And Therefore.

We don’t say ‘She’s black, and therefore …’. Or ‘He’s Greek, and therefore …’. Or ‘She’s a woman, and therefore…’.

Yet we still regularly hear in meetings ‘He doesn’t like conflict, and therefore …’. ‘She’s new, and therefore …’. ‘He’s never worked in a school, and therefore …’. ‘She’s an introvert, and therefore …’.

The binary ‘therefore’ shuts down any nuance or rich gifts of insight that often come from difference.

It’s not political correctness.

It’s smart.