When Labeling Becomes a Liability

In case you haven't noticed, America has become increasingly "polarized." In other words, we are an increasingly divided nation. The reasons for our division seem to grow exponentially with each passing day: politics, religion, sexuality, race, national origin, public safety, crime, economic policy, social justice — the list goes on and on.

Ironically, the COVID-19 pandemic was (and perhaps still is) one of the biggest issues of division for our country. Who would have thought that a virus threatening our nation and our planet would result in people choosing "sides?"

One would think that a pandemic would be one issue we could finally unify about and work together on, for the sake of public health and to save lives. However, that has not been the case.

What can we learn from these polarizing times? One thing we must recognize is that it's especially important for us to resist "labeling" others out of convenience or fear, just to keep them at a distance. Instead, we must listen, learn, and truly get to know individuals and their points of view, even if we don't agree with them.

For one thing, "labeling" is lazy. It's quick and easy and requires little or no effort on our part. We often "brace ourselves" mentally and emotionally. As we listen to ideas that are contrary to our own, we are poised to pounce and already cued to listen for words or issues that might "trigger" us. Once we hear the magic words we've been primed and programmed to listen for, we either lash out in defiance, or we immediately put up a mental or emotional wall or barrier between us and the person we're talking to.

Countless words and phrases cause people to immediately slap a label on others in our world today, effectively putting that person into a tidy box that we feel justified ignoring or dismissively pushing to the side. Thanks to the 24/7 internet the list of trigger words and phrases seems to grow each day. A sample of trigger conversations that lead us to label others may include everything from comments about climate change, gender, social justice, immigration, and gun control to opinions about Trump or Biden.

Many people take the lazy way out of a conversation or political debate by quickly assigning a label to the person they're talking to — liberal, conservative, fanatic, zealot, unhinged, bleeding heart, cold-hearted — and then walking away before taking the time to carefully consider that person's ideas or views. We're all guilty of doing this at some time or another.

In the workplace, it's especially important to avoid labeling and dismissing others. After all, these are our associates who work side by side with us. We sometimes forget how we unequivocally found ways to dismiss these labels a couple years ago to fight for a common cause. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we put aside our comfortable routines, shared infection control plans across countries and companies, and selflessly worked together toward successful outcomes for humanity. Partnerships like those we created during that time are vital in our industry. They benefit all of us: employees, residents, and families.

I have been labeled many things during my life, including "foreigner" and a "mother who should know her place." I am confident that if we will make the effort to resist passing judgement on others simply because of a comment we overhear them make, or if we refuse to label someone merely because of a button they're wearing or a bumper sticker we see on their car, I'm convinced we will score a victory for civility, courtesy, and mutual respect.

In a world filled with labels, I have realized that I cannot convince everyone else not to label me. However, I am on a mission to influence my world through my own actions. I am determined to demonstrate that labels will never define me, and I will not lazily use my own labels to define others. I hope you will join me on this mission.