Giving Notice: Why the Best and the Brightest Leave the Workplace and How You Can Help Them Stay

5.4. Targeting Blind Spots

To recognize your own stereotypes, you might opt to walk yourself through this simple exercise, being as honest with yourself as possible:

NOTE

Write down several labels or categories you use based primarily on appearance or surface characteristics—for example, Wall Street trader, firefighter, corner grocery store owner, hairdresser, nurse, judge, and so on. What are your assumptions about the race, gender, and sexual orientation of these people? Write down a handful of adjectives related to each of the categories. Now ask yourself this: Do those adjectives apply to all members of that group? Would members of those groups agree with those adjectives? How do your assumptions affect your behavior toward members of those ...