Despite what we may think, far too often we are prone to include people in projects, meetings, discussions, and events who think like we do, act like we do, and even look like we do.  Don’t get me wrong, there may be someone who makes the cut who doesn’t share our taste in fashion, but dig under the personality hood for a moment to discover the thinking and the acting of a kindred spirit.

I make this point because there the literature is filled with articles talking about our hidden bias.  Most leaders I work with today don’t even refute the premise which was not the case a decade ago.  What is disheartening is not the admission of this bias, but the impact on systems thinking regarding the issues of our day.  I was at a recent community event on the West side of Chicago where I live.  The event was an inter-active panel discussion about food policy or lack thereof for neighborhoods like the one I live.  Over the past 50 years we have become accustomed to thinking out food comes from a supermarket rather than from the ground.  The recent economic crisis has brought the notion of sustainability to a new level as people confront the impact of scarce resources beyond money.

What struck me about the discussion was the hidden bias at work.  The panel while diverse in race, gender, and role, all shared a similar perspective about the issue.  The audience also diverse in race, gender, and role although not as much exhibited a similar convergent thinking.  I left wondering where were those who disagree with the hypothesis presented by the organizers.

Perhaps the greatest lesson of the recent credit meltdown was the interconnectivity of humankind.  When in the past did a mortgage servicer in Sioux Falls impact a sovereign debt investor in Dubai?  What we have not been able to get past is what this interconnectivity means to us in terms of our ability to find an elegant solution for all.  I am not asking human beings to stop acting like human beings.  There is comfort in being with those who have shared interests.  However, we must open the door to all views, and learn how to authentically engage with those who think differently.  This sounds like a platitude espoused from an ivory tower above our heads.  I prefer to think of it as a pragmatic suggestion necessary if we are to determine root causes for the most significant problems we confront. 

On the mundane level simply ask yourself who else needs to be in the room the next time you discuss a contentious topic.  You may find the list longer than you originally thought.

I was raised to respect my elders, and it pains me greatly to go against my proper upbringing; however, I cannot sit idly and show respect for Daniel Schorr and his commentary on Twitter and new social media when he clearly knows nothing about either.

Mr. Schorr (a sign of my proper upbringing) was introduced to Twitter http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101265831&ps=cprs by Weekend Edition host Scott Simon and senior strategist for social media Andy Carvin.

I would caution Mr. Simon and Mr. Carvin to conduct future science experiments of this sort. Introducing a 91 year-old to Twitter on the air shows the holes in not only Mr. Schorr’s understanding of new social media, but also NPR’s and other traditional media outlet’s understanding. I am not certain what the point of the interview was, but I think it was an attempt to illustrate the virtues and challenges of using Twitter across the generations. For those of us who are happy the old world order is crumbling, it came across as a lame attempt at coaxing the aging and resistant into the new social media water.

Mr. Simon calls him “relentlessly contemporary”, but I could not disagree more vehemently.  He comes off as a dinosaur, an anachronism talking about the five miles he walked to and from school each day as he waxes poetically but erroneously about Twitter and its impact.

While excruciating I encourage you to listen to the roughly 15 minutes of pain as Mr. Schorr establishes a Twitter account with the help of his friends. The real agony began when Mr. Schorr began pontificating about what was missing in new media the presence of which would make a difference compared to what old media offered. Given his struggle signing up for Twitter I doubt he has much experience in this realm, and hence little business commenting at all.

What really infuriated me (and showed just how much he and NPR are out of touch with the young folks today) is when he talked about the loss of editing as an art form. According to Mr. Schorr with the ability for ANYONE to self-publish the editing function is lost allowing an erosion of the quality of news and information available.

This statement shows he is missing the very transformative quality of new media. He is right about the easy entrance to publishing, but the model works because it is publishing first and then filtering. The nature of an open community does not mean editing is gone—quite the contrary. If you open yourself to the never never land of the internet you are standing naked to your core. By hitting send you are saying yes to scrutiny far beyond the red pen of a brilliant managing editor at a Washington bureau.

While I am happy NPR and the other major media outlets are venturing into social media, I wish they would understand the aesthetics of the community better. You don’t have to show deference for those who have gone before us in all that you do. It would have been far more interesting to hear from a Millennial or my Net Gen godson about how they use Twitter. Their experience would have at least been authentic as they actually use the tool. Wouldn’t you rather hear from someone with experience than hearing what the tool does not do from someone who had yet to Tweet?

I was recently at the Learning 2008 Conference in Orlando, Florida.   I delivered a breakout session on the topic of social networks to a group of about 60 people.  Afterwards I was approached by Derrick Davis of the Gallup Corporation.  We had a fascinating conversation about the influence generational difference has on employee engagement.  Derrick through Gallup is about to release a report discussing the similarities between Generation Y and Traditionalists.  My Boomer friends may be the most caught off-guard when they read Derrick’s report.  Listen to what Derrick has to say.  No doubt you will find it interesting.