After an unusually difficult week at work, I shared with a friend the impact on my team and me.
“Resilient” Isn’t the Compliment You Think It Is
Assuming that someone from a marginalized group has thicker skin is inherently insensitive and othering.
March 22, 2023
Summary.
Resilience has become such an overused and celebrated concept that it can become a cop-out, both for individuals and leaders dealing with people one on one, and for organizations in the way they treat groups of people. When it comes to people from marginalized groups, assuming that the hardships they have experienced creates thick skin is insensitive and othering. Leaders and organizations will be more successful if they stop assuming people in a group have similar abilities to bounce back from adversity and recognize that even people within a group have significant differences.
New!
HBR Learning
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.
Learn More & See All Courses
New!
HBR Learning
Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.