Flock Theory

Cultural erasure is one of the most persistent forms of colonization, and it’s something I think about often. Yesterday, as I reflected on which family members, friends, and organizations observed Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Columbus Day, or no holiday at all, the topic was top of mind. Though few of us would call ourselves colonizers, the belief that we inherently deserve ownership of anything we deem valuable betrays us. In my #FlockAroundAndFindOut content series, I dive into the nuances of terms, ideas, and behaviors that either lift us up or trip us up as inclusive leaders. Today, let’s explore #CulturalAppropriation. Cultural (mis)appropriation occurs when members of a dominant or privileged group inappropriately adopt, imitate, or exploit the characteristics, customs, practices, or ideas of another culture, particularly one that is marginalized. This includes misusing elements like fashion, music, mannerisms, artifacts, and intellectual contributions, often without acknowledging their cultural origins. Such acts frequently reduce significant aspects of the culture to caricature, commodify them for profit or amusement, or dilute their original meaning for personal gain. Are You (Mis)Appropriating? When working with clients or facilitating training sessions, I encourage leaders to ask themselves these questions to detect potential appropriation: ? What is your goal in using this cultural element? ? Are you following a trend or engaging with the history of the culture? ? Are you intentionally or unintentionally disrespecting the culture? ? Are you purchasing a reproduction or an original piece from that culture? ? How would people from the culture you are borrowing from feel about your actions? ? Are you perpetuating stereotypes or discrimination? ? Are you using a sacred item (e.g., a headdress) in a casual or disrespectful way? ? Are you borrowing from an ancient culture and presenting it as something new? ? Are you crediting the source of inspiration? ? Would someone from the original culture be seen as “cool” for doing the same thing, or could they face discrimination? ? Are you wearing a costume that represents a culture, and if so, why? ? Are you ignoring the cultural significance of an item for the sake of following a trend? To avoid cultural appropriation, inclusive leaders can adopt these practices: ?Reflect on your motivations and whether they honor the culture. ?Use the original name of cultural items, and always refer back to their origin. ?Treat all cultures with the same respect we give to Western traditions, like British culture. ?Learn the stories and meanings behind cultural elements, and share this knowledge with others. ?Ask for permission, give proper credit, and ensure that there is mutual benefit, respect, and, where appropriate, compensation for the contributions of the culture. #FAFO #EquityInExpertise #InclusiveLeaders

Confirmation bias often make us unknowing prisoners to our preconceived beliefs, assumptions, and negative stereotypes. When we interact with objective facts and people in accordance with deeply held expectations we’re prone to notice or misinterpret everything in a way reinforces them (confirmation bias). Sometimes this leads to self-fulfilling prophecies. But what happens when we expect more instead of less? World Down Syndrome Day is on March 21st. This awareness campaign by SMALL presents an outstanding microlearning example. It teaches of how self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when an originally false social belief (prejudice) leads people to act in ways (discrimination) that create outcomes that confirm our bias. It’s brilliant. #AssumeThatICan #NotBroken #WDSD2024 #WorldDownSyndromeDay #EndTheStereotypes

I just presented my first talk of the new year. It marked the end of a six-month engagement and the last in a four-part virtual series we designed with NAIOP for its members - a dope community of 21,000+ office, industrial and mixed-use real estate developers and owners. Fun fact. I don't personally accept more than 12 engagements a year. Each one fills my heart to overflowing with gratitude. At Flock Theory we run on human connection. So, friends (and friends of friends), I'm asking for your help to fill the remaining openings on my 2024 dance card. Do you know someone who'd be a good match? Thanks in advance for sending referrals my way and sharing my post with your network. #Associations #Chapters #Components #Employee #Volunteers #Boards #Leaders #Workforce #People #Performance #MIMS #Keynote #Workshop #Retreat #Microlearning #Training #Facilitation #SkillBuilding