First let me state that I am sure that the wise readers of the TRIPLE III TIME blog messages… NEVER make “Stereotyping” Mistakes! None of us look at the way someone dresses… talks…and/or where they live and places a certain stereotype assumption on them…RIGHT!

In my long-term public sector employment history… I have observed… and yes unfortunately applied various forms of stereotypes to different people at different times. Is it a form of “human-nature”… yes probably… but does it most often cause multiple forms of “Stereotyping” Mistakes… YES! This stereotyping trap that I am describing also occurs when we believe people will behave in a certain manner depending on their age, gender, social or economic background.  For example, if someone drives a brand new Porsche versus a rusting 1963 Ford pickup… do certain stereotypes show up? Or if someone shows up at an event with children all dressed in dirty clothes versus a family in modern-stylish dress-ware… do we start stereotyping?

Many times when I have my consultant “uniform” on and am addressing the needs for all organization staff to be authentic…the issue of stereotyping people is discussed.  I remind them that they all will play a leadership role sometime during their employment years… and it is a LEADERS responsibility to stress the problems caused by “Stereotyping” Mistakes. Is it sometimes difficult… non-intentional… professionally confusing… yes!? However, does it most often lead to a lack of understanding, miss-communication and a tremendous loss of authenticity on both sides… also YES!

I guess my most memorable example of being told that its best to be just authentic and not make “Stereotyping” Mistakes came directly from my Ma when she said a long time ago: “I don’t care what job you have or how smart a degree says you are… you just be Marv.”

(P.S. It’s her birthday this week!)