Comments on: Mea culpa

By: James

James — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:57:08 +0000

I just read this via my thoughtworks feed.

I enjoyed the writing so much it made me write this commend.

So thank you :-)

By: Crit

Crit — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:17:57 +0000

Thank you. An excellent reminder, my dear. I hope my boys grow up to be like you!

By: D'gou

D'gou — Tue, 05 May 2009 04:55:54 +0000

Well said! “This is why it is so important that I listen to a colleague when they tell me that something makes them feel uncomfortable. Because I have been be blind to it in the past and I will be in the future. To question their experience is to prolong my own ignorance and increase the offense.” That is the part that is really really important. Thank you for such a well written post.

By: Ed Daniel

Ed Daniel — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:17:01 +0000

Thank you for this post, it was a pleasure to read words of meaning and contemplation that I felt were portrayed honestly, or so it feels to me while the paranoia is at bay.

If you get the chance you’ll love reading the book “Dialogue and the Art of thinking together” by William Isaacs - I could be cheeky and summarize it in one word which is “listen” but one has to understand why listening is so powerful and the book does a great job of documenting and explaining this.

I found the post something that I can empathize with in terms of diversely differing cultural experiences and it reminded me of some of the things William talks about, you’ll find the passage that discusses a racism test will offer you further insight into the theme of your post.

BTW From a leadership perspective you might find some of the thinking of Peter Merry could also help you evolve - google him along with “Spiral Dynamics”.

HTH,

ed.

By: Alex Hung

Alex Hung — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:51:41 +0000

Well said. I completely identify with the shift of what’s ‘normal’. It happens to me whenever I visit the UK (I’d feel like an American), or Hong Kong (identify more with ‘white’ Westerner and Chinese).