You could be missing out in life purely from the labels you give yourself, others and things
What creates a label?
We all look at things differently due to the different filters that we have created from our experiences and thoughts. These are of course are not real but ideologies that we have created in the form of a label.
As Art Markman describes, when we look at someone we might place a label on them due to their behaviour like leader, jerk, athlete, writer or resilient. This label might be due to that particular point in time but with that label comes the belief that this is who they are.
For example every time you are treated badly by someone you take it that person is bad. Rather than saying that the person is kind but being bad at this point in time.
Also in the same vein if every time something doesn’t work out for you like not getting a job, divorce, bereavement. In the case of personal experiences you can walk away feeling why me? I am a bad person rather than saying these are lessons on my life journey for which they bring amazing opportunity and skills to share.
These labels can be dangerous for a variety of reasons.
So what are the dangers you could slip into?
- Your decisions and judgements can be misaligned
What labels you have created will be based on a belief system that will hinder an equal approach. Diversity is central to this. Having been in a minority you get grouped more easily and then labelled with the same thing. So if one small thing happens that isnt liked by the group you are all labelled and then thought of in a ‘bad light’. If you are of a larger group you kind of get swallowed up due to ‘safety in numbers’.
2. Identity can be misunderstood
What we are called and how we label ourselves affects our identity and or is our identity. As a fundamental part of who we are this can be threatening and frustrating.
In a work context there is a probability that you will have a job title. With that title, each and every person that comes in contact with or has an awareness of the role will have an ‘idea’ or interpret its function. That ‘idea’ is then the label that sticks and when you move organisations the idea may follow but bare no resemblance to how it operates.
3. Happiness can be affected by what you perceive your label to be
What you wear, what you do, what your past has been can define who you are and the label you and others put to you. If this is not what you want it to be it came be stressful and also mean that you are not aligned with your own values.
4. Relationships can be adversely affected
No one is perfect and people can perceive the same communication differently. The labels we put on people at work, home and in the community can be based on an event. This may be a point in time when the person has just seen something horrible, had to deal with a difficult event or feeling tired. The belief system / label has been created and you then make choices based on one event.
5. Food labelling is not what it seems or fits with your health beliefs
We have built up what we perceive as being healthy from the media, the national public health teams, sinister (in my opinion) marketing campaigns from ‘food’ suppliers. This has created our own beliefs about what you should eat. In the UK, depending on how old you are, it could be that you should eat less fat, watch the calories or the amount of simple carbohydrates you consume.
6. Not knowing your purpose
Unsure as to what you would like your ‘label to be or could be sets you in a spiral of confusion and doubt. DANGEROUS as you can then become directionless which can affect your mental health.
7. You become Stressed when you dont have the label you could have.
Depending on where you live, how strong you are and what your beliefs are will depend on what you see as success. Labels and perceived labels can be the starting point which can affect your health.
How aware are you of the labels and filters you are applying?
Be honest with yourself and answer the following questions:
When you recruited for a role did you select with a bias with someone you felt you could get on with or that would challenge you? or were open based on need?
When you recruited did you look at where they had worked and the assumption of the competence of that business?
When given options to improve performance did you quickly sieve through your library of knowledge in your brain to make a judgement of what would be best or did you start with a blank sheet of paper to create options?
When did you last make a work or life decision from the perspective of your customer or team rather than what you wanted?
if you answered yes to any of these you are being led by your belief system / labels rather than the needs of the business.
How to bring awareness of your labels?
It feels that the filters we have created drive what identity we want to build for ourselves. In doing so we are limiting the opportunities for our teams, colleagues and organisations
Answer the following questions individually and or with your team:
What is going to trigger you to remind you of your own filters?
How can a team prevent labels affecting them?
As a leader what what will you do to minimise your belief system rather than the purpose or goal leading the way?
We re all affected by labelling and by being more aware we can make greater impacts in any point in time whether at home, work or in the community.
I’d love to hear how you manage your labelling to best affect.
Lizzie Rhodes James is a Executive Coach, Team and Leadership Development Consultant who specialises in helping teams and individuals exceed their potential at work and in life. Having successfully transitioned from a successful Army career into the Corporate world, Lizzie brings an exceptional and distinctive blend of discipline, focus and agility into her practice. Lizzie is also passionate about health and wellness, and adds a depth of thinking to align body and mind, enhancing overall performance and encouraging clients to transcend their limits.
