Taking Someone to Lunch

Taking Someone to lunch

7^th May 2018

Elizabeth Lesser explains very nicely in her Ted Talk that humans have the tendency to ‘otherize’ people who believe in or follow ideals and morals that are not in agreement with their own ideas and morals ("Take "the Other" to lunch | Elizabeth Lesser", 2018). After watching Lesser’s Ted Talk, I found that I too have otherized and continue otherizing people in my workplace who hold opinions that collide with mine. Lesser suggested taking the other to the lunch and understand their ideologies. To me, that ‘other’ is the senior departmental manager who always manages to get on my nerves by talking against pregnant female employees. I would like to take the manager with me to lunch to know why he is so biased against female employees with pregnancy. As Lesser did with her lunch companion, I would also set out guidelines for the conversation. I would ask him to share his experiences as a child and the place where he grew up. I would ask him about the issues other than “pregnant employees at work” that concern him. In addition, I would want to know what he has to ask me and know my reasons for supporting what he opposes. In this way, we both would be able to understand each other’s thought process. I think it would greatly enhance the positivity at the workplace and contribute to the success of the company as well.  Getting to know the ‘other’ side of the view also helps in improving workplace dynamics because it all depends on the bond we share with our fellow employees and seniors.

           

References:

Take "the Other" to lunch | Elizabeth Lesser. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsSd2nmoKNA