Identifying Underlying Assumptions in Day-to-Day Life || Are we on the side of Inclusion? or Exclusion?

During our Campus immersion, Prof. nimruji jammulamadaka talked about a plethora of topics, in and around Diversity, Equality & Inclusion. At some point of the discussion, we dipped a bit in understanding “Underlying assumptions” in day to day life. This is where Prof. encouraged us to introspect with all our sincerity and identify the underlying assumptions in our certain behaviors and statements we may loosely throw around – thereby being more on the side of “exclusion”, than “Inclusion”.

Now this is what I intend to share with you all today using the same example. Of course, the magic of this conversation can only be created and re-created by Prof. Nimruji alone. But whatever I pen down today – should be enough to get you thinking. :)

The Saying being dissected here is “Work Hard, Party Harder”.

When we say this statement to a group of people (whether friends, colleagues or family), what are the underlying assumptions…?

1.??????That everyone loves to party, as a means of relieving stress.

**But trust me when I say this – I find partying even more stressful than the source of stress itself.

2.?????That everyone is an extrovert who enjoys partying

**But what about the introverts in the group? Are we being considerate by coercing them into the party... or are we making them uncomfortable? Are they going to open up and relax at the party…or simply wait for the clock to tick and run home?

3.?????That they don’t have any major responsibilities post working hours which need to be tended to by them.

**But what if they are single parents or don’t have supportive family structures... or have ailing parents to be looked after?

4.?????That there is someone else taking care of their responsibilities back home.

**Like a spouse who is most probably a home-maker or stay at home parents who are still physically active.

And in the soft, yet assertive words of Prof. Nimruji, “This is how, every Inclusion ends up becoming an Exclusion”.

As Leaders in our own capacity, it is so very important for us to be more cognizant of our conduct, our sub-conscious assumptions, spoken and unspoken words. We have got to question everything so as to be sure that our intent matches the direction of our efforts.

To our Success,

Shrishti