving of problems, known and unknown, in order to drive amazing, beautiful and successful change.The future is you: your individual narrative being freed up to think both with and for organisations as they try to make sense of the complexity and rapidity of contextual transformation. To foster the spirit and energy that powers that one, true USP - culture - which is your beacon of authenticity to the world.For better and for worse, unconscious bias is the silent killer that’s preventing our ability to transform the scenarios we face daily in the search for that rather changeable future state outcome.The real problem with unconscious bias is that we are both consciously and unconsciously aware of its presence; so much so that it has become part of that status quo, even in what might otherwise be considered acceptable norms of behaviour. Well intended and very ‘nice’ but in reality creating perceptions that are in no way related to the potential of capability or leadership.“So, tell me what your partner does?” sounds pleasant enough, but hides an ugly reality for men and women as they accept this polite enquiry on the other side of the table whilst waiting to be allowed to get to the good stuff that allows them to shine.Old paradigm BS that is dead and dying; set against the rising expectation of future generations who are needing and wanting more from you than you can imagine even right now.Trust is the currency of change. Transparency is essential.If there was ever a call for play it straight, do what’s right and just let ‘em have it, it’s right now in the boardrooms and workplaces across the planet.Reality trumps pleasantry readers.When leaders talk in terms of diversity, remember unconscious bias. This is the call to raise the bar of leadership for one key reason: to allow the unique stories of those inside your business to be told in order to help grow it. Really, really do this and increase the opportunity to spark an idea or an understanding that is the fluidity you need relevance of diversity for everyone. Own your story too; it’s the narrative inside your head that is pretty much unspoken coming to the fore of your leadership to give you total clarity and freedom.It might mean downing tools and having an apparently simple conversation. It might mean explaining your own thinking so that others can tune in and offer thoughts, raise questions or simply be more engaged. The spectrum of creativity in the workplace likes all of these options, because it is the leverage of human intellect and experience that will shape the destinies we are forging right now.We are all creative. Including you my friends. But I know you haven’t thought like that in a very long time.Unconscious bias has led you here too.The narrative matters and I would love to help you frame it. As a coach and change advisor, I am on a mission to help as many people as I can be empowered to see more results as leaders, entrepreneurs and people to help businesses grow and make change happen. My advice is real world, real life and authentic – and gets results.Let’s talk about how Pendulum can help your business.It’s great to connect at a busy, frenetic time of the year.Look after your health, your wellness and your mindset.