The Fanny Slap - Not Everything in Sports is Transferable to the Workplace...

You know you wanted to read this when you saw the title - that's OK - it's my job to make the title appealing enough to get you to click through...

So here's the connection to HR - I've been accused in the comments of my recent post about salaries in baseball for being too sports-focused (my average is a post tying sports and HR once every two weeks).  The commenter in question threw up the following quote:

"The sports references are interesting to sports fans, but unfortunately more than 60% of HR professionals are women, many of whom don't know what you are talking about when you, for example, reference Dick Vitale, cross-over dribbling and moneyball.

In my diversity training classes, we were advised to not use sports references to avoid alienating women. And women were told to limit the conversation about Dooney & Boorke handbags to avoid alienating men."  (from "Ed")

My response was pretty predictable.  I politely told "Ed" that a blog is a blend of professional development and personal style. I'm not trying to be everything to everyone and water the product down - I'm just being me.  I also told "Ed" that I didn't think he was giving my female readers enough credit..

Here's where it got interesting.  I gave a hat tip to the person who referred me to the article in that post - and that person happened to be female.  As you might expect, she came in and dismantled "Ed", in a nice, workplace-appropriate fashion.   I guess "Ed" doesn't speak for women everywhere.

So "Ed", if you're out there, sorry you got knocked down on your way to the hoop in the comments section.  While I'm sure I can't water down the site enough for you to be comfortable using it in your diversity sessions, I'm still enough of a teammate to give you some encouragement after getting knocked down.

Just imagine that I'm Roberts and you're Green in the picture below .  Keep sliding with the cleats up, big guy.

P.S. - for anyone who hasn't been in "Ed's" diversity sessions, this is a sports-related reference that doesn't transfer well in the workplace.  Don't be like Roberts in the hallways today, or as people leave your training session.

Recognition and teamwork - Good... Recognition involving non-handshake touching - Bad...

I'm out... Have a great weekend....

Comments

[Robin]

You sound extremely defensive on this point in your reply to Ed. Hopefully outside of your blog you don't relate your ideas with only sports related stories since I'm sure some of your collegues are female. Sorry, but I agree with Ed. I can't count the Executive lunchs, dinners and get togethers that I have attended where there is mostly predominantly men where the ONLY topic is sports. Big yawn for me.

[chris]

Robin,
I work with predominantly female bosses, and our conversations generally revolve around local politics, theatre, and kids. Big yawn for me.

I suggest you either (a) find new lunches and dinners to attend, or (b) suck it up. (For the record, I've chosen both (a) and (b), depending on the situation).

People relate to what they know. You can't force them to be interested in something they're not. So let it go... you'll be much happier if you accept it as limitations to their knowledge rather than some impolite conversation that excludes you.

[Jim Price, SPHR]

That's the beauty of diversity. No matter what analogy or conversation starter you use, you're bound to make SOMEBODY in the room stifle a yawn.

Personally, I yawn at the sports analogies. I also yawn at the handbag analogies.

Now if you told me story about Roberts giving Green a fanny slap WITH a Dooney & Bourke? You'd have my attention!

[Alex Andrei]

I definitely think the fanny slap should replace the fist bump. :)

What better way to awkwardly express your approval of a job well done? :)

[Kris]

OK, its the end of the day, so here's the breakdown. Someone comes in the comments and pitches themselves as a diversity trainer, then proceeds to tell someone (in this case - me, but it could easily be you) that they should suppress what interests them and potentially what makes them different and unique in an individual pursuit....

What? Surely you see the irony?

I'll point out that disconnect every time, and have fun with it in the process...

After all, that's just me being me. Shouldn't we celebrate what makes us different? :)`

KD

[Southern]

This whole thread got me yawing. But I read it so...only I'm to blame.

[Ken Edwards]

Agree with Ed and Robin. Chris, attend a diversity awareness seminar.