How should Dr. Sander respond?
Alex’s unconscious bias leaks out in his comment. What would be the best response to help someone like Alex get an insight into his bias?
How would you respond when your boss is the microaggressor?
Have you ever experienced any microaggressions? Please share your anecdote and how you responded to the microaggression using the comments section below.
Many of us are pretty preoccupied with our wants, needs, and fears. As we live our fast-paced lives, we may unintentionally commit microaggressions that hurt those around us. As the old saying goes,
Be Kind; Everyone You Meet is Fighting a Hard Battle
We invite you to put a stop to microaggressions and replace them with microvalidations. Microvalidations are small verbal and non-verbal responses that indicate understanding, empathy and support of the other person’s plight.
Take the Stanford Microvalidation Challenge Today:
Remember: A micro validation should be subtle, fleeting, genuine. Avoid personal comments about physical attributes.
Using the comments section below, please share with us how you took the Stanford microvalidation challenge and what the response was.
In any encounter, small packets of information are exchanged continuously like a tennis volley. There a minute by minute variation of the information communicated, the underlying affect and the communication effectiveness. As we communicate, we transmit information admixed with microaggressions and microvalidations. The quality of communication is eroded with every microaggression and augmented by each microvalidation.
Communication comprises of both verbal and nonverbal information. Over 90% of the communication is nonverbal. Nonverbal communication is heavily contextual and is influenced by the culture of the communicator. Nonverbal behaviors include eye movements, body posture and movement, tone and cadence of of voice, use of touch, use of silence, use of space and use of artifacts. Skillful use of nonverbal communication can foster effective intercultural interactions.
Effective communication involves awareness and modulation of our microcommunication pattern on an ongoing basis.
Many women report microaggressive experiences at the workplace. Microaggressions are:
Microcompliments, microsupports, and microvalidations are the antidote to microaggressions.
Trainees are often vulnerable and in need of support. Teachers who verbally affirm students’ opinions, emotions, and beliefs are engaging in microvalidation.
