How do we transform the unexpected into the expected?
1. Practise intentional visualisation.
Take time each day to anticipate situations you may encounter. How will you respond in that meeting? How will you react to a colleague whose appearance, communication style, or perspective differs from your own preferences? Notice your initial response, then challenge it. Consider alternative interpretations and outcomes. Expanding the range of possibilities you are willing to accept helps reduce the influence of unconscious assumptions.
2. Examine your behaviour when faced with the unexpected.
When something catches you off guard, resist the urge to react automatically. Instead, pause and reflect. Ask yourself: Would I respond in the same way if this person looked like me? Would my reaction be different if they did not? Developing self-awareness is a critical step towards more inclusive and equitable decision-making.
3. Intentionally broaden your exposure.
Make a conscious effort to introduce yourself, your children, your family, and your social circles to people, perspectives, and experiences that may currently feel unfamiliar. What is unexpected today can become entirely normal through exposure, understanding, and meaningful interaction. The more diverse our experiences, the less likely we are to view difference as something unusual.
