culture

Juneteenth

c/o Adobe

Yesterday, our American friends celebrated Juneteenth, which is a new federal holiday to mark the official end of slavery in the United States, symbolising the triumph of freedom over oppression. Understanding this history is crucial to fully comprehend the legacy of slavery and its impact on American society, it’s also a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and social justice. We must remember that the whole discussion around diversity and inclusion is not unique to America. I look forward to the day when embracing cultural understanding and the respect for diverse experiences becomes a norm in society.

Good taste is a skill

What is good taste?

Good taste refers to the ability to anticipate the preferences of your customers. For example, wearing a disco outfit to a disco-themed party would be well-received because it aligns with the theme and the expectations of the event. However, wearing the same outfit to a formal dinner party would be inappropriate as it does not match the formality and expectations of that particular occasion. Good taste also involves understanding how different elements complement or clash with each other. I think developing good taste typically comes through a combination of experience, observation, and an understanding of aesthetic principles.

Saying less than necessary

There was an exchange across a dinner table between a couple of Spartans, and one of them just remained silent. Eventually, the talkative Spartan says, “Are you OK? You have not said anything.” The first Spartan replied, “A stupid person wouldn’t be able to be quiet.”
I think that the ability to remain silent is a mark of not just a very self-disciplined person, but also a very smart and wise person. Remember that there are times when it is unwise to be silent as silence can arouse suspicion. Therefore, silence and saying less than necessary must be practiced with caution, and only applies to the right situations.

Authenticity over algorithms

Many people consider kindness to be a weakness. I think it’s essential to be humble and kind, and also to know your worth. Remember, knowing your worth doesn't mean you have to be arrogant or dismissive of others. It means recognising your own value while respecting and appreciating the worth of others.

““Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.””
— Jim Rohn

Life is a challenge

Today, Denmark celebrates Ascension Day, a public holiday that holds significance in the country steeped in Christian traditions. I am deeply committed to providing exceptional service and as a teacher and an eternal learner, I embrace a lifelong pursuit of knowledge. My primary goal is to ignite a passion within others, as I believe that this is the future of education. I understand that stepping outside of my comfort zone momentarily is a crucial part of personal growth and improvement.

Be the change you want to see

What is mindful blindness?

Mindful blindness is when human beings including institutions turn a blind eye to the truth to feel safe, reduce anxiety, avoid conflicts, and protect their prestige and reputations. There are several factors that contribute to mindful blindness, these may include cognitive biases such as confirmation bias, which leads individuals to seek out information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence. Other factors include social pressures, fear of consequences or reprisals, groupthink - a phenomenon where group members prioritise consensus over critical thinking - and the desire to maintain a positive self-image or protect one's reputation.


The consequences of mindful blindness can be far-reaching and hinder personal growth, impede decision-making processes, prevent the identification and resolution of problems, and perpetuate harmful behaviours or practices. In organizational settings, mindful blindness can lead to unethical conduct, negligence, and even legal violations. At a societal level, it can contribute to systemic issues, such as discrimination, corruption, and social injustice. I think that to address mindful blindness will require individuals and institutions to cultivate a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and acknowledge the limitations of their perspectives. And this involves promoting critical thinking, fostering open and transparent communication, encouraging diverse viewpoints, and actively seeking out and considering different sources of information.

Emotion drives behaviour

Smart people often change their minds. I think that it’s unwise to assume that objective reality holds significant importance in human behaviour. What truly influences people’s actions is the interplay between objective entity, the contextual framework within which it’s perceived, the perception of that context, the emotions or significance evoked by that perception, and ultimately, the emotions that propel behaviour. Unlike the orderly mapping observed in physics, human behaviour entails a convoluted process involving four or five intermediate stages, making it anything but neat.

““In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.””
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Perceptions of truth are relative

People will only ever understand you from their level of perception, therefore, their perception is real, and the truth is not or that it is subjective. The truth refers to objective facts and realities that exist independently of our perceptions or beliefs about them. While different people may have different perspectives and interpretations of the truth, the truth itself remains constant and unchanging. I think it’s important to recognise that our perceptions and interpretations are limited by our own experiences and biases, and that they many not always align with the objective truth. However, when we seek to understand and analyse, we will come closer to understanding the truth and making informed decisions based on it.

,

The triangle of change

,

In general, most individuals and organisations will only change when there is either a massive reward or there’s going to be massive pain, suffering or inconvenience by not changing. The "triangle of change" is a model used to explain the three key elements that need to be present for change to occur successfully in any organisation. The three things that make up the triangle of change are:

  1. Leadership
    Change needs to be led by someone who has a vision and is willing to take action to make that vision a reality. Effective leadership is crucial for creating a sense of urgency, inspiring and motivating people to embrace the change, and providing direction and guidance throughout the process.

  2. Culture
    The culture of an organisation or system plays a crucial role in determining whether change is successful. A positive and supportive culture can create an environment where change is embraced and people are willing to take risks, learn new skills, and adapt to new ways of doing things. On the other hand, a culture that is resistant to change can make it difficult to implement new ideas and initiatives.

  3. Process 

    The third component of the triangle of change is the process, which refers to the steps and actions that need to be taken to bring about the desired change. This involves setting goals, creating a plan, implementing the plan, and measuring progress along the way. Effective processes are essential for ensuring that change is managed in a structured and systematic way, and that everyone is working towards the same goals.

Mind power

Trauma is not resistance to something that has happened, trauma is the trace of something that has happened and leaves on the depth of the body-mind, there may or may not be resistance to this trauma. I think trauma may have its roots in something that happened to us as a child, but we can also inherit trauma from our family or from our culture. Trauma does not necessarily have a personal origin, it can come from the collective field, whether that collective field is a family, nation, or race of people. For example, if a group of people have been persecuted their collective trauma is passed on from generation to generation. Why? This is because we are not bodies, we are minds born from minds, therefore, the content or at least some of the content of our minds is passed on. Especially the deep-seated trauma which can be passed on from one generation to another and that trauma is then felt in the experience in the body of the next generation.
Contact me via e-mail to arrange a confidential 1:1 meeting.

Human concerns before money

c/o Forbes

Before money was invented, humans were concerned with the following five things:

  1. Status
    Humans have always been concerned with their social status and their place in society. This includes their reputation, position, and influence in their community.

  2. Certainty
    Humans have always had a need for certainty and predictability in their lives. This includes a sense of security, stability, and the ability to plan for the future.

  3. Autonomy
    Humans have a need for autonomy and the ability to control their own lives. This includes the freedom to make their own decisions and the ability to pursue their own goals and interests.

  4. Relatedness
    Humans have a need for social connection and the ability to form relationships with others. This includes a sense of belonging and the ability to establish meaningful connections with family, friends, and community members.

  5. Fairness
    Humans have always been concerned with fairness and justice. This includes a sense of equality and the ability to receive a fair share of resources and opportunities.

I think although money has become an important aspect of our lives, these fundamental concerns continue to be important to us as humans.

Don't be afraid to admit it

The term 'affinity bias' is used in neuropsychology to describe an unconscious bias that causes people to gravitate toward others who appear to be like them (including those with similar interests, backgrounds, and appearances). I think the best way we can reduce unconscious bias and achieve a culture of equality is to become aware of them. It’s important to note that biases, conscious or unconscious, are not limited to ethnicity and race. 

One of the greatest values of interacting with people who are different is the mirror it provides on seeing my own identity. Contact me via e-mail if you want your employees and leaders to learn more about discrimination, biases, and stereotyping, through unconscious bias training workshops.

“”Diversity training doesn’t work!” ”
— Dr. Frank Dobbin

This is not just noise

Operational Excellence has been describes as delivering leading performance across all measures of value by consistently executing the strategy.
Consistent execution requires two components working together:
1. The systems in place to manage the work to be done to execute the strategy
2. The culture that drives how well and consistently the work is done.

What are the basics and fundamentals of excellence in your space?
In my experience, personable people tend to be more successful as I think everything revolves around people, networks, and communities because we all value something. Regardless of what business you are in, everything starts with the people, and yes, I know this may change in the future but I’m a humanist. Everybody uses different tools and means; we all have different mentalities but in the end it all revolves around people, so I’ll continue to focus on the human aspect. Contact me via e-mail when you would like some guidance in helping you connect with your customers on an influential and human level. 

Stories are timeless

Stories have been around for thousands of years, way before humans had anything we had stories and that’s how we continue to see the world. Stories are the basic human technology which are shared through colours, feelings, and emotions. A story is not only a fairy tale. Ultimately stories are also about life and death, joy, suffering and status, and the way to get good at telling stories is by practicing. I think that storytelling connects the past to the present, allowing humans to conceptualise about historical and contemporary events.

With this gift

How can we change the stories we live and work by for the better?
You can’t give away everything to everyone nor can you be everything to everyone, but you can go into a community and be a part of it. When people get more value, they do more , pay more and give more in return. I think that when we figure out what a community values, show up, be present, participate, listen, and become a relevant member.

Allow yourself

I think that being empathetic towards someone doesn't necessarily mean that you agree with them. And intelligence is the ability to change your mind when presented with accurate information that contradicts your beliefs.

““People will forgive you for being wrong, but they will never forgive you for being right - especially if events prove you right while proving them wrong.””
— Burrellism
,

Solid foundations

,

We all strive for success in our businesses, this becomes easier when we have a clear and well communicated vision, core values, and strategy that everyone in the organisation understands. Effective execution requires processes and procedures which are centred around the critical drivers of your business’ success. I think that focusing intently on these steps will significantly improve the internal accountability by measuring and being transparent about the key performance indicators that drive success. It’s a good idea to praise those who hold themselves accountable and deliver on their promises as this will accelerate the positive results for your business. 

What is the solution?

There is an illusion of inclusion, but in reality, we are all born into a world which is separated by class, religion, and race. Behaviour never stands still, it always getting better or always getting worse. I think the basic laws of behavioural psychology are as follows:

1.        All behaviour is a function of the context that it takes place,
2.        And then it is the function of the consequences

““Above all else, focus on acquiring knowledge and skills. Knowledge and skills are like gold - a currency you will transform into something more valuable than you can imagine. With knowledge and skills, you will become a magnet for opportunities.””
— Robert Greene

Dropping gems

It’s just about bridging the gap, sometimes the gap is money and sometimes it’s experience. In his book "Black Swan," Nassim Nicholas Taleb introduced the theory that a significant and highly unexpected event (e.g., COVID, war in Ukraine, etc.) could have a huge and detrimental impact on society. The prevailing business model is to push both natural resources and people to their absolute limits. Maximum profit requires maximum exploitation and I think this will result in maximum collapse. Therefore, you should identify your motivation and passion, in other words, find what you are good at and become excellent at it.