Find Out if Your Message Attracts or Detracts

You are broadcasting messages every day, both verbal and non-verbal, and they tell others what you and your company think of yourself and the world. If you are not aware of the messages you are sending, others are and one’s perception has impact on your strategy’s bottom line.

Your company culture is vital to attracting, retaining, developing and advancing talent. So how do you discover what it is you are “saying?” A little self-examination should start with knowing what your beliefs, attitudes and biases are about yourself and others.

This quiz will help you explore behaviors based on what you believe (consciously or unconsciously), how you show up and recognize some views and behaviors that hamper success. Select the most correct answer for you.[wcm_restrict]

1. What happens when an opposing perspective exists?

a. Are you open to considering?
b. Are you convinced you have the right answer?
c. Do you judge the person offering the different viewpoint?

Your biases (preferences, beliefs and attitudes) influence behaviors and decisions that create blocks that might prevent you from seeing opportunities for collaboration and leveraging talent.

2. How inclusive are you? Do you:

a. Seek input from the same person or persons or network and socialize with the same group?
b. Make decisions about someone based on their appearance or background?
c. Allow privileges for some and not others?
d. All of the above

If you selected any of the choices above, especially D, it is time to step back and ask yourself why you respond the way you do, where did you learn your truth?

3. Are you interested in having a dialogue or a debate?

a. Do you listen fully to what is being said?
b. Do you partially listen while planning how you will respond?
c. Do you respond to what has been said, with “yes, but…?”

There are times for healthy debate to examine ideas and determine what will be the best solution. However, when every response is a contrary position without acknowledging and exploring someone else’s idea, the motivation for the other person to contribute will wane and eventually fall away – or they will walk away.

4. Do you notice when you think someone of a different group is a ‘certain way’ like trustworthy, not trustworthy, too quiet, too aggressive, or any other automatic judgment that drives your behavior?

a. Yes
b. No
c. Sometimes

Check out if you are stereotyping an entire group and taking shortcuts to make decisions without fully exploring the person’s unique qualities.

5. Do you avoid exploring a topic or issue because you think it does not affect you?

a. Yes
b. No
c. Sometimes

Do you have a team or are part of an organization where topics come up that take you out of your comfort zone? Your willingness to build a culture of open communication is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your organization.

6. Is your language inclusive?

a. Do you use generic terms presuming to include everyone (gender specific terms, racial group terms, religious affiliation terms, sexual orientation terms, and physical ability terms)
b. Do you pay attention to the impact of your language?
c. Do you know what the marketing, recruiting and website language says about you or your organization?

7. Do you roll your eyes or tune out at the mention of diversity and inclusion?

a. Yes
b. No, but do not genuinely engage in conversation?
c. Look for ways to improve?

If you selected A or B, consider that it is a result of your privilege and rank that you react in this way vs. looking to see what you can do to be more inclusive. Privilege is not a gender, person of color, disability, LGBT or religious issue. It is our issue.

Becoming more aware of how you respond to others and situations is important for success and building an environment where your employees and customers or clients develop loyalty to your brand. If you want to attract the best talent for your organization, build self-awareness of the messages and signals you are sending and understand the impact on the company, the employees, the customers and you.[/wcm_restrict][wcm_nonmember]

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About the Author

Rosalie Chamberlain is the author of Conscious Leadership in the Workplace: A Guidebook to Making a Difference One Person at a Time and the owner of Denver, CO-based Rosalie Chamberlain Consulting & Coaching. A thirty-five year organizational culture and eighteen year coaching veteran, she specializes in maximizing talent and productivity within organizations.