Doctor E guides a reflective exploration of how upbringing, values, traditions and expectations shape identity and influence connections, offering prompts to unpack those origins and consider their effects on relationships and DEI efforts.
Hello. Hope your week is going well. Hello, doctor e here. Hope you are doing well.
From a diversity, equity and inclusion standpoint, many of us don't really explore where and why we are, who we are and what we are. So really digging deep to unpack and uncover where those things come from is so very important.
What are your expectations? Where do those expectations come from? How do they play out in terms of how you connect with people? Diversity, equity and inclusion should be about making connections that you otherwise wouldn't make. Really explore, engage and unpack who you are.
Hello. Hello. Hello, doctor e here. Hope you are doing well. Hope your week is going well. Just wanted to touch base today to encourage you to get in touch with you. And what do I mean by that? From a diversity, equity and inclusion standpoint, many of us don't really explore where and why we are, who we are and what we are. And so when we think about our upbringings, when we think about our values, when we think about all of those things, experiences that make us, us, our cycles of socialization, our relationships, our experiences, why we think the way that we think, why we do some of the things that we do, whether it's traditions, whether it's practices, cultural or otherwise, or whether it's any of those other kinds of things, they all come from some place, they all come from something.
They all possibly, maybe even come from someone. So really digging deep to unpack and uncover where those things come from and why they have the influence and the influences that they have on us is so very important. If you can think about all of the things that you maybe grew up seeing and observing and taking in and taking on, maybe you can then understand why some of those values, traditions, beliefs, practices are so important to you as you try to pass them on to your families or your teams or your organizations or your department or in the other direction.
What if there isn't something that you aren't doing because you don't understand the significance of it or you don't see the value in it? How are you then exploring and engaging why and how that might be something imperative and influential and informative for you to do? So begin to really unpack. What makes you you? Where does your thoughts come from? Where do your thoughts come from? Where do your habits and practices come from? Where do your expectations, whether it's internal or external, where do those come from?
And then how do they then seep into and breathe into all of the other things that you are a part of, relationships, colleagues, connections with those who you maybe even be thinking about bringing into your organization. All of these kinds of things lead to what I like to call a mindset of acceptance, right? And beginning to see where and how you are and how that can continue to grow and develop and be informative. But first, by you unpacking what some of those things are, what are your expectations?
Where do those expectations come from? How do they play out in terms of how you connect with people? How do you then begin to breathe and see some of those things, taking life into the relationships that you have with your colleagues, your coworkers, and individuals that you are trying to lead. One thing about expectations is they're never consistently the same. And so your expectations, your values, might be different from another individual on your team or a colleague. How are you bridging that connection of where those expectations come from and how those expectations can breathe life into your organizational culture, your team culture, your departmental relationship.
All of those other kinds of things that have a foundation of trust have a foundation of understanding, but more importantly, have a foundation of a willingness to explore and engage. And so begin to think about all of those things that make you you, good, bad or indifferent. And as you start to think about some of those things, really begin to make the connection of how they play out in terms of what you do, where you do. And as you start to see some of those connections, as you start to see some of those manifestations of what you are exploring and understanding, really starting to unpack, then you can start to make those connections in terms of how you start to relate to other people who may be similar or more importantly, may be different.
And then how are you starting to understand their expectations and where their expectations come from and who they are as individuals? So, the more you're able to delve into yourself, the more I think you're able and willing to delve into understanding others, which is exactly what diversity, equity and inclusion should be. Should be about making connections that you otherwise wouldn't make in ways that maybe you never even knew you could. So those are my words of wisdom for this week's live. Really explore, engage and unpack who you are.
And as you start to do that, I think you'll start to see where and how some of that unpacking can help you understand more about where you do some of the things that you do and where those things come from. So, Dr. E, I am signing off. I will see you next week. And until then, enjoy, enjoy the summer, enjoy the weather, and take good care of yourself.
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