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A rtic le # 1: W hat e xa ctly is a m ic ro aggre ssio n?
B y J e née D esm ond-H arris je nee.d esm ondh arris @ vo xm ed ia .c o m F eb 1 6, 2 015
A n A sia n-A m eric a n s tu dent is c o m plim en te d b y a p ro fe sso r fo r s p eakin g p erfe ct E nglis h , b ut it 's
a ctu ally h is fir s t la nguage. A b la ck m an n otic e s th at a w hit e w om an flin ch es a nd c lu tc h es h er
b ag a s s h e s e es h im in th e e le va to r s h e's a bout to e nte r a nd is p ain fu lly r e m in ded o f r a cia l
s te re oty p es. A w om an s p eaks u p in a n im po rta nt m ee tin g, b ut s h e c a n b are ly g et a w ord in
w it h out b ein g in te rru pte d b y h er m ale c o ll e agues.
T here 's a n am e fo r w hat's h appenin g in t h ese s it u atio ns, w hen p eople 's b ia se s a gain st
m arg in aliz e d g ro ups r e ve al th em se lv e s in a w ay th at le ave s th eir v ic tim s fe elin g u nco m fo rta ble
o r in su lt e d: m ic ro aggre ssio ns.
Y ou m ay h ave h eard th e te rm if y o u'v e r e a d u p o n p sych olo gy, th e a ca dem ic fie ld w here th e
t e rm w as b orn , o r if y o u'v e s p ent tim e p eru sin g T w it te r a nd T um blr , w here it 's h ad a r e ce nt
r e su rg ence .T he r e new ed e m bra ce o f th e c o nce pt h as a ggra va te d s o m e w ho th in k
" m ic ro aggre ssio ns" s im ply d escrib es s it u a tio ns in w hic h p eople a re b ein g m uch to o s e nsit iv e . A t
t h e s a m e tim e, it 's a ls o p ro vid ed a c o m mon v o ca bula ry fo r th ose w ho w ant to p ut a la bel o n th e
s p ecif ic ty p e o f d aily in dig nit ie s th ey fa ce . A nd in a s o cie ty in w hic h e xp lic it r a cis m is fr o w ned
u pon ( a nd th us, n ot a d aily p ro ble m fo r m ost p eople ) b ut im plic it b ia se s a re g oin g s tr o ng, th ere 's
p ro bably m ore u se fo r it n ow th an e ve r b e fo re .
T he w ord " m ic ro aggre ssio n," lik e th e b e havio rs it d escrib es, is p ro b ably g oin g to b e w it h u s fo r
s o m e tim e, s o it 's w orth u nders ta ndin g w ha t it m ea ns.
W hat m ake s m ic ro aggre ssio ns d if f e re nt fr o m o th er r u d e o r in se nsit iv e a ctio ns o r c o m ments ?
M ic ro aggre ssio ns a re m ore th an ju st in su lt s , in se nsit iv e c o m ments , o r g enera liz e d je rk y
b ehavio r.
T hey'r e s o m eth in g v e ry s p ecif ic : th e k in ds o f r e m ark s, q uestio ns, o r a ctio ns th at a re p ain fu l
b eca use th ey h ave to d o w it h a p ers o n's m em be rs h ip in a g ro u p th at's d is crim in ate d a gain st o r
s u bje ct to s te re oty p es. A nd a k e y p art o f w hat m ake s th em s o d is co nce rtin g is th at th ey h appen
c a su ally , fr e quently , a nd o fte n w it h out a ny h arm in te nded, in e ve ry d a y lif e .
" T hey h appen c a su ally , fr e quently , a nd o fte n w it h out a ny h arm in te nded" T his is h ow
p sych olo gis t D era ld W . S ue, w ho's w rit te n tw o b ooks o n m ic ro a ggre ssio ns, d efin es th e te rm :
" T he e ve ry d ay s lig hts , in dig nit ie s, p ut d o w ns a nd in su lt s th at p eople o f c o lo r, w om en, L G BT
p opula tio ns o r th ose w ho a re m arg in aliz e d e xp erie nce s in th eir d ay-to -d a y in te ra ctio ns w it h
p eople ."
A s h e e xp la in ed in th e v id eo b elo w , w hic h p ro vid es a n o ve rv ie w o f th e c o nce pt,
m ic ro aggre ssio ns o fte n a ppear to b e a c o m plim en t o r a jo ke , b ut c o nta in a h id den in su lt a bout a
g ro up o f p eople ( a s in th e e xa m ple a bove , a bout th e A sia n-A m eric a n s tu dent's E nglis h , o r w hen
a le sb ia n is to ld , " Y ou d on't lo ok lik e y o u'r e g ay!" )
W here d id th is te rm c o m e fr o m , a nd w hy a re w e s u ddenly h earin g it s o m uch ? B ack in th e
1 970s, H arv a rd U niv e rs it y p ro fe sso r C heste r M . P ie rc e c o in ed th e te rm " m ic ro a ggre ssio n" to
d escrib e th e in su lt s a nd s lig hts h e h ad w it n esse d a gain st b la ck p eople .
H e w ro te : T hese [r a cia l] a ssa ult s to b la ck d ig nit y a nd b la ck h ope a re in ce ssa nt a nd c u m ula tiv e .
A ny s in gle o ne m ay b e g ro ss. In fa ct, th e m ajo r v e hic le fo r r a cis m in th is c o untr y is o ff e nse s
d one to b la cks b y w hit e s in th is s o rt o f g ra tu it o us n eve re n din g w ay. T hese o ff e nse s a re
m ic ro aggre ssio ns. A lm ost a ll b la ck± w hit e r a cia l in te ra ctio ns a re c h ara cte riz e d b y w hit e
p ut- d ow ns, d one in a uto m atic , p re co nscio us, o r u nco nscio us fa sh io n. T hese m in i d is a ste rs
a ccu m ula te . It is th e s u m to ta l o f m ult ip le m ic ro a ggre ssio ns b y w hit e s to b la cks th at h as
p erv a siv e e ff e ct to th e s ta bilit y a nd p eace o f th is w orld .
T he w ord w as r e viv e d, m ostly in a ca dem ic c ir c le s, a nd a pplie d to o th er m in orit y g ro ups w hen
S ue, a p ro fe sso r o f p sych olo gy a t C olu m bia T e ach er's C olle ge, b egan u sin g it in h is w rit in g
a ro und 2 007.
G iv e n th e w ay s o cia l m edia g iv e s a r a re p la tfo rm to a lo t o f th e s a m e g ro u ps w ho fie ld th ese
s o rts o f d aily in su lt s , it 's c a ught o n a nd h as b eco m e a p opula r to pic o f d is cu ssio n o n T w it te r a nd
T um blr , e sp ecia lly a m ong y o ung p eople .
H arv a rd U niv e rs it y s tu dents ' " I, T o o, A m H arv a rd " c a m pa ig n — a c o lle ctio n o f p hoto s a nd
t e stim onia ls a bout th e m ic ro aggre ssio ns b la ck s tu dents e xp erie nce d — w as h ugely p opula r.
T here a re T um blr s d edic a te d to c h ro nic li n g m ic ro a ggre ssio ns a t c o lle ges in clu din g S t. O la f
U niv e rs it y , S w arth m ore C olle ge, O berlin C olle ge, D artm ou th C olle ge, a nd S m it h C olle ge, to o.
" P eople h ave e m bra ce d it b eca use it d e scrib ed th in gs th at a re r e a lly h appenin g to th em "
H ere , s tu dents q uote th e th in gs p eople h ave s a id to th em ( " Y ou'r e s o lu cky to b e b la ck — s o
e asy to g et in to c o lle ge," a nd " Y ou c a n't b e a w om an if y o u c a n't r e p ro d uce ," ) a nd v e nt a bout
t h eir fr u str a tio ns w it h th e ty p es o f c o m m ents th ey h ave to fie ld ( " 'W hat a re y o u?' is n ot a n
i n tr o ductio n").
I n a n A pril 2 014 in te rv ie w w it h U SA T o day, S ue th at h e w as h appy to s e e th e te rm g o
" m ain str e am " a nd s a id h e'd n otic e d th at c o lle ge s tu dents fo und m ic ro a ggre ssio ns " e xp erie ntia lly
t r u e." In o th er w ord s, p eople h ave e m bra ce d it b eca use it d escrib ed th in gs th at a re r e ally
h appenin g to th em .
H ow d o m ic ro aggre ssio ns a ctu ally h arm p eople ? R ese arc h h as s h ow n th at m ic ro aggre ssio ns,
a lt h ough th ey'r e s e em in gly s m all a nd s o m etim es in noce nt o ff e nse s, c a n ta ke a r e al
p sych olo gic a l to ll o n th e m enta l h ealt h o f th eir r e cip ie nts . T his to ll c a n le ad to a nger a nd
d epre ssio n a nd c a n e ve n lo w er w ork p ro ductiv it y a nd p ro b le m -s o lv in g a bilit ie s. P lu s, th ey c a n
a ff e ct a w ork o r s ch ool e nvir o nm ent, m akin g it m ore h ostile a nd le ss v a lid atin g a nd p erp etu ate
s te re oty p e th re at ( th e fe ar o f c o nfir m in g e xis tin g s te re o ty p es a bout o ne's g ro u p, w hic h c a n h ave
a n egativ e im pact o n c o nfid ence a nd a ch ie ve m en t) .
N one o f th is is h ard to im agin e if y o u s im ply c o nsid er h ow it w ould im pa ct y o ur lif e if y o u fe lt lik e
y o u w ere s u bje ct to a c o nsta nt s tr e am o f in su lt s a nd s lig hts a nd w ere a lw ays b ra cin g fo r o r
r e co ve rin g fr o m a n o ff e nse . It's n ot ju st a bout b ein g u pse t, th ough: s o m e r e se arc h ers h ave
f o und th at m ic ro aggre ssio ns c a n e ve n c a u se p hysic a l h ealt h p ro b le m s.
A re m ic ro aggre ssio ns th e s a m e a s r a cis m , s e xis m , a nd h om op hobia ?
T hey a re b ase d o n s o m e o f th e s a m e c o re id eas a bout p eople w ho a re m in orit ie s o r a re
m arg in aliz e d in A m eric a ( fo r e xa m ple , th a t th ey'r e n ot s m art, th at th ey d on't b elo ng, o r th at th ey
m ake g ood p unch lin es), b ut m ic ro aggre ssio ns a re a lit tle d if f e re n t fr o m o ve rtly r a cis t, s e xis t, o r
h om opohobic a cts o r c o m ments b eca use th ey ty p ic a lly d on't h ave a ny n egativ e in te nt o r h ostilit y
b ehin d th em .
S ue e xp la in ed in h is v id eo p rim er o n th e to pic , " P eo ple w ho e ngage in m ic ro a gre ssio ns a re
o rd in ary fo lk s w ho e xp erie nce th em se lv e s a s g ood, m ora l, d ece nt in div id uals . M ic ro aggre ssio ns
o ccu r b eca use th ey a re o uts id e th e le ve l o f c o nscio us a w are n ess o f th e p erp e tr a to r. "
" It ( is n ot) th e o ve rt r a cis ts , th e w hit e s u p re m acis ts , th e K la n, th e s kin heads," h e to ld U SA
T o day. B ut, h e c la rif ie d, in s o m e w ays, t h is m ake s th em a ll th e m ore d angero u s. T he o utr ig ht
b ig ots , h e e xp la in ed, " a re le ss lik e ly to a ff e ct th e s ta ndard o f m y liv in g th an in div id uals w ho a re
w ell- in te ntio ned — e duca to rs , e m plo ye rs , h ealt h c a re p ro vid ers — w ho a re u naw are o f th eir
b ia se s."
" "P eople w ho e ngage in m ic ro agre ssio ns a re o rd in ary fo lk s""
I n th is w ay, m ic ro aggre ssio ns a re c lo se ly tie d to im plic it b ia se s, w hic h a re th e a ttit u des,
s te re oty p es, a nd a ssu m ptio ns th at w e'r e n ot e ve n a w are o f, th at c a n c re e p in to o ur m in ds a nd
a ff e ct o ur a ctio ns ( a ls o k n ow n a s, " th oughts a bout p eople y o u d id n't k n ow y o u h ad." )
A p ers o n w it h im plic it b ia s a gain st b la ck p eople m ig ht h ave tr o u ble c o nnectin g " b la ck" w it h
p osit iv e te rm s o n th e Im plic it A sso cia tio n T e st, a c o m pu te riz e d te st d esig ned to m easu re h ow
c lo se ly w e a sso cia te c e rta in to pic s in o ur m in ds. It's fa ir to g uess th at th at s a m e p ers o n m ig ht
b e s o m eone w ho g ets a lit tle n erv o us — a nd s h ow s it — w hen s h e fir s t s e es a b la ck m an in th e
e le va to r s h e's a bout to e nte r. S o, m ore th a n e xp re ssio ns o f c o nscio us p re ju dic e o r in te ntio nal
b ig ote d s ta te m ents , y o u c a n th in k o f m ic ro aggre ssio ns a s im plic it b ia se s c o m e to lif e in o ur
e ve ry d ay in te ra ctio ns.
A nd y e s, ju st lik e w e a ll h arb or v a rio us p re ju dic e s, w e'v e a ll p ro b ably s u bje cte d s o m eone to a
m ic ro aggre ssio n a t s o m e p oin t in lif e .
A re p eople w ho c o m pla in a bout m ic ro agg re ssio ns b ein g to o s e nsit iv e ? In s o m e c a m ps, th ere 's
i n te nse h ostilit y to th e id ea th at a n " in noce nt" r e m ark w ould e ve r b e la bele d p ro b le m atic . A ll y o u
h ave to d o is g la nce th ro ugh th e c o m ments o n S ue 's Y ouT ub e v id eo o n m ic ro a ggre ssio ns to
s e e e xa m ple s o f th is a ttit u de.
H ere 's o ne: " I h ave to s a y th e a naly za tio n o f m ic ro a ggre ssio n is a nnoyin g to m e. O ur s o cie ty is
a s o cie ty o f o ve r s e nsit iv e p eople . W hat h appened to b ein g in te llig ent e nough to u nders ta nd
t h at p eople a re g oin g to r e act, a nd s o m etim es d o in co nsid era te th in gs. It is m y fe elin g th at o ur
s o cie ty w ill n eve r b e e uto pean e nough to c o m ple te ly e ra d ic a te m ic ro a ggre ssio ns. T here fo re th e
s o oner w e s to p w astin g e nerg y o n p oin tin g o ut n atu ra l h um an b ehavio rs , th e s o oner w e c a n p ut
t h at e nerg y to b ette r, m ore p ro ductiv e fie ld s o f s tu dy." ( s ic )
A nd a noth er o ne: " A s w e s a y o ut m y w ay, E at s o m e c o ncre te a nd h ard e n th e fu ck u p p rin ce ss.
F uck y o ur m ic o m ic ro aggre ssio n, i'l l g iv e y o u s o m e r e a l a ggre ssio n." ( s ic )
S om e o f th ese r e actio ns a re m ore th oug htfu l a nd c o m e fr o m S ue 's p eers in a ca dem ia . In
r e butta l le tte rs to h is 2 007 A m eric a n P syc h olo gis t a rtic le o n m ic ro a ggre ssio ns, s o m e a ccu se d
S ue o f b lo w in g th e p henom enon o ut o f p ro portio n a nd m an ufa ctu rin g th e p erc e p tio n o f h arm
w here n one e xis ts .
" Im ple m entin g h is th eory w ould r e str ic t r a th er th an p ro m ote c a ndid in te ra ctio n b etw een
m em bers o f d if f e re nt r a cia l g ro ups," K en neth R . T hom as, P hD , o f th e U niv e rs it y o f
W is co nsin -M adis o n, to ld th e A m eric a n P sych o lo gic a l A sso cia tio n M on it o r. T hom as, a w hit e
m ale , s a id h e b elie ve d th at " th e [m ic ro agg re ssio n] th eory , in g enera l, c h ara cte riz e s p eople o f
c o lo r a s w eak a nd v u ln era ble , a nd r e in fo rc e s a c u lt u re o f v ic tim iz a tio n in ste ad o f a c u lt u re o f
o pportu nit y ."
T his c rit ic is m s e em s to fit in to a la rg er c o nve rs a tio n a bout m ult ic u lt u ra lis m a nd " p olit ic a l
c o rre ctn ess" in w hic h o pposit io n o fte n in clu des a n u nderly in g d is b elie f in th e s e rio usn ess o f th e
c la im s o f m arg in aliz e d p eople o r a s e nse th at it is to o m uch tr o u ble o r im pra ctic a l to c e ase th e
b ehavio rs th at th ey s a y c a use th em h arm .
W hat d o I d o if I w ant to a vo id s u bje ctin g p eople to m ic ro a ggre ssio ns?
I n s h ort: m ake a n e ff o rt. " S to p fo r a b eat a nd th in k b efo re y o u s p eak, e sp ecia lly w hen y o u'r e
w eig hin g in o n s o m eone's id entit y "
I t's n ot v e ry h ard to p ut s o m e th ought in to th e b ia se s y o u m ig ht h old , b eco m e c u rio us a bout th e
w ay y o ur w ord s a nd a ctio ns a re p erc e iv e d b y o th ers , lis te n w hen p eople e xp la in w hy c e rta in
r e m ark s o ff e nd th em , a nd m ake it a h ab it s to p fo r a b eat a nd th in k b efo re y o u s p eak, e sp ecia lly
w hen y o u'r e w eig hin g in o n s o m eone's id entit y .
I n h is v id eo o n m ic ro aggre ssio ns, S ue o ff e re d fiv e s u ggestio ns fo r th in gs in div id uals c a n d o to
a vo id th em :
B e c o nsta ntly v ig ila nt o f y o ur o w n b ia se s a nd fe ars .
S eek o ut in te ra ctio n w it h p eople w ho d if f e r fr o m y o u ( in te rm s o f r a ce , c u lt u re , e th nic it y , a nd
o th er q ualit ie s).
D on't b e d efe nsiv e .
B e o pen to d is cu ssin g y o ur w on a ttit u des a nd b ia se s a d h ow th ey m ig ht h ave h urt o th ers o r in
s o m e s e nse r e ve ale d b ia s o n y o ur p art.
B e a n a lly , b y s ta ndin g p ers o nally a gain st a ll fo rm s o f b ia s a nd d is crim in atio n.
B onus tip : P eru se th e m any e xa m ple s o f m ic ro a ggre ssio ns th at h ave b een c h ro n ic le d in
a rtic le s, in a ca dem ic r e se arc h , a nd u sin g s o cia l m ed ia . O nce y o u h ear a bout h ow th ey a ff e ct
p eople , c h ance s a re , y o u w ill b e m ore a w are o f w hat th ey lo ok lik e , a nd s u ddenly m uch le ss
l ik e ly to r e peat th em .
A rtic le # 2: W hit e P riv ile ge: U npackin g t h e In vis ib le B ackp ack ( e d it e d fo r th e s e m in ar)
b y P eggy M cIn to sh
T hro ugh th e w ork to b rin g m ate ria ls fr o m W om en ’s S tu die s in to th e r e st o f th e c u rric u lu m , I
h ave o fte n n otic e d m en’s u nw illin gness to g ra n t th at th ey a re o ve rp riv ile ged, e ve n th ough th ey
m ay g ra nt th at w om en a re d is a dva nta ged . T hey m ay s a y th ey w ill w ork to im pro ve w om en’s
s ta tu s, in th e s o cie ty , th e u niv e rs it y , o r th e c u rric u lu m , b ut th ey c a n’t o r w on’t s u pport th e id ea o f
l e sse nin g m en’s . D enia ls w hic h a m ount to ta boos s u r r o u nd th e s u bje ct o f a dva nta ges w hic h
m en g ain fr o m w om en’s d is a dva nta ges. T hese d enia ls p ro te ct m ale p riv ile ge fr o m b ein g fu lly
a ckn ow le dged, le sse ned o r e nded.
T hin kin g th ro ugh u nackn ow le dged m ale p riv ile ge a s a p henom en on, I r e a liz e d th at s in ce
h ie ra rc h ie s in o ur s o cie ty a re in te rlo ckin g, th ere w as m ost lik e ly a p henom en on o f w hit e
p riv ile ge w hic h w as s im ila rly d enie d a nd p ro te cte d. A s a w hit e p ers o n , I r e a liz e d I h ad b een
t a ught a bout r a cis m a s s o m eth in g w hic h p uts o th ers a t a d is a dva nta ge, b ut h ad b een ta ught n ot
t o s e e o ne o f it s c o ro lla ry a sp ects , w hit e p riv ile ge, w hic h p uts m e a t a n a dva nta ge.
I th in k w hit e s a re c a re fu lly ta ught n ot to r e co gniz e w hit e p riv ile ge, a s m ale s a re ta ught n ot
t o r e co gniz e m ale p riv ile ge. S o I h ave b e gun in a n u ntu to re d w ay to a sk w hat it is lik e to h ave
w hit e p riv ile ge. I h ave c o m e to s e e w hit e p riv ile ge a s a n in vis ib le p acka ge o f u nearn ed a sse ts
w hic h I c a n c o unt o n c a sh in g in e ach d a y, b ut a bout w hic h I w as ‘m ea nt’ to r e m ain o bliv io us.
W hit e p riv ile ge is lik e a n in vis ib le w eig htle ss b ackp ack o f s p ecia l p ro vis io ns, m ap s, p assp orts ,
c o debooks, v is a s, c lo th es, to ols a nd b la n k c h ecks.
D escrib in g w hit e p riv ile ge m ake s o ne n e w ly a cco unta ble . A s w e in W om en ’s S tu die s w ork to
r e ve al m ale p riv ile ge a nd a sk m en to g iv e u p s o m e o f th eir p ow er, s o o ne w ho w rit e s a bout
h avin g w hit e p riv ile ge m ust a sk, “ H avin g d escrib ed it , w hat w ill I d o to le sse n o r e nd it ? ”
A fte r I r e aliz e d th e e xte nt to w hic h m en w ork fr o m a b ase o f u nackn ow le dged p riv ile ge, I
u nders to od th at m uch o f th eir o ppre ssiv e n ess w as u nco nscio us. T hen I r e m em be re d th e
f r e quent c h arg es fr o m w om en o f c o lo r th a t w hit e w om en w hom th ey e nco unte r a re o ppre ssiv e . I
b egan to u nders ta nd w hy w e a re ju stly s e en a s o ppre ssiv e , e ve n w hen w e d on’t s e e o urs e lv e s
t h at w ay. I b egan to c o unt th e w ays in w hic h I e njo y u nearn e d
s kin p riv ile ge a nd h ave b een c o ndit io ned in to o bliv io n a bout it s e xis te nce . M y s ch oolin g g ave
m e n o tr a in in g in s e ein g m yse lf a s a n o pp re sso r, a s a n
u nfa ir ly a dva nta ged p ers o n, o r a s a p artic ip ant in a d am ag ed c u lt u re . I w as ta ught to s e e m yse lf
a s a n in div id ual w hose m ora l s ta te d epe nded o n h er in div id ual m ora l w ill. M y s ch oolin g fo llo w ed
t h e p atte rn m y c o lle ague E liz a beth M in nic h h as p oin te d o ut: w hit e s a re ta ught to th in k o f th eir
l iv e s a s a m ora lly n eutr a l, n orm ativ e , a n d a ve ra g e, a ls o id eal, s o th at w hen w e w ork to b enefit
o th ers , th is is s e en a s w ork w hic h w ill a ll o w “ th em ” to b e m ore lik e “ u s.”
I d ecid ed to tr y to w ork o n m yse lf a t le ast b y id entif y in g s o m e o f th e d aily e ff e cts o f w hit e
p riv ile ge in m y lif e . I h ave c h ose n th ose c o n dit io ns w hic h I th in k in m y c a se a tta ck s o m e w hat
m ore to s kin -c o lo r p riv ile ge th at to c la ss, r e lig io n, e th nic s ta tu s, o r g eogra p hic a l lo ca tio n, th ough
o f c o urs e a ll th ese o th er fa cto rs a re in tr ic a te ly in te rtw in ed. A s fa r a s I c a n s e e, m y A fr ic a n
A m eric a n c o -w ork e r, fr ie nds a nd a cq uain ta nce s w it h w hom I c o m e in to d aily o r fr e quent c o nta ct
i n th is p artic u la r tim e, p la ce , a nd lin e o f w ork c a nnot c o unt o n m ost o f th ese c o ndit io ns.
I c a n if I w is h a rra nge to b e in th e c o m pan y o f p eople o f m y r a ce m ost o f th e tim e.
I f I s h ould n eed to m ove , I c a n b e p re tty s u re o f r e n tin g o r p urc h a sin g h ousin g in a n a re a w hic h I
c a n a ff o rd a nd in w hic h I w ould w ant to liv e .
I c a n b e p re tty s u re th at m y n eig hbors in s u ch a lo ca tio n w ill b e n eutr a l o r p le asa nt to m e.
I c a n g o s h oppin g a lo ne m ost o f th e tim e, p re tty w ell a ssu re d th at I w ill n ot b e fo llo w ed o r
h ara sse d.
I c a n tu rn o n th e te le vis io n o r o pen to th e fr o n t p age o f th e p aper a nd s e e p eople o f m y r a ce
w id ely r e pre se nte d.
W hen I a m to ld a bout o ur n atio nal h erit a ge o r a bout “ c iv iliz a tio n,” I a m s h ow n th at p eople o f m y
c o lo r m ade it w hat it is .
I c a n b e s u re th at m y c h ild re n w ill b e g iv e n c u rric u la r m ate ria ls th at te stif y to th e e xis te nce o f
t h eir r a ce .
I f I w ant to , I c a n b e p re tty s u re o f fin din g a p ublis h er fo r th is p ie ce o n w hit e p riv ile ge.
I c a n g o in to a m usic s h op a nd c o unt o n fin din g th e m usic o f m y r a ce r e p re se nte d, in to a
s u perm ark e t a nd fin d th e s ta ple fo ods w hic h fit w it h m y
c u lt u ra l tr a dit io ns, in to a h air d re sse r’s s h o p a nd fin d s o m eo ne w ho c a n c u t m y h air .
W heth er I c h ecks, c re dit c a rd s, o r c a sh , I c a n c o unt o n m y s kin c o lo r n ot to w ork a gain st th e
a ppeara nce o f fin ancia l r e lia bilit y .
I c a n a rra nge to p ro te ct m y c h ild re n m ost o f th e tim e fr o m p eople w ho m ig ht n ot lik e th em .
I c a n s w ear, o r d re ss in s e co nd h and c lo th es, o r n ot a nsw er le tte rs , w it h out h avin g p eople
a ttr ib ute th ese c h oic e s to th e b ad m ora ls , th e p ove rty , o r th e illit e ra cy o f m y r a ce .
I c a n s p eak in p ublic to a p ow erfu l m ale g ro u p w it h out p uttin g m y r a ce o n tr ia l.
I c a n d o w ell in a c h alle ngin g s it u atio n w it h out b ein g c a lle d a c re d it to m y r a ce .
I a m n eve r a ske d to s p eak fo r a ll th e p eo ple o f m y r a cia l g ro u p.
I c a n r e m ain o bliv io us o f th e la nguage a n d c u sto m s o f p ers o n s o f c o lo r w ho c o nstit u te th e
w orld ’s m ajo rit y w it h out fe elin g in m y c u lt u re a ny p enalt y fo r s u ch o bliv io n.
I c a n c rit ic iz e o ur g ove rn m ent a nd ta lk a bout h ow m uch I fe ar it s p olic ie s a nd b ehavio r w it h out
b ein g s e en a s a c u lt u ra l o uts id er.
I c a n b e p re tty s u re th at if I a sk to ta lk to “ th e p ers o n in c h arg e ,” I w ill b e fa cin g a p ers o n o f m y
r a ce .
I f a tr a ff ic c o p p ulls m e o ve r o r if th e IR S a udit s m y ta x r e tu rn , I c a n b e s u re I h ave n’t b een
s in gle d o ut b eca use o f m y r a ce .
I c a n e asily b uy p oste rs , p ostc a rd s, p ic tu re b ooks, g re e tin g c a rd s, d olls , to ys, a nd c h ild re n’s
m agazin e fe atu rin g p eople o f m y r a ce .
I c a n g o h om e fr o m m ost m eetin gs o f o rg aniz a tio ns I b elo ng to fe elin g s o m ew hat tie d in , r a th er
t h an is o la te d, o ut- o f- p la ce , o utn um bere d, u nheard ,
h eld a t a d is ta nce , o r fe are d.
I c a n ta ke a jo b w it h a n a ff ir m ativ e a ctio n e m plo ye r w it h out h avin g c o -w ork e rs o n th e jo b
s u sp ect th at I g ot it b eca use o f r a ce .
I c a n c h oose p ublic a cco m modatio n w it h ou t fe arin g th at p eople o f m y r a ce c a nnot g et in o r w ill
b e m is tr e ate d in th e p la ce s I h ave c h ose n.
I c a n b e s u re th at if I n eed le gal o r m edic a l h elp , m y r a ce w ill n ot w ork a gain st m e.
I f m y d ay, w eek, o r y e ar is g oin g b adly , I n eed n ot a sk o f e ach n egativ e e pis o de o r s it u atio n
w heth er it h as r a cia l o ve rto nes.
I c a n c h oose b le m is h c o ve r o r b andages in “ fle sh ” c o lo r a nd h ave th em m ore o r le ss m atc h m y
s kin .
I r e peate dly fo rg ot e ach o f th e r e aliz a tio n o n th is lis t u ntil I w ro te it d ow n. F or m e w hit e p riv ile ge
h as tu rn ed o ut to b e a n e lu siv e a nd fu git iv e s u bje ct. T he p re ssu re to a vo id it is g re at, fo r in
f a cin g it I m ust g iv e u p th e m yth o f m erit o cra cy. If th ese th in gs a re tr u e , th is is n ot s u ch a fr e e
c o untr y ; o ne’s lif e is n ot w hat o ne m ake s it ; m an y d oors o pen fo r c e rta in p eople th ro ugh n o
v ir tu es o f th eir o w n.
I n u npackin g th is in vis ib le b ackp ack o f w hit e p riv ile ge, I h ave lis te d c o ndit io ns o f d aily
e xp erie nce w hic h I o nce to ok fo r g ra nte d. N or d id I th in k o f a ny o f th ese p erq u is it e s a s b ad fo r
t h e h old er. I n ow th in k th at w e n eed a m ore fin ely d if f e re n tia te d ta xo nom y o f p riv ile ge, fo r s o m e
o f th ese v a rie tie s a re o nly w hat o ne w ould w ant fo r e ve ry o n e in a ju st s o cie ty , a nd o th ers g iv e
l ic e nse to b e ig nora nt, o bliv io us, a rro gant a nd d estr u ctiv e .
I s e e a p atte rn r u nnin g th ro ugh th e m atr ix o f w hit e p riv ile ge, a p atte rn o f a ssu m ptio ns w hic h
w ere p asse d o n to m e a s a w hit e p ers o n . T here w as o ne m ain p ie ce o f c u lt u ra l tu rf; it w as m y
o w n tu rf, a nd I w as a m ong th ose w ho c o u ld c o ntr o l th e tu rf. M y s kin c o lo r w as a n a sse t fo r a ny
m ove I w as e duca te d to w ant to m ake . I c o uld th in k o f m yse lf a s b elo ngin g in m ajo r w ays, a nd
o f m akin g s o cia l s yste m s w ork fo r m e. I c o uld fr e e ly d is p ara g e, fe ar, n egle ct, o r b e o bliv io us to
a nyth in g o uts id e o f th e d om in ant c u lt u ra l fo rm s. B ein g o f th e m ain c u lt u re , I c o uld a ls o c rit ic iz e it
f a ir ly fr e e.
I n p ro portio n a s m y r a cia l g ro up w as b ein g m ake c o nfid ent, c o m fo rta ble , a nd o bliv io us, o th er
g ro ups w ere lik e ly b ein g m ade c o nfid en t, u nco m fo rta ble , a nd a lie nate d. W hit e ness p ro te cte d
m e fr o m m any k in ds o f h ostilit y , d is tr e ss , a nd v io le nce , w hic h I w as b ein g s u btly tr a in ed to v is it
i n tu rn u pon p eople o f c o lo r.
F or th is r e aso n, th e w ord “ p riv ile ge” n ow s e em s to m e m is le adin g. W e u su ally th in k o f p riv ile ge
a s b ein g a fa vo re d s ta te , w heth er e arn e d o r c o nfe rre d b y b ir th o r lu ck. Y et s o m e o f th e
c o ndit io ns I h ave d escrib ed h ere w ork to s yste m atic a lly o ve re m po w er c e rta in g ro ups. S uch
p riv ile ge s im ply c o nfe rs d om in ance b eca use o f o ne’s r a ce o r s e x. I w ant, th en, to d is tin guis h
b etw een e arn ed s tr e ngth a nd u nearn ed p ow er c o nfe rre d s yste m atic a lly . P ow er fr o m u nearn ed
p riv ile ge c a n lo ok lik e s tr e ngth w hen it is in fa ct p erm is sio n to e sca pe o r to d om in ate . B ut n ot a ll
o f th e p riv ile ges o n m y lis t a re n evit a bly d am ag in g. S om e, lik e th e e xp ecta tio n th at n eig hbors
w ill b e d ece nt to y o u, o r th at y o ur r a ce w ill n ot c o unt a gain st y o u in c o urt, s h ould b e th e n orm in
a ju st s o cie ty .
O th ers , lik e th e p riv ile ge to ig nore le ss p ow erfu l p eople , d is to rt th e h um an it y o f th e h old ers a s
w ell a s th e ig nore d g ro ups. W e m ig ht a t le ast s ta rt b y d is tin guis h in g b etw een p osit iv e
a dva nta ges w hic h w e c a n w ork to s p re a d, a nd n egativ e ty p es o f a dva nta ges w hic h u nle ss
r e je cte d w ill a lw ays r e in fo rc e o ur p re se nt h ie ra rc h ie s. F or e xa m ple , th e fe elin g th at o ne b elo ngs
w it h in th e h um an c ir c le , a s N ativ e A m eric a ns s a y, s h ould n ot b e s e en a s p riv ile ge o f a fe w .
I d eally it is a n u nearn ed a dva nta ge a nd c o n fe rre d d om in ance .
I h ave m et v e ry fe w m en w ho a re tr u ly d is tr e sse d a bout s yste m ic , u nearn e d m ale a dva nta ge
a nd c o nfe rre d d om in ance . A nd s o o ne q uestio n fo r m e a nd o th ers lik e is w heth er w e w ill g et
t r u ly d is tr e sse d, e ve n o utr a ged, a bout u n earn e d r a ce a dva nta ge a nd c o nfe rre d d om in ance a nd
i t s o , w hat w e w ill d o to le sse n th em . In a n y c a se , w e n eed to d o m ore w ork in id entif y in g h ow
t h ey a ctu ally a ff e ct o ur d aily liv e s. M any, p erh a ps m ost, o f o ur w hit e s tu dents in th e U S th in k
t h at r a cis m d oesn ’t a ff e ct th em b eca use th ey a re n ot p eople o f c o lo r; th ey d o n ot s e e
“ w hit e ness” a s a r a cia l id entit y . In a ddit io n, s in ce r a ce a nd s e x a re n ot th e o nly a dva nta gin g
s yste m s a t w ork , w e n eed s im ila rly to e xa m in e th e d aily e xp erie nce o f h avin g a ge a dva nta ge, o r
e th nic a dva nta ge, o r p hysic a l a bilit y , o r a d va nta ge r e la te d to n atio nalit y , r e lig io n o r s e xu al
o rie nta tio n. D if f ic u lt ie s a nd d angers s u rro undin g th e ta sk o f fin din g p ara lle ls a re m any.
S in ce r a cis m , s e xis m , a nd h ete ro se xis m a re n ot th e s a m e, th e a dva nta gin g a sso cia te d w it h
t h em s h ould n ot b e s e en a s th e s a m e. In a ddit io n, it is h ard to d is e nta ngle a sp ects o f u nearn ed
a dva nta ge w hic h r e st m ore o n s o cia l c la ss, e co nom ic c la ss, r a ce , r e lig io n, s e x a nd e th nic
i d entit y th an o n o th er fa cto rs . S till, a ll o f t h e o ppre ssio ns a re in te rlo ckin g, a s th e C om bahee
R iv e r C olle ctiv e S ta te m ent o f 1 977 c o ntin ues to r e m in d u s e lo quently .
O ne fa cto r s e em s c le ar a bout a ll o f th e in te rlo ckin g o ppre ssio ns. T hey ta ke b oth a ctiv e fo rm s
w hic h w e c a n s e e a nd e m bedded fo rm s w hic h a s a m em be r o f th e d om in ant g ro u p o ne is
t a ught n ot to s e e. In m y c la ss a nd p la ce , I d id n ot s e e m yse lf a s a r a cis t b eca use I w as ta ught to
r e co gniz e r a cis m o nly in in div id ual a cts o f m ea nness b y m em be rs o f m y g ro u p, n eve r in in vis ib le
s yste m s c o nfe rrin g u nso ught r a cia l d om in ance o n m y g ro u p fr o m b ir th .
D is a ppro vin g o f th e s yste m s w on’t b e e no ugh to c h ange th em . I w as ta ught to th in k th at r a cis m
c o uld e nd if w hit e in div id uals c h anged th e ir a ttit u des. [B ut] a “ w hit e ” s kin in th e U nit e d S ta te s
o pens m any d oors fo r w hit e s w heth er o r n ot w e a ppro ve o f th e w ay d om in ance h as b een
c o nfe rre d o n u s. In div id ual a cts c a n p all ia te , b ut c a nnot e nd, th ese p ro b le m s.
T o r e desig n s o cia l s yste m s w e n eed fir s t to a ckn ow le dge th eir c o lo ssa l u nse en d im ensio ns. T he
s ile nce s a nd d enia ls s u rro undin g p riv ile ge a re th e k e y p olit ic a l to ol h ere . T hey k e ep th e th in kin g
a bout e qualit y o r e quit y in co m ple te , p ro te ctin g u nearn e d a dva nta ge a nd c o nfe rre d d om in ance
b y m akin g th ese ta boo s u bje cts . M ost ta lk b y w hit e s a bout e qual o pportu nit y s e em s to m e n ow
t o b e a bout e qual o pportu nit y to tr y to g et in to a p osit io n o f d om in ance w hile d enyin g th at
s yste m s o f d om in ance e xis t.
I t s e em s to m e th at o bliv io usn ess a bout w hit e a dva nta ge, lik e o bliv io usn ess a bout m ale
a dva nta ge, is k e pt s tr o ngly in cu lt u ra te d in th e U nit e d S ta te s s o a s to m ain ta in th e m yth o f
m erit o cra cy th e m yth th at d em ocra tic c h o ic e is e qually a va ila ble to a ll. K ee pin g m ost p eople
u naw are th at fr e edom o f c o nfid ent a ctio n is th ere fo r ju st a s m all n um be r o f p eople p ro ps u p
t h ose in p ow er, a nd s e rv e s to k e ep p ow er in th e h ands o f th e s a m e g ro u ps th at h ave m ost o f it
a lr e ady.
T hough s yste m atic c h ange ta ke s m any d e ca des, th ere a re p re ssin g q uestio ns fo r m e a nd I
i m agin e fo r s o m e o th ers lik e m e if w e r a is e o ur d aily c o nscio usn ess o n th e p erq u is it e s o f b ein g
l ig ht- s kin ned. W hat w ell w e d o w it h s u ch k n ow le dge? A s w e k n ow fr o m w atc h in g m e, it is a n
o pen q uestio n w heth er w e w ill c h oose t o u se u nearn e d a dva nta ge to w eake n h id den s yste m s
o f a dva nta ge, a nd w heth er w e w ill u se a n y o f o ura rb it r a ril y -a w ard e d p ow er to tr y to r e co nstr u ct
p ow er s yste m s o n a b ro ader b ase .
A rtic le # 3: 3 S it u atio ns W here C ro ss-C ult u ra l C om munic a tio n B re aks D ow n
( H arv a rd B usin ess R evie w , 2 016)
T he s tr e ngth o f c ro ss-c u lt u ra l te am s is th eir d iv e rs it y o f e xp erie nce , p ers p e ctiv e , a nd in sig ht. B ut
t o c a ptu re th ose r ic h es, c o lle agues m ust c o m mit to o pen c o m munic a tio n; th ey m ust d are to
s h are . U nfo rtu nate ly , th is is r a re ly e asy. In th e 2 5 y e ars w e’v e s p ent r e se arc h in g g lo bal w ork
g ro ups, w e’v e fo und th at c h alle nges ty p ic a lly a ris e in th re e a re a s.
E lic it in g Id eas
P artic ip atio n n orm s d if f e r g re atly a cro ss c u lt u re s. T e am m em be rs fr o m m ore e galit a ria n a nd
i n div id ualis tic c o untr ie s, s u ch a s th e U .S . o r A ustr a lia , m ay b e a ccu sto m ed to v o ic in g th eir
u nfilt e re d o pin io ns a nd id eas, w hile th ose fr o m m ore h ie ra rc h ic a l c u lt u re s, s u ch a s J a pan, te nd
t o s p eak u p o nly a fte r m ore s e nio r c o lle ag ues h ave e xp re sse d th eir v ie w s. P eo ple fr o m s o m e
c u lt u re s m ay h esit a te to c o ntr ib ute b eca u se th ey w orry a bout c o m in g a cro ss a s s u perfic ia l o r
f o olis h ; F in ns, fo r e xa m ple , fa vo r a “ th in k b efo re y o u s p eak” a ppro a ch , in s ta rk c o ntr a st to th e
“ s h oot fr o m th e h ip ” a ttit u de th at is m ore p re va le nt a m on g A m eric a ns.
C om munic a tio n p atte rn s m ay a ls o m ake it d if f ic u lt fo r p eople to p artic ip ate e qually in
b ra in sto rm in g s e ssio ns. B ra zilia ns, fo r in sta nce , a re ty p ic a lly a t e ase w it h o ve rla ppin g
c o nve rs a tio ns a nd in te rru ptio ns, v ie w in g th em a s s ig ns o f e ngagem en t. B ut o th ers , a ccu sto m ed
t o m ore o rd erly p atte rn s o f c o m munic a tio n , c a n fe el c u t o ff o r c ro w ded o ut b y th e s a m e
b ehavio r.
T he fix : T o e nsu re e ve ry o ne is c o ntr ib utin g , le aders o f c ro ss-c u lt u ra l te am s s h ould e sta blis h
c le ar c o m munic a tio n p ro to co ls . A c la ssic ta ctic , w hen s o lic it in g id eas o r o pin io ns, is to g o
a ro und th e ta ble ( o r c o nfe re nce lin e/v id eo c h at s cre e ns) a t le ast o nce s o th at e ve ry o ne h as a
c h ance to s p eak. E nco ura ge e xp lo ra tio n b y a skin g o pen-e n ded q uestio ns a nd k e epin g y o ur
o w n th oughts to y o urs e lf a t fir s t. R ece nt r e se arc h o n te am s o f A m eric a ns a nd E ast A sia ns
s h ow s th at s u ch ta ctic s r e su lt in d ra m atic a lly m ore e ve n c o ntr ib utio ns: In ste ad o f ta kin g fiv e
t im es a s m any o pportu nit ie s to s p eak a nd u sin g n early 1 0 tim es a s m an y w ord s a s th eir
C hin ese , J a panese , K ore an, o r T a iw anese c o lle agues, A m eric a ns to ok ju st 5 0% m ore tu rn s a nd
s p oke ju st 4 % m ore w ord s w hen a n in clu siv e te am le aders h ip a ppro a ch ed w as u se d.
I f e quit a ble a ir -tim e o r in te rru ptio ns a re th e p ro b le m , tr y a doptin g a “ fo ur-s e nte nce r u le ” to lim it
y o ur m ost lo quacio us te am m em bers , o r in sis tin g o n a n o blig ato ry g ap b etw een tw o p eople ’s
c o m ments , to g iv e e ve ry o ne tim e to r e sp e ctfu lly ju m p in .
S urfa cin g D is a gre em ent
C om fo rt w it h p ublic d is a gre em ent is a noth er b ig s o urc e o f c o nflic t o n c ro ss-c u lt u ra l te am s.
M em bers fr o m c u lt u re s th at p la ce a h ig h v a lu e o n “ fa ce ” a nd g ro u p h arm ony m ay b e a ve rs e to
c o nfr o nta tio n b eca use th ey a ssu m e it w il l d esce nd in to c o nflic t a nd u pse ts g ro u p d yn am ic s – in
s h ort, s o cia l fa ilu re . In o th er c u lt u re s, h avin g a “ g o od fig ht” is a ctu ally a s ig n o f tr u st. P eople
f r o m d if f e re nt p arts o f th e w orld a ls o v a ry in th e a m ou nt o f e m otio n th ey s h ow , a nd e xp ect fr o m
o th ers , d urin g a p ro fe ssio nal d ebate .
W hen, fo r e xa m ple , p eople fr o m L atin a nd M id dle E aste rn c u lt u re s r a is e th eir v o ic e s, c o lle agues
f r o m m ore n eutr a l c u lt u re s c a n o ve re stim ate th e d egre e o f o pposit io n b ein g s ta te d. O n th e flip
s id e, w hen p eople fr o m A sia o r S ca ndin a via u se s ile nce a nd u nre ce ptiv e b ody la nguage to
c o nve y o pposit io n, th e m essa ge is o fte n lo st o n m ore e m otio nally e xp re ssiv e p eers .
T he fix : T o e nco ura ge h ealt h y d ebate , c o n sid er d esig natin g a d evil’s a dvo ca te w hose r e m it is to
c o nsid er a nd p ro m pt d is cu ssio n o f th e c h alle nges a sso cia te d w it h d if f e re n t p ro p osit io ns. T he
r o le c a n b e r o ta te d a cro ss a genda it e m s o r a cro ss m ee tin gs, s o e ve ry o n e b eco m es m ore
c o m fo rta ble in it . A noth er o ptio n is to s p re ad th e s a m e r e sp onsib ilit y b y a skin g e ve ry o ne to o ff e r
p ro s a nd c o ns o n a p artic u la r c o urs e o f a ctio n s o p eople fe el fr e e to a rg u e b oth s id es, w it h out
g ettin g lo cke d in to p osit io ns th ey fe el o blig ed to d efe nd.
G iv in g F eedback
C onstr u ctiv e c rit ic is m is a n e sse ntia l p art o f g lo bal te am work ; it h elp s to ir o n o ut s o m e o f th e
i n evit a ble k in ks – r e la tin g to p unctu alit y , c o m munic a tio n s ty le , o r b ehavio r in m ee tin gs – th at
a ggra va te s te re oty p es a nd d is ru pt c o lla b ora tio n. B ut fe edback c a n b e it s o w n c u lt u ra l m in efie ld .
E xe cu tiv e s fr o m m ore in div id ualis tic a nd ta sk-o rie nte d c u lt u re s, n ota bly th e U .S ., a re
c o ndit io ned to s e e it a s a n o pportu nit y fo r p ers o n al d eve lo pm en t; a “ g if t” b est d eliv e re d a nd
r e ce iv e d im media te ly e ve n if it ’s in fr o nt o f th e g ro u p. B y c o ntr a st, p eople fr o m m ore c o lle ctiv is t
a nd r e la tio nsh ip -o rie nte d c u lt u re s m ay b e u naccu sto m ed to v o ic in g o r lis te nin g to c rit ic is m in
p ublic , e ve n if th e te am w ould b enefit . F or fa ce -s a vin g r e a so ns, th ey m ay p re fe r to m eet
o ne-o n-o ne in a n in fo rm al s e ttin g, p ossib ly o ve r lu nch o r o uts id e th e w ork p la ce .
I f th ey c o m e fr o m h ie ra rc h ic a l c u lt u re s, s u ch a s M ala ysia o r M exic o , th ey m ay n ot e ve n fe el it is
t h eir r o le to o ff e r d ir e ct fe edback to p eers a nd in ste ad d eliv e r it to th e te am le ader to c o nve y.
T he w ord s p eople c h oose to u se w ill v a ry g re a tly to o. E xe cu tiv e s fr o m lo w -c o n te xt c u lt u re s,
s u ch a s th e N eth erla nds, fo r e xa m ple , te nd to b e v e ry d ir e ct in th eir c o rre ctiv e fe edback, w hile
t h ose fr o m h ig h-c o nte xt c u lt u re s, s u ch a s In dia o r th e M id dle E aste rn c o untr ie s, o fte n fa vo r
m ore n uance d la nguage.
T he fix : L eaders s h ould e nco ura ge m em bers o f c ro ss-c u lt u ra l te am s to fin d a m id dle g ro und.
Y ou m ig ht c o ach p eople to s o fte n c rit ic a l fe edback th ro u gh p osit iv e fr a m in g a nd/o r b y
a ddre ssin g th e w hole te am e ve n w hen s e ndin g a m essa ge to ju st o ne p ers o n . F or e xa m ple , if
t im e-k e epin g is a r e cu rre nt is su e, y o u m ig ht s a y “ I a lw ays a ppre cia te it w hen w e’r e a ll
s yn ch ro niz e d a nd w e c a n m ake th e m ost o f o ur tim e to geth er. ” It’s a ls o im po rta nt to m odel th e
r ig ht b ehavio r a nd s h ow th at y o u e xp ect a nd a ppre cia te c o nstr u ctiv e c rit ic is m y o urs e lf . A g ood
s ta rte r q uestio n is : “ R evie w in g o ur m eetin g, w hat s h ould I d o m ore o f, le ss o f, a nd th e s a m e o f? ”
B eyo nd th ese q uic k fix e s, te am s n eed to p re -e m pt c o nflic t o n c ro ss-c u lt u ra l te am s b y
d eve lo pin g a c lim ate o f tr u st w here c o lle a gues a lw ays fe el s a fe to s p eak th eir m in ds. If y o u
d is cu ss p ote ntia l p ro ble m a re as e arly a nd o fte n, y o u’ll b e w ell o n y o ur w ay to le ve ra gin g y o ur
g ro up’s d iv e rs it y , in ste ad o f s e ein g y o ur p ro g re ss a nd p erfo rm ance s ta lle d b y it .
