Comments on: How Good Leaders Fight Stupid Bias http://leveragingdifference.com/2012/06/how-good-leaders-fight-stupid-bias/ Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:35:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martin http://leveragingdifference.com/2012/06/how-good-leaders-fight-stupid-bias/#comment-668 Martin Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:21:40 +0000 http://leveragingdifference.com/?p=1039#comment-668 Dear Miroslav, Thanks for your comment. We have to be more rigorous in identifying the leadership competencies needed (like responsbile decision-making under crisis) to create diverse and inclusive organizations and communities. A clearer idea of what we need leaders to do will help us to choose the better qualified leaders which, as you point out, is so crucial. I look forward to continuing dialogue! Martin Dear Miroslav,
Thanks for your comment. We have to be more rigorous in identifying the leadership competencies needed (like responsbile decision-making under crisis) to create diverse and inclusive organizations and communities. A clearer idea of what we need leaders to do will help us to choose the better qualified leaders which, as you point out, is so crucial. I look forward to continuing dialogue!
Martin

]]> By: Miroslav Vojtek, Police Officer, Ret., NYPD http://leveragingdifference.com/2012/06/how-good-leaders-fight-stupid-bias/#comment-667 Miroslav Vojtek, Police Officer, Ret., NYPD Fri, 08 Jun 2012 03:41:11 +0000 http://leveragingdifference.com/?p=1039#comment-667 I subscribe to Diversityinc and was reading about Dr Head\'s experiences at UCLA. Though I know racism and bigotry still exist I was appalled that this behavior was found to be acceptable at one of the most prestigious schools in our country. The reason I am writing to you is that I thought your comments about zero tolerance being a cop-out were the most insightful thoughts I have seen publicly stated in a long time. Zero tolerance is absolutely an abdication of responsibility by the leadership. Good leaders, whether military, corporate or academic must exercise judgement in deciding how to deal with the transgressions people will inevitably commit. In word or deed we have all done something thoughtless, insensitive, crass or just plain stupid. A good leader can discern what is appropriate correction. To be fair, as a society we need to elect officials that do not pass one size fits all (zero tolerance) laws as a knee jerk reaction to problems that need thoughtful problem solving. Mandatory sentencing laws come to mind. Too often politicians pander to our need for immediate repairs. Unfortunately many of our problems sneak up on us over many years. In Dr. Head's case I suspect that if poor behavior occurs in a group, without fear of punishment, the leadership needs to be changed. I subscribe to Diversityinc and was reading about Dr Head\’s experiences at UCLA. Though I know racism and bigotry still exist I was appalled that this behavior was found to be acceptable at one of the most prestigious schools in our country.

The reason I am writing to you is that I thought your comments about zero tolerance being a cop-out were the most insightful thoughts I have seen publicly stated in a long time.

Zero tolerance is absolutely an abdication of responsibility by the leadership. Good leaders, whether military, corporate or academic must exercise judgement in deciding how to deal with the transgressions people will inevitably commit. In word or deed we have all done something thoughtless, insensitive, crass or just plain stupid. A good leader can discern what is appropriate correction.

To be fair, as a society we need to elect officials that do not pass one size fits all (zero tolerance) laws as a knee jerk reaction to problems that need thoughtful problem solving. Mandatory sentencing laws come to mind. Too often politicians pander to our need for immediate repairs. Unfortunately many of our problems sneak up on us over many years.

In Dr. Head’s case I suspect that if poor behavior occurs in a group, without fear of punishment, the leadership needs to be changed.

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