Openness

What: According to the NEO Personality Inventory Professional Manual, “openness involves active imagination, aesthetic sensitivity, attentiveness to inner feelings, preference for variety, and intellectual curiosity.” While this definition covers a variety of different traits I feel that it is appropriate to view openness through each of these lenses. I have always perceived myself as someone who was open to new ideas, concepts and particularly new people and cultures. Recently, I lead a spiritual retreat weekend in the Bahamas which forced me to evaluate how open I am in many ways. I began this process in April, when I was selected to lead a team of 30 women from across the US as well as from the Bahamas to put on this retreat in Nassau. During this time, I encountered many people from various cultures around the US and the Bahamas. As the leader, my job was to bring this group together harmoniously in order to achieve the purpose we were traveling to Nassau for, to put on a retreat for 20 Bahamian women.

As we arrived in Nassau, the first thing we had to adjust to was “aesthetic sensitivity.” In the US, Caucasians are the dominant race in most areas of the country. Also, most of the women who traveled as part of the team, including myself, are Caucasian. However, in the Bahamas, we quickly became the minority. As such, we had to be sensitive to the aesthetics of races and focus more on “being attentive to inner feelings” as was the purpose for the weekend. This group of women had no problem making this transition. As the women who would attend the weekend began to arrive on Thursday evening, they were initially hesitant to open up to these strangers who came in to “show them how to strengthen their faith.” However, by the time the weekend was over, we were all lovingly embracing and wishing we had more time to spend getting to know each other and to simply enjoy our time together.

So What: While I only highlighted the areas of aesthetic sensitivity and attentiveness to inner feelings, each of the traits above were tested for me as I realized the lens of humanity that I have always looked through. I grew up in a rural town on the outskirts of Jacksonville, FL where most everyone looked the same, believed the same, and behaved the same. This experience opened my eye to the world of differences that are out in the world, and I LOVE IT! I was enthralled by the difference in the way these women processed information, the exuberance they showed in their worship, and the sensitivity and hospitality they showed to myself and the others whom they had just met. If the world operated as we all did on this weekend, it would be a much more peaceful place. As cultures collided, they were met with openness and honesty and a mutual understanding of respect and acceptance.

Now What: I have learned so much about myself and about the changes I need to make in my life as a result of this experience. In leadership, I know that I will encounter people from all different races, ages, backgrounds, etc. and I will need to be open to the beauty in our differences. As we discussed in class, it is easy to be surrounded in the Board room with people who think alike but in that scenario where does growth happen? This experience showed me how much I can learn from those around me if I will just take the time to stop and open my eyes, my ears and my heart. I have always “known” this to be true but I suppose in the routine of life have simply missed the boat somewhere along the way while living comfortably in my homogenous world.

The relationships I developed during this trip are ones that will endure for many years to come. I look forward to learning more about these women, their lives, and how they operate. I know that this experience has changed my outlook on my own life as I evaluate my next steps outside of UF. I was moved to tears as I surveyed the room at our closing service and observed barrage of women who had become a melting pot of love and acceptance. I hope to mirror this in my leadership roles in the future.