Hahn Cultural Consulting的动态

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Last fall, something completely unprecedented happened to me: The day before a speaking engagement, the organization reached out and instructed me that I needed to "avoid politics." I was taken aback. In the first place, the order was unnecessary. I was going to be talking about my book, which is only "political" if you think it is somehow controversial to acknowledge that other cultures exist. Second, this had never, ever happened to me before. In my 15 years of talking about different angles on culture for different types of groups, not a single person had ever pre-emptively fenced me in. Third, the weirdest part was that this organization was explicitly dedicated to promoting the interests of an underrepresented group within their profession. That doesn't mean all of its members hold the same views, of course, but their very existence acknowledges power inequalities. Fourth, I wondered what was behind this sudden caution. Was it a good faith desire to avoid conflict within the group? Or was it a fear of alienating important figures and corporate sponsors behind the scenes? This left a bad taste in my mouth, and I seriously considered cancelling. However, I ultimately joined as planned, because I wasn't going to change anything I said, and I hoped my words could still be useful to people. But I am still not sure I made the right choice. Was showing up and talking about culture a beacon of hope and clarity at a perilous time? Or was I letting myself be used as window dressing - a way for the organization to applaud itself for the style of culture without the risk of substance? Today, this question has fresh urgency for me, as we face not only a new administration that is explicitly hostile to all things cultural, but also a pervasive atmosphere of silence, normalization, and sane-washing. I share it here so that you - my colleagues, clients, and concerned fellow citizens - can consider it, too. Perhaps the biggest part of the battle is not in confidently holding the "right" answers, but in admitting that we don't know, and in grappling honestly with the implications of different approaches as we go forward. Because whether we like it or not, we are in a new era, and we need to work together to navigate it courageously and with integrity.

Marie Finnigan-Miyaishi, MA TESOL

Helping Global Business Professionals Excel in Intercultural Communication and English Language Skills | Global Dexterity Certified Trainer

1 个月

You absolutely did the right thing. You stood your ground, delivered your message as intended, and gave people the opportunity to engage with meaningful ideas. Walking away would have been understandable, but choosing to speak on your own terms was an act of integrity. It's frustrating when organizations that should foster dialogue instead choose to sidestep it. Their hesitation says a lot about the climate we're in. But your presence challenged that silence. They may have tried to set boundaries, but they didn't get to control the substance of your work. That matters. The bigger question is tough. Does engaging in these spaces create change, or does it just make the organization feel good about itself without addressing the real issues? There isn't a simple answer. The fact that you're wrestling with it shows exactly why your voice is needed. In times like these, engaging with complexity instead of retreating into certainty or cynicism is the real challenge. Thanks for meeting that challenge head-on!

Horst Simon The Original Risk Culture Builder

Transformational Nonconformist-It is time to Think Differently about Risk. "It didn’t take guts to follow the crowd, that courage and intelligence lay in being willing to be different" Jackie Robinson

1 个月
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