Weirdness at Work: Diversity of Perspective

The primary aim of D&I might be understood as bringing those people on the margin more toward the center of any organization. But what if that isn’t the best place to be for everyone?

What if the most generative space for both marginal and dominant people to come together is actually somewhere between the margin and the center, standing in a circle, speaking together in small pods or even dancing together? What can people in the center learn by allowing themselves to step out, toward the margin? And who might they encounter out there?

I wanted to explore the margin more deeply, looking at other types of people who inhabit that margin and what might be gained from finding something more akin to middle ground with these individuals. My colleagues and I began to talk to weird people.

“Weird” is an intentionally loaded term. We define it as that which is counter-normative relative to the context in which it is situated. Moreover, the word connotes an extreme degree of difference. Typically, weird people are interesting to be around. But they frequently generate aversive responses from those in the center, sometimes because they impede progress, diminish productivity and contribute to a climate that destroys, rather than creates, value. But too often, this destructive weird is confused with productive, generative, and what I think of as life-affirming weird. This “positive weird” needs to be another focus as we seek to understand how to create better organizations and communities that bring out the best in both marginal and dominant members.

Michelangelo, historians believe, had autism before that diagnosis was known, and he may have come off as simply “weird” to his peers. The artist exemplifies a critical lesson: Weirdness can look like a problem but, in fact, it’s quite often the solution.

6 Things Leaders Can Do to Foster Positive Weirdness

1. Being weird is not easy. Be empathic toward those who are different.

2. Remember that weirdness can also be a powerful path toward group creativity and innovation.

3. Adopt a learning orientation toward weird people. What do they see that you might be missing?

4. Encourage mission-driven weirdness while curtailing weirdness that is ego-driven.

5. Be open to exploring the ways in which you too are weird. Reflect on how you are unusual, distinctive and unique.

6. Practice expressing your own positive weirdness — it provides permission for others to bring out their weird.

The preceding is drawn from the white paper Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and 5 Things You Can Do to Normalize DEI in Your Organization. Please see How to Normalize DEI in Your Organization: Part 2 for more frameworks to normalize DEI in organizations.