I certainly do because even though empirical support is typically mixed, they provide a way to think about processes that are often messy and hard to define. A couple of my favorites are Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and Martha Beck’s four phases of change.
Another worthy of mention is Bennett’s Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity or DMIS.
The DMIS is a framework for considering the evolution of understanding cultural differences. It is a scale comprised of these six steps:
1. Denial – your culture is the only culture
2. Defense – your culture is the best; others are inferior and stereotyped
3. Minimization – you are aware of differences but dismiss them because ‘we are all the same’
4. Acceptance – you recognize differences and are actively trying to learn more about other cultures
5. Adaptation – you use empathy to understand the viewpoint and experiences of other cultures
6. Integration – you deeply understand more than one culture and each is part of your identity which is continuously developing
Over the years, I have become more interested in learning of and understanding other cultures and now realize it is an ongoing process and that I’ll always be a student. The DMIS gives me some perspective as to where I am along this journey.
A final thought: As the world grows smaller and our communities and workplaces grow more diverse, understanding cultural differences is more and more important to career and leadership success.
Does the DMIS resonate with you? Do you have a favorite developmental continuum? Would love to know what you’re thinking. Comment below or shoot me an e-mail at laura@laurawolfephd.com.
Thanks for reading.
Let Them Go
In January, I listened to this Amy Porterfield podcast about planning for the new year where Amy challenged business owners to consider what was working and what wasn’t working with regard to growing their business. Her advice was to stop the activities that weren’t contributing to success.
On the surface, that’s the obvious action to take but how often do people continue down a less than productive path?
Soon after, I came across an article about toxic people that included the wisdom, “the more time you spend with people who are unhelpful, unsupportive, disrespectful, envious, resentful, dysfunctional or outright damaging to you, the less value all your time has.”
Wow.
Time is a precious and limited resource and when minutes are gone, there is no getting them back. Too often we are overly attached to some initiative that once seemed like a good idea or to familiar relationships without ever evaluating whether they are right for what we hope to accomplish.
Consider both your personal and professional goals. Do the people and activities that consume your time support and align with the future you are working towards?
If not, let them go.
Would love to hear how you make the most of your time.
Coincidentally…
Did you catch The Night that Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show? It contained much great music including performances by Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Keith Urban, and many, many more. While My Guitar Gently Weeps performed by Joe Walsh, Gary Clark, Jr., and Dave Grohl was amazing and intense.
The conversation between Ringo, Paul, and David Letterman was very interesting. Paul said so casually that “all sorts of lucky things, amazing little coincidences came together, with amazing skills added to those coincidences; it was a lot of stuff that came together to make the Beatles.”
Could it have been more than amazing little coincidences that brought the Beatles together and ultimately changed the world?
I recently read Chapter 3 in The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron. In that chapter Cameron talks about answered prayers and how they can be so scary that often people dismiss them as coincidence.
Cameron believes there is a greater power and she writes:
“If we do, in fact, have to deal with a force beyond ourselves that involves itself in our lives, then we may have to move into action on those previously impossible dreams.”
and also:
“Is it any wonder we discount answered prayers? We call it coincidence. We call it luck. We call it anything but what it is – the hand of God, or good, activated by our own hand when we act in behalf of our truest dreams, when we commit to our soul.”
Is there something you’ve been wanting to do? Something in your soul that could possibly change the world – even just a tiny bit? Put it out there and be open to what might happen next.
Is it a coincidence that you’re reading this post? Maybe, but maybe not…
Have you ever experienced the kind of coincidence that helped you realize a dream?
Many Ways
Festigals
I had a blast last weekend at Festigals. One of the many high points was hearing Mary Von Kurnatowski talk about the work of the Tipitina’s Foundation and receiving the gift of Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino.
Later at lunch, a group of us were discussing serving others at many different levels. Mary Von K has had the awesome opportunity to affect the world on a large scale by providing instruments to kids and supporting musicians. A person at the table said that she knew that serving could also be as simple as giving those she encountered a kind smile. Someone else shared the story of sending a note to the boss of employees who always took care of her. In turn, the boss bought the employees lunch.
This conversation reminded me of a Katrina lesson. An amazing thing about natural disasters is that they bring out a deep-rooted need to serve in most people not directly affected by the event. The Katrina lesson is this: so much need exists in the world that there is a perfect fit for how you can give. After the storm, my husband and I volunteered at the Parker Coliseum on the LSU campus where more than 1300 pets were being sheltered. Taking care of these family members that had to be left behind was a great experience.
And in the same way, on a daily basis, an opportunity (need) is out there for you to act on, using your gifts to make the world a better place. Some big, some small, but all important.
What’s your favorite way to serve?
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