Management and leadership: A judgement-free place

Based on my own experience and maybe on my simplistic looks, I have been a target of many under estimated evaluations, preconceptions, misjudgments, and profiling.
I have invested years of my time observing others, while paying careful attention to the automatic, uncontrollable reflexes, and micro-characteristics responses of the human body. I have learned that focusing on deep-listening, actually "listening" to what others have to say it is a relevant and a much-needed attribute for those who have to manage, lead, and deal with the everyday demands involving team work.

It still amazes me how, regardless of the constant evolution of our American culture, some members in our society are constantly under evaluating and underestimating the intelligent quotient of others, just because of the way they might look, speak, and (sometimes) behave. It is an unmistakable ignominious practice that unfortunately it is still prevailing, and for my disappointment, it may be still ruling the heart of many members of our 21st-century society.
This practice is closely attached to two human behaviors' competencies that as a manager and as a leader must be mastered: Self-awareness and self-management. Those are two indispensable (no negotiable) responsibilities that must be embedded in the moral values, social commitment, and social responsibility of every public and corporate administrator, manager, leader, and everyone in a position of power.

Judgments and misconception, bias, underestimation, and the predisposition of the mind are only a few of the cognitive reflexes and micro-behavior characteristics without conscious thought, holistically found in human behavior. The body and mind do not lie; we do. Body language always tells our history and speak our mind, even when we try not to do so.

As a manager and as a leader, it is our responsibility to be aware of those actions, and learn how to appropriately manage them. Bias-free information is priceless. According to scholars Caruso and Salovey (2004), an emotionally intelligent manager, and leader is the one that can use all the information in his/her environment to make bias-free better decisions, build stronger relationships, and guide their team, family, and yes, even their friends to success.

My advice is to use your self-awareness and self-management skills and abilities to never make a judgment without first analyzing the reality of the facts, from all perspectives and views. Never underestimate your team, peers, family, or friends, and give every one the opportunity and support to grow and develop themselves.

I can only dream living in a judgement-free place, where people is respected and valued for who they are inside, instead of by the way they look on the outside.

Iberkis Faltas, PhD (ABD)