Death to the Colorblind?

Photo by Duncan Harris

In my office there is a sticker given to me by my sister. The sticker is a red-green color blindness test: a field of green dots interspersed with orange and red dots.

Apparently, the orange and red dots spell out "Death to the colorblind."

I say "apparently" because I am unable to read the words, despite having been told repeatedly what they say. I have a form of red-green colorblindness and so cannot see these words in the same way that normal-sighted people see them.

I keep this sticker in my office as a constant reminder that not everyone sees the world the way I do. People are an amazing mix of personality types, heritage, experiences, values, and so on. Even my deepest convictions might not be shared by someone who sees the world through a different history and a different pair of eyes.

Leaders do well to remember the diversity of perspectives in the teams they lead and to ensure those voices are incorporated into decision-making. This doesn't mean always trying to satisfy every opinion. It does mean remaining humble enough to know that there is always something we don't know.

Thanks, sis.

David M. Dye

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David shares twenty years experience teaching, coaching, leading, and managing in youth service, education advocacy, city governance, and faith-based nonprofits. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for Colorado UpLift and enjoys helping others discover and realize their own potential.