Difference Works! And Drives Us Crazy

by | Aug 19, 2014 | appreciating difference, Gender difference, generational differences, understanding difference, value of difference | 0 comments

I teach others to value difference, particularly gender and generational differences. I need to learn to value one type of difference that is unrelated to gender or age – the difference between “A-type” and “B-type” personalities. As an “A-type,” I move quickly from one task to another and want things done now. “B-types” take things more slowly and like to do one thing at a time. We can drive one another crazy – or we can recognize difference and appreciate strengths different from my own.

We NEED Difference! A Lesson from Turkey

by | Nov 12, 2013 | Difference, Diversity, fear of difference, leveraging differences, understanding difference, understanding difference, value of difference, value of diversity | 0 comments

I recently traveled to Turkey and saw a living (actually NOT living) example of how importance diversity is. At the formation of the country of Turkey, there was a “population exchange” between Greece and Turkey. Christians were sent to Greece; Muslims were sent to Turkey. Christians and Muslims had lived peacefully together for generations. Towns lost the diversity in their populations. And, as a result, towns died. Difference works! It does not work to eliminate difference. The town of Kayakoy is a memorial to the importance of difference.