Something Serious: Labeling People!

Labeling people can be a real issue that may have a real impact on your future potential. Labels are used to be able to identify something material or, in the case I’m presenting here, to define a person, ethnicity, status, position, etc.

On the plus side, applying a label to a person or anything for that matter is easy. No critical thinking is required!?

But...on the downside, creating or using an established label has the potential to embrace cognitive biases and make assumptions, your future potential may be limited due to being mislabeled. In the workplace alone, race, age, weight, height, and dress top the list as some of the biggest contributors to making an assumption about our co-workers or having co-workers making assumptions about YOU.

The power is not in easily casting an assertion. The power is in listening, thinking, and questioning labels commonly used as a definition. Labels can be misleading.

The next time you consider labeling someone, consider this: Pause and get curious.

# Think about how being labeled would affect you. Taking a few moments to imagine how being labeled by others would affect your life is a great way to understand the impact your own labels could have on someone else.

# Consider why someone might act the way they do. You won't always know why someone is acting in a certain manner. It can be misleading and possibly harmful to apply a label to someone if you don't fully understand the reasons for his behavior. Instead, get curious and ask questions.?

It can be difficult to notice your own biases when labeling people, especially if you are aware of it and actively seeking to shift this behavior. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of others whom you believe share the same concerns, ideas, and commitments.

(Source: Joshua Miller is a Master Certified Executive Coach, who sets up Fortune 500 emerging and senior leaders for future success by upgrading their mindset, skillset, and performance so they can lead with purpose.)