The wrong tools make a messy job

In 2005 Whirlpool Corporation agreed to settle a class action suit by a number of applicants to their Tulsa plant, who claimed they were denied jobs in 1997 and 1998 based on their race. Whirlpool blamed an older test that was no longer in use. What the test was they didn't specify. I went through their hiring process in 1998 so that test would be the one I mentioned yesterday that is no longer used. As I mentioned yesterday it was obvious that the test was being used to separate the followers from the leaders.

I've noticed that people tend to fall into some fairly recognizable categories when it comes to leadership. There are the alpha-leaders, who will take command immediately. They exude such confidence and poise that most people naturally follow them. Remember Al Gore, not an alpha-leader, tried hard to pretend he was during one of the 2003 Presidential debates. He only succeeded in making himself look like a bully.

Then there are what I call the beta-leaders, those that when a vacuum of leadership is clearly established will step up. I'm a beta-leader. I'm perfectly willing to let an alpha-leader take charge, but find myself more often than not pushed into leadership roles by followers when that leadership vacuum appears.

Then there are the followers, those that always expect someone else to take the lead, shoulder the responsibility and make the tough decisions. Most people are followers, but most eventually find themselves assuming leadership roles in one way or another, even if it's simply taking leadership of their own emotions, desires and self-control.

Due to some obvious cultural factors, Blacks in America will tend to question leaders more readily than people of other races. That's an important trend to note.

I remember watching some show a long time ago, I can't remember what the show was, but the part I remember was a large, well-dressed, Black man attempting to explain the roots of racism in America. The part that stood out, that I remember the most vividly, was when, to illustrate a point, he asked one of the participants to stand, place a cup of water on his head and sing something (I believe it was Yankee Doodle) loudly. The volunteer did that for a few minutes until finally another participant, with an annoyed expression said, "You're obviously trying to make him look ridiculous, so what's your point?"

The speaker walked over to the man that spoke, held his hand out and said, "Let me shake your hand." He did, then the speaker explained (after he had the volunteer stop singing and sit down) that only one person took the effort to intercede on behalf of the volunteer. That so few are willing to step up and address wrongs committed to others is one of the core reasons racism exists.

The rest of the show was, in all honesty, forgettable, but the point he made was not. Whether it applies to racism or any other abuse, the fact remains that few people are willing to stand forth and say, "Hey, stop that, that's wrong!"

The test the Whirlpool Corporation claims inadvertently caused so many Black applicants to not be hired, singled them out because it involved an utterly ridiculous scenario that was treated as if it was realistic and plausible. Most, meekly followed the leader of the test and played along. A few, though, noted the absurdity. My assumption would be that those who made any attempt to outwardly question the absurdity of the scenario were tagged as unfit, and not hired. My assumption would also be that Black applicants would be more willing to note the absurdity than white applicants. Thus the "statistical anomaly" that led to the discrimination suit.

In other words, the Whirlpool Corporation didn't want anyone who would mention that the Emperor had no clothes. So would that factor have an influence on the overall quality of the appliances made by those chosen through such a technique. And ultimately, is complacency, apathy and passivity traits we want the corporate world to be using their resources to promote?

Posted by Danny Carlton at June 12, 2007 8:05 AM