Week 12 :-: Blind Spots.

“..that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” - John 17:21.

Objectives:

-Understand the effects of stereotyping on our ability to lead.

-Identify our blind spots (stereotypes and generalizations).

-Target team unity goals through proactively addressing profiling, stereotypes and generalizations.

Introduction

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment' - 1 Corinthians 1:10.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” - Galatians 5:19-2.

In our last lesson, we examined the importance of building a strong inner circle. A Servant Leader who intends to go far must not only seek to develop a strong inner circle, they should also be willing to examine their assumptions (blind spots) about people, cultures and communities in order to lead more effectively. If we do not identify and deal with our blind spots, we may end up destroying what we intended to build (eg team cohesion, love, excellence etc). Google's online dictionary, defines blind spot as “an area where a person's view is obstructed”. You will not be able, for example, to see the area directly behind your shoulder, because it falls in your blind spot. A leader who continues to ignore her blind spots will end up developing baseless stereotypes, unconsciously /consciously participate in profiling or acknowledge sweeping generalizations without critically analyzing what is being presented as truth. While the media has largely played the unfortunate role of reinforcing certain stereotypes, the servant leader should work on discerning what is truth from unproven generalizations, stereotypes and profiling. What are some stereotypes in your community?

A few years ago, I went in for a full medical check-up as part of process to serve for a short while in another country. I considered myself blessed with good health and was therefore not at all worried. It turned out however that I had an elevated amount of Uric acid in my system which could potentially lead to gout if I did not make any lifestyle changes. My research showed that I had to decrease my intake of foods rich in purine as well as increase my physical activities. That was an easy choice for me and within a few months, by God's grace things have regularized. The Uric acid situation would have stayed in my blind spot, if I had not taken the test. After understanding the potential effects of my condition at that time, I chose to do something about it, rather than nothing.

Where do blind spots come from and what are the consequences?

We and the people we lead, come from different cultures and backgrounds which influence and shape our values, beliefs and behaviors. While differences are not generally a bad thing, they can serve as the foundation on which all kinds of negative stereotypes and sweeping generalizations are built. Do you question the generalizations you are faced with? The table below shows some examples of generalizations, stereotypes and profiling :

Generalization/Stereotype/Profiling	Dimension	How it is manifested and possible impact	Observations
Africans are lazy and violent	Race	Do not trust Africans you need to be behind them to ensure performance. Avoid them when possible.	Did you carry out a survey, that proves this?
Caucasians are more intelligent than other races.	Color	Show respect to caucasians.	This is also false as intelligence is not linked to the color of ones skin.
Cameroonians are corrupt	National Origin	They are not to be trusted. They are all corrupt.	No research has validated this hypothesis. I know many Cameroonians who are not corrupt.
Women are evil	Sex	Do not trust a woman.	Personal experiences should not define the whole population of either men or women. I have few articles online that address this issue in greater detail poted - https://forteh.blogspot.com/2013/10/on-jokes-about-women.html and https://forteh.blogspot.com/2013/11/in-response-to-his-e-mail-clarifying.html
White is better than black	Color	Try to look “whiter”.	Is this what God says about you? Do you believe this cheap foolishness?

These are just a few stereotypes and generalizations we can see playing out in our communities daily. Do you hold some generalizations yourself?

God created each one of us as unique and a beautiful testimony of His love. He put you in a particular family and culture for a purpose and gave you what it takes to be what He wants you to be. Your background and choices make people perceive you in a particular way but, you do not need to identify with the generalizations, others may want to label you with. On the other hand, it is important that you, as a servant leader, evaluate your own assumptions about people and correct your thinking and biased stereotypes which are based on nothing but your feelings and gossips. When you are able to see people as they truly are without the layers of stereotypes, generalizations and erroneous profiling, you will see them as equal and will contribute in building true unity in your team in spite of differences.

How to deal with blind spots?

1. Recognize that you have them and ask God for forgiveness. Not recognizing your blind spots makes you a dangerous leader. Tribalism for example is a clear example of a huge blind spot that can drive a leader down a very dangerous path.
2. Ask God for the grace to treat others as equal. If you want to lead like Jesus, you must prioritize treating people as equal. Having a condescending attitude due to someone's background, race, origin, language citizenship etc disqualifies you from Servant Leadership.
3. Review your assumptions in the light of facts. You may have had a very bad experience with someone from a particular culture but that does not give you the right t generalize your experience. Sweeping generalizations are dangerous and may lead to the development of deep seated hatred. In a management meeting, a colleague boldly claimed that almost all Cameroonian women who went to America became rebellious towards their husbands. I challenged his thinking but he held on to this erroneous and baseless generalization. Regularly review your assumptions in the light of facts.
4. Learn about other cultures. Review your habits and attitudes (non-verbal signals). Are you giving the wrong signals through your non-verbal communication. While not looking at your boss in the African context is a sign of respect, doing so in America will make you look like you were lying. It is important to understand the context and culture you are operating in, to avoid sending the wrong signals. Invest in learning about other cultures.
5. Participate in activities that build unity. Design as well as participate in activities that help you see your people in their natural environment. This may help you appreciate them better as individuals.
6. Question your assumptions. Always question your assumptions.

Assignment 12:

1. What are some of the baseless generalizations that you see in your culture and community?
2. What are some of the stereotypes you see prevailing in the society?
3. Do you generally treat others equally?
4. Does your culture look down on other cultures as less superior?
5. Evaluate your thoughts with regards to your team members. Are there any hidden faulty generalizations and stereotypes?
6. Take time think about what you can do in you community to help deal with false generalizations.
7. What changes do you plan to make as a result of what you have learned?
8. Write a brief summary of what you learned this week and explain why it is important for all leaders. Post on your blog and share the link in your group.