eve-olution newsletter May 2007
Contents
- Quote of the month
- Book of the month
- Opportunity Now awards - 24th April 2007
Quote of the month
"Ordinary things consistently done produce extraordinary results." - Tracey Carr, eve-olution Ltd
Book of the month
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a 1969 autobiographical novel about the early years of author Maya Angelou's life. The autobiography explores the isolation and loneliness faced by Angelou, and the attributes of her character that helped her cope with the prejudices of society. Quite graphic in nature, the text deals with issues including childhood, rape, racism, and sexism, which has generated controversy over the years.
The novel follows Marguerite's (later called My, or Maya, by her brother) young life and the struggles she undergoes in the racist South. Abandoned by their parents at an early age, she and her older brother, Bailey, live with their grandmother "Momma", and her crippled uncle in Stamps, Arkansas, where her grandmother operates a general store.
Many of the problems Marguerite encounters in her childhood stem from the prejudices of her white neighbors who treat her family at the best with cool respect and, at the worst, blatant contempt. Furthermore, despite the fact that Momma is wealthier than most of the white neighbors, the white neighbors' children hassle them insolently.
A must read for anyone, but especially those interested in American history, or the history of racism. Maya's story is one of success and triumph through some of the most difficult situations that life could throw at you.
Opportunity Now awards - 24th April 2007
Transcript of an email sent by Tracey Carr to attendees of the awards dinner
Are you a cafetiere or percolator?
What an inspirational evening and haven't we come along way in the past decade? I'm talking, of course, about the Opportunity Now awards last month. And, I was more than happy to see some integrity and honesty with regard to the lack of a activity in gender diversity in the City. Those of us who have a voice have an obligation to use and report what we see hear and experience. Hooray!
I believe I know myself well enough to say that it is unlikely that I will ever find myself being a big plunger in a large organisation and so I decided to take Julia's advice and do a little percolating instead! By percolating, I mean driving change from the bottom, like a percolator, rather than drive change from the top, a plunging cafetiere.
We HAVE come a long way but, being blessed with the impatient gene, I am hungry for more and wanted to share some insights with you - some of the fab, concrete actions that we have been taking with a few enlightened clients.
One of our challenges is always trying to articulate some of these concepts which are often alien to those with a left brain, analytical disposition who don’t know what they don’t know due to the fact that they prefer to think in hard facts and figures -not wrong just different to conceptual thinkers.
Think Johari window!*
In response to this road block - and after 6 years research - we now have a tried and tested tool that highlights peoples' blind spots with regard to gender diversity - identified by their peer group and not by either you or I.
Constant and never-ending improvement
We have also now piloted this successfully with an Exec team in a high street bank. You will see that the tool is unique and cannot be found anywhere else. It has been designed around Diversity Categories based on Leadership Competencies and shows perceptions by gender. It is quick, effective and cuts through the 'blarney'.
Why is this important?
Because we all stereotype - not just men but women as well - using implicit assumptions and doing things the way we’ve always done them. For instance, as a guest of the event - why was my host asked to fill in the Opportunity Now form giving my title - Mrs, Miss, Ms? Come on Op Now - you can do better than that!
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. As Einstein said "Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them".
If you cannot get budget or appetite for the tool then, at the very least, have everybody who says they champion diversity go to the Harvard website and check out (for free) their own prejudices by taking the implicit assumption tests. None of us are exempt from this stuff but most of us are unaware.
Last but by no means least - it was great to see Fleur Bothwick back in the saddle and I am sure that she and Jan Babiak will make a formidable team and really make a difference at Ernst and Young.
Kind Regards
Tracey Carr
Founder
* A metaphorical tool to help people to understand the interpersonal communication and relationships