Unmute & #ChooseToChallenge
Rashmi Sharma
Leadership & Wellness in Age of AI | Enhance performance through blending ancient wellness wisdom with modern science | Formerly with Coca-Cola, Unilever, Aon | TEDx Speaker | Change Agent
Location: Changi airport
Time: Late night
Situation: Was waiting for the last flight out to Saigon, and they announced it that it had been cancelled.
Just then, I heard a man screaming at the air hostess. He wanted to be on an alternative flight and was generally frustrated with the delay.
I politely requested him not to verbally abuse the woman.
He politely asked me to mind my own business.
That. There. Is the uncomfortable issue.
How could a person have audacity to verbally harass someone publicly? Just because they think as a part of ‘service industry’ and it was certain that she wouldn’t respond back in equally impolite terms? Because they knew that as a collective we in Asia believe in minding ‘only’ our own business. And he was right… no one else was bothered by it.
Why do we ignore these micro-aggressions towards less privileged people? What stops us from coming forward and use collective pressure to do good?
It is probably time to unlearn about ‘Mind your own business’ and #choosetochallenge
One thing which COVID has thankfully opened our collective eyes to is that we have to think of ourselves as a part of a larger community. We ‘are’ the community. Blaming the others, in this case, the abuser, does not help. Especially when we are in a position of privilege.
#3ideas to support women, especially if you are a woman.
(We often want and get a seat at the table, and then… we have nothing to say.)
· Call out sexist comments which have been said innocently as a joke. It is no body’s fault – both men and women are used to it for so long, that we don’t even realize its sexist nature.
· Call out ‘Manels’ in your companies and around you. This is availability bias – it is easier to find men for panels because -well there are more of them you see around.
· Call out if you see that women’s perspectives are not being considered while making an organizational policy. Whether it’s work from home policy, leave policy.
#choosetochallenge #internationalwomensday #unmute
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3 年good one Rashmi... more power to u
Technical Advisor to WW Head of Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
3 年Yes. Some stereotyping in our vocabulary also needs to go. Why is it drama queen? What happens to all these drama kings who think that they are just entitled?!!
HR Digital Solutions | People Analytics | Change Manager | Strategic Business Partner | Building High Performing Teams | Conscious AI User | Traveler | Optimistic Task Master
3 年This is a powerful message I saw today!!! Thanks for sharing
For Change Leaders about to drop the ball. Let's figure it out together.
3 年Thanks for calling it out Rashmi! You remain a beacon and role model for me and I support this 100%.