Equality and Diversity Through Childhood Memories

by Paula Gardner, Scarlet Thinking

 

It is one thing hiring a diverse workforce, but another to empower people to bond together – diverse or not.  Of course, the job in hand, the work goal, should be enough to do that, but what if it’s not? What if you are dealing with, or part of, a team that needs a little extra bonding, at the same time as recognising and appreciating the differences between each other?

 

Childhood is where you will find the answer. Most of us are incredibly nostalgic about our childhoods. Even if they weren’t that great, there are usually things we can look back on with some affection and fondness. Childhood is a time where we all shared the same goal – to learn about the world – but each of us achieved in a unique way.

 

One of my most empowering and fun workshops is about this, taking people back to their early childhood and getting them to share stories about how their family or carers approached work and money. I’ve heard how granny used to hide her wages under the mattress, or how grandfather would bring home his pay to granny, who would then peel off some notes for him to spend down the pub. I have also listened to stories of parents with family businesses going bankrupt, of the importance of certain subjects or even certain schools in some family histories. Workshop participants have shared their stories, many of them funny, some of them sad, but all of them incredibly useful in both helping colleagues understand and appreciate their team-members, but also as an opportunity to reflect on their own approach to work.

 

Think about your own upbringing – how did seeing your parents work (or not work) impact you? In my own case, my father spent a lot of my childhood locked away studying for his accountancy exams in the evening. I always knew that it was an important thing, even though I didn’t understand it, and it has influenced my respect for study and learning, one of my key values.  For a colleague, her father’s risk taking in both business and personal life has made her incredibly risk-averse, something she knows holds her back when it comes to making decisions.

 

Understanding a little of your colleague’s upbringing, influences and role models from their childhood, is an incredibly powerful factor in creating teams that gel, explaining behaviour, promoting conversation and celebrating differences.

 

How Your Family History Impacts your Work and Career is available both as a short online workshop, as well as a half day online or face to face session.