Grappling with the Gray #117: Don’t ask, don’t answer?

How can we explain society simultaneously becoming insensitive and hypersensitive?

That's the question that drives the conversation when
Mark Brown, CSP, Kimberly Davis, and Kirsten Yurich join the ethics panel to Grapple with the Gray.

Here is our topic

A recent article in National Review by Kayla Bartsch laments how the concept of RSVP has died an ignominious death among her fellow Gen Z-ers.

She writes:  “Whereas stories of old emphasized the importance of honesty and integrity — of the sanctity of giving one’s word — these old-fashioned virtues of gentility are largely lost on my digital generation when it comes to RSVPs.”

The truth is, responding to invitations should be easier than ever.  Even if the younger set relates to email the way Boomers think of quill and parchment, platforms like Evite and Paperless Post have been superseded by a snazzy app called Partiful.  But that doesn’t seem to help.

My only quibble with Ms. Bartsch is that I don’t believe this is exclusively a Gen-Z problem or that it’s limited to invitations.  Ghosting has become normative behavior in both the social and business worlds.  If I have nothing to gain by communicating with you, you simply cease to exist.

Ironically, amidst a culture that has become hyper-fixated on microaggressions, pronouns, and myriad sensitivities to other people’s feelings, how do we explain the lack of basic civility that makes it okay to ignore our fellow human beings, even the ones who care enough to invite us to share their lives?

Meet this week’s panel:

Mark Brown is an executive speaking coach, helping top international leaders to elevate their performance, influence and impact. He is a world champion international speaker, and devoted husband of Andrea.

Kimberly Davis is an author, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Brave Leadership University, leading development programs world-wide, around authentic leadership, purpose, presence, and influence.

Kirsten Yurich is an Organizational Performance Management Consultant, Peer Leaders Group Chair with Vistage Worldwide, Inc., and Adjunct Professor of Education at Felician University.

#ethics 

#culture 

#accountability 

#leadership 

#communication