More People Like Horses?

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I relished reading the best selling book, “Lessons in Chemistry,'' by Bonnie Garmus. It’s an entertaining tour of the draconian obstacles working women have been historically challenged with. It reminds us how grossly and overtly biased the workplace was against women, only a few decades ago; especially in areas like the sciences. Working environments have become much more aware regarding gender bias, AND yet there is still much work to do.

On a recent long distance flight, I watched some of the early episodes of the syndicated TV show “The Office,” and cringed as Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and gang resisted being “forced to take sexual harassment” training. It was only the second episode of season two. It’s hard to believe that it was made in 2005. Revisit it, and see what you think.

Carell’s character is sure this corporate mandated training is dumb, and will take all the “fun” out of the office. The “fun” including: Objectifying and demeaning women. And until very recently, that was the norm.

In a 2023 study of 913 women who answered open-ended questions, researchers found 30 common personality traits and identity-based characteristics that women say were still being used against them at work, according to a research summary published in a Fast Company. (for all 30, see this article).

The 2023 research noted above reminds us, there is plenty of work to be done on the gender/equity/fairness front. If you question that premise, try one "simple and powerful tool" called the "flip it to test it" method. — "Could you ever imagine this being said about a man?" The answer is often “no.”

Of course, we all know by now, through well conducted research by reputable firms like McKinsey and many others, organizations diverse across race and gender, especially at senior leadership levels, perform better than those that aren't. Still, equity and fairness regarding women (and race) remains a major opportunity for improvement in all areas of work.

My intent here is NOT to criticize men, nor claim to stand on a self-righteous soap box. Most of the identity based characteristics listed as bias filters apply uniquely to men as well. However, understanding ourselves and others as HUMANS FIRST takes continuous, relentless work. We are literally never done. I believe that the more we lift up our personal connections and expunge negative biases lurking in the background, the better for ALL. Everybody wins. No one is left behind. And that progress is fundamental to true BELONGING.

The key message is to continuously work on developing deep respect for the uniqueness of each of us, and to also recognize biases as a human condition for all to evolve from. Not one of us owns an unassailable moral high ground regarding the full notion of respect for all others. Also, please don’t be discouraged by accusations of being too “woke” or consumed by political correctness. Be real. Care for others. Use the” flip it to test it “method. Work on yourself first. There are continuous lessons to be learned in understanding human chemistry. That’s a continuous “best seller.”

Just this past Saturday, at the Belmont race track in New York, and the final leg of horse racing’s triple crown, a gray named Arcangeli won. The trainer is Jena Antonucci, the first woman trainer to win a triple crown race EVER (more than 100 years). Her assessment: “Horses don’t know who you are,” she said. “To have a horse believe in you and your team like this one does, I wish more people could be like horses.”

Think Big, Start Small, Act Now,

- Lorne

One Millennial View: Uh oh! How dare we come after The Office!? After all, in 2020 alone, it was streamed for 57 billion minutes (far more than any other show, seven years after the series concluded). To put that time in perspective, that’s 108,447 years. Why might have this occurred? This alarming posthumous popularity suggests to me that while the show does comically expose biases (both positive and negative) in the workplace; in reality, all that hodgepodge of differences, together in a professional environment, is also something worth laughing about and finding comfort/camaraderie in. As much as I appreciate a sober glimpse into a draconian past, I hope our future is more focused on a positive approach to embracing differences moving forward. Realistically, I do not see biases ever truly going away; we are not horses, we are humans. However, with connection, respectful leadership, a sense of belonging, care for others, and being recognized for bringing our individual talents to help our teams, then what biases will actually matter?

- Garrett

Edited and published by Garrett Rubis

More People Like Horses?

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