Nine Reasons to Come Out in a Job Interview

The following article points to nine reasons it may be productive to come out in a job interview. Personally, I have come out in job interviews because the last thing I want to do is waste anyone's time (mine included) seeking a position that won't be a good fit for me as a person.

http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/exclusives/9-reasons-to-come-out-in-a-job-interview/

If you want to truly understand something, try to change it. - Kurt Lewin

Any consideration of change that involves a variety of stakeholders is going to induce some degree of fear: feelings of uncertainty, powerlessness and perceived threats to interests, opportunities, status, resources.

Depending on the scope of the change considered, fear will manifest in friction and conflict.

If we personalize the conflict, the chances are great that the conflict will become destructive.

In terms of force-field analysis, opposing forces (driving forces for/restraining forces against change) come together to maintain the status quo. With this understanding, if you increase the strength of a driving force, for instance, the chances of change increase.

However, sometimes increasing a driving force will only serve to increase resistance and opposition. And, if the underlying conflict has been personalized, the risks for destruction will increase.

Conflict occurs in stages - sometimes in a more predictable order than others. At the stage of escalation, it is not unusual for additional layers of conflict to develop among driving or resistance forces themselves. Personalizing conflict at the escalation stage increases the potential for destructiveness exponentially.

This is the point where I scour the sky for the giant "Pause" button.

And then, I take a deep breath, listen and relax.

The Stamford Marriott Rape: Follow-Up Letter from Corporate

Received by e-mail this morning:


Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting Marriott.

We wish to convey our respect and sympathy for Ms. Doe and her family, who were the victims of a horrendous crime at one of our franchised hotels in 2006. Fortunately, the perpetrator has been caught, convicted and is serving time for his offense.

It was a mistake to suggest that the victim of this tragic incident was responsible for the vicious crime against her. As soon as we learned that this offensive language was included by the insurance company’s defense lawyers in their response to Ms. Doe’s civil suit, we asked that it be withdrawn and it was on Monday, August 17.

This incident is not reflective of our corporate culture or ethical standards, and we apologize to all of our guests and customers who were so deeply offended by the words used in the legal pleading.

Regards,
Marriott Customer Care

This communication contains information from Marriott International, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.

Chasing Storms

I've often thought of myself as sort of a storm-chaser: I live for getting to the eye of a storm and examining the parts that have come together to create the whole.

Why are some storms productive while others build to levels of destructiveness? Or, is this distinction a matter of relativity and perspective?

Of course, the trick to all this is not getting caught up in the storm.

Lately, I feel overwhelmed by a multitude of human "storms" perpetuated by fear, anger and hatred.

I cannot afford to get caught up in these storms. None of us can. If we do, we only become debris in the aftermath.

I keep looking for the big "Pause" button in the sky. . .

Something's gotta give.

I do not want to fan the flames of hatred and contempt by simply reacting.

I've been tweeting and retweeting all sorts of news items recently. The one thing these tweets all have in common??

Conflict.

And, people reacting to conflict - which includes me.

Admittedly, it is extremely challenging to thoughtfully respond, rather than knee-jerk react, to a lot of what goes on in this world.

The extreme character of some of the stuff happening these days almost cries for a loud, extreme knee-jerk reaction.

I need to remind myself that reaction may not be productive and, at times, may serve only to exacerbate the extreme and exaggerate the differences coming together at the eye of the storm.

I need to reflect and try to get my mind around what's been going on.

I do not want to fan the flames of hatred and contempt by simply reacting.

I need to respond from a mediative place - a place that reflects and respects my core values.

Letter from Marriott

Sent an e-mail to the Stamford Marriott today asking "them" to do the right thing regarding the lawsuit involving the woman who was raped in front of her children in its parking garage. In a classic example of the zero sum games played everyday in our courts, attorneys for the Marriott claim the woman "failed to exercise due care for her own safety and the safety of her children."

To my surprise Marriott responded. Unfortunately, their response was no surprise:


Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting Marriott.

We wish to convey our respect and sympathy for Ms. Doe and her family, who were the victims of a horrendous crime in 2006.

Marriott is profoundly sorry that such a terrible thing happened to the victim of this violent crime. And unfortunately this situation has created a mistaken impression that Marriott lacks respect and concern for Ms. Doe or other victims of violent crime.

However, out of respect for the privacy of the victim and the expectations of the Court in the pending litigation, we are not at liberty to comment on the claims or defenses in this case.

Regards,
Marriott Customer Care

This communication contains information from Marriott International, Inc. that may be confidential. Except for personal use by the intended recipient, or as expressly authorized by the sender, any person who receives this information is prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, and/or using it. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and all copies, and promptly notify the sender. Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an electronic signature under applicable law.

Is There a Need for Balance?

By no means am I a scientist by any stretch of the imagination, however, . . I never let things like that stop me from going ahead and sounding stupid!

That said. . .

Earlier today, I wrote somewhat indirectly about my perception of the need for a balance between concern for self and concern for others. Through the lenses of my life, I see all things striving to discover their center of gravity - striving to achieve balance.

When things find that center, that balance, things are at peace. . .until the next movement significant enough to knock everything off center again, which perpetuates the cycle - a constant flux between chaos and balance.

Generally, for me, a sense of balance is comforting.

At the same time, for me, chaos provides fertile ground for creative opportunity.

Which brings me back to my inherent need for balance - even when it's a a matter of balancing ballance with chaos.

I'm getting dizzy.