Smashing Assumptions

Ok, so at the end of our first intensive, I expressed concern about how receptive people back down in the "Bible Belt" would be about sustainability and environmental issues. We discussed a diagram that charted out the competence/incompetence and consciousness/unconsciousness of actions and minds. I took this diagram back home and tried to feel out where I stand in my decision-making and thought processes.

After meeting with various church officials and local environmentalists, I come to find that the incompetence was in my assumptions, not in the responses I received; almost everyone I have come in contact with has been not only very passionate about the project, but have taken some ownership of the process as well.

I almost feel like I owe some people apologies, even though they had no clue I was judging them before we met. It is experiences like this that help build leadership. I learned valuable lessons about not labeling people, and how to dig in and begin to understand folks.