This post draws inspiration from a recent teaching experience I had. The workshop aimed to empower high school students to confidently express their truths while actively listening and being empathetic to differing viewpoints. These hot topics included issues regarding politics, education in the US, race, gender, ability, and equity.
During one learning activity, students were asked to take a stance on a hot topic. When statements such as "I see myself represented in my history class," were presented, students were asked to choose from options: strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree.
I inquired, "Is there a neutral option?" The facilitator responded, “No, it’s essential to take a stand.”
This prompted me to reflect on that answer over the next few days. I applied the human-centered leadership lens to be my guide.
As a result, I believe it is perfectly acceptable to be neutral and refrain from taking a stand for various reasons. I have utilized my six leadership mindset pillars to address this question.
Empathy Mindset: An empathic approach encourages us to listen to genuine personal stories. If I’m unfamiliar with a subject, I can gain insights through personal narratives.
Growth Mindset: Being neutral indicates a desire to learn more before forming an opinion. A growth mindset often perceives challenges as opportunities, fostering a perspective that accommodates multiple viewpoints.
Mindfulness Mindset: Mindfulness involves being aware of life's many dimensions, and showcasing the intricate beauty of the world. Being mindful of both others and ourselves during this experience allows for a neutral stance.
Balance Mindset: When analyzing data, I might observe a balance of positive and negative experiences, leading to a neutral perception.
Consistency Mindset: A person with consistency does not waver between extremes. This can be challenging when asked to adopt a specific viewpoint, especially if one feels under-informed. Maintaining a neutral position when discussing personal experiences allows for consistent openness to others' perspectives.
Intuition Mindset: Intuition encompasses the subtle feelings we experience when making decisions or processing emotions. Embracing neutrality provides the space for our intuition to offer additional insights.
In conclusion, neutrality holds significant power. I believe it can enhance your effectiveness as a human-centered leader. By adopting a neutral stance, you can thrive in all six mindsets and cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself, your team, and the world in a more human-centric manner.
I encourage educators to adopt a more open-minded, trauma-informed, and leadership-oriented approach when creating new educational activities that empower student voices. I suggest collaborating to explore a human-centered perspective, which will enhance their skills as an engaging facilitator. I appreciate the experience we’ve shared, and I am confident that both the educator and the students will continue to evolve and develop into remarkable individuals.
