What is your reaction when you see graffiti like this? Do you get your wash cloths out and remove the paint? Do you walk by and do nothing? Do you agree with the statement and the meaning behind it?

The website Stop AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Hate was setup by Professor Russell Jeung at San Francisco State University and has received over 2,000 reports of hate crimes between Mar. 19, 2020 to June 3, 2020. The recent increase has been attributed to the Coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China (although a more deadly strain that did significant damage on the East Coast of the US came from Europe, but no one is calling is the German or French Flu). The increase is also attributed to leadership calling the Coronavirus the “Chinese virus” or “Kung Flu”.

A Tale of Two CEOs

In July, CNN reported a Tech CEO from San Francisco launched an anti-Asian tirade at Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley. The waitress bravely stepped in, protected the family and asked the CEO to leave. Watch the video to see what many Asians in American have to experience. FYI, he lost his job.

This CEO has since stepped down from his company stating, “I will make it my duty to ensure my personal actions do not continue to have a detrimental impact on those people closest to me.” It seems he has a lot of cultural conditioning to unlearn, but hopefully he’s forging a new path to rectify past wrongs.

In contrast, some business leaders are stepping up to combat racism and doing their part to challenge racial injustices where they can. George Myers, President and CEO of Effectiveness Institute, is one of these people. He has invested over 30 years of his professional life into seeking equality, justice, and high-performance from teams that see diversity and inclusion as a business and life advantage. In this same spirit, George has asked to interview me as part of Effectiveness Institute’s new discussion series—Conversations at the Institute—to explore cultural and racial biases as they pertain to Behavior Styles.

[Read “Exploring Behavior Styles, Culture, and Bias with Kendra Washington-Bass”]

Using Behavior Styles to Step Up Against Asian Racial Inequality

I have been personally trained by Effectiveness Institute’s CEO, George Myers, in Behavior Styles and I have found it useful to coach people who are working with AAPI teammates.  Statistically, AAPI teammates test at a greater percentage of the Analyzer and Stabilizer profiles.  The best metaphor I can give is that when you visit a foreign country, you will have a better experience if you learn the customs of that country.  Behavior Styles are the same.  If you are visiting someone from the Analyzer country and you are a Persuader, you will need to “rotate your iceberg” or change from your default Behavior Style if you want to be more effective. 

When I coach people who are working with Analyzer AAPI teammates, I remind them to slow down, bring facts and data, and be methodical, even if that is not their personal style.  When I coach people who are working with Stabilizer profiles, I remind them to open the conversation with connection before content (the opposite an Analyzer), explain the benefits of an action or decision and be patient, allow silence to all them time to think.  Try them and see if you get different results from your previous engagements such as them sharing deeper information or saying thank you for making your conversation easy.

[Read “I Control the Narrative”]

Join Us for a Conversation on Race, Bias, and Behavior Styles

Conversations at the Institute has been created to help further the discussions and understandings following the turbulent events and demonstrations occurring nation-wide after George Floyd’s death.

Please join me in following Effectiveness Institute on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram. It’s an easy way to stay engaged as the Institute continues discussions about diversity, inclusion, and bias.

This Conversation at the Institute will be hosted on Friday, August 28th at 11am (PST). If you watch it on FB live or on the Zoom event, you too can join the discussion by chat. We’d love to field your questions and join in solidarity as well.

During this session, George and I will explore my experience as an Asian American over the past 50+ years. Some of it is glorious. Some of it is not pretty. All of it is my authentic experience with my personal guidelines on how you can help Asian and other racism. During this session, we will address some of the following questions:

• What is like growing up Asian American in the US?
• Have you ever hit the bamboo ceiling?
• What’s your understanding of behavior styles?
• How does behavior styles relate to Asian cultures?
• What biases do you see in other people?
• How do you feel about your Asian culture?
• Why do you think there is Asian racism?
• What do you suggest other people to do if they see Asian racism?

Effectiveness Institute will release a recording of this interview later on this blog, so be sure to check back later.

Until then, if you’ve read this far, I hope that you’re one that will take further personal action to prevent racism and stand up to racism in the world.

Click https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqcuGrqzkvEtaTcZ6vfsm0szlvrmqRsZTu to register to join the conversation on 8/28/2020 11am PST.