Becky and Karen are in the news a lot these days, but you might be wondering, who are they? Am I a Becky or am I a Karen? And why does it matter? Can’t I just be me with my opinions, stands, commitments, and beliefs?

Good questions. Here’s the deal. We’ve all had moments of frustration when we wished someone could just see or do things OUR WAY and life would be oh so much better if everyone would just fall in line. But Beckys and Karens occupy only the white spectrum on the color wheel of life. Is there a third way?

In this episode, you’ll learn how to open yourself to new points of view and why you need awareness and feedback for your personal growth. You’ll also learn the difference between a Becky and a Karen (it matters).

Everyone of us is steadfast in what we believe, especially when someone else has a different perspective. Commitment to our beliefs can be admirable, but we must be open to hearing new points of view and challenging our own — and others’ — too. In this episode, we share exactly how you can challenge your own naivety and open your mind, so you can be a part of making the world a more self-aware and inclusive place for all.

How clueless or naive are you?

In this episode, Stacey and Lisa say it — we’re all clueless and naive sometimes. We walk around with ideas about who we are until we get smacked in the face with someone else’s opinion or perspective. And yes, it can be hard to hear feedback about what you don’t know, and even harder to change your outlook… especially if you’re used to a certain way of doing things. 

But to move the dial on the injustices in our world, we must learn to see other people’s perspectives. We must understand their struggles and challenges — not just our own. Listen to discover Lisa and Stacey’s secret ingredient to being more open minded, and their simple three steps for unpacking your naivety. 

How to help someone understand that they’re missing something

The key is feedback. In this episode, Lisa and Stacey open up about the feedback they’ve received over the years as well as the processes they use in training and coaching to help people change their perspectives on racial bias and other biases. 

Receiving feedback can be uncomfortable, but it’s important to practice getting AND giving it. It’s how people learn it’s not okay to mistreat essential workers, whine about late Amazon packages, or ignore systemic racism in the United States. 

Feedback is especially critical when it comes to anti-Black racism and white supremacy, because persistent naivety about racism has fatal consequences for Black and Brown folks. Speaking of which… what the heck is the difference between a Becky and a Karen, and why are they a problem? You’ll learn in this episode.

Remember: We learn how to treat others based on how we see others treat others. We learn our habits from our environments, and none of us chose where we were born, who our parents are, or what we learned growing up. But it is definitely, definitely our responsibility to teach ourselves that our perspective is not the only one worth knowing.

Click “play” above to discover how to truly listen to other perspectives and be receptive to the kind of feedback that will accelerate your personal and professional growth. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

What things have you been naive about? Are you a ‘my way or the highway’ kind of person?  How have these trying times shifted your perspective on things? 

We would love to hear your stories! Leave us a comment below, or reach out to us on social media.

Show Notes:

• The Difference Between a ‘Karen’ and a ‘Becky,’ Explained details the difference between these two naive perspectives.
• For a related conversation, listen to our episode Unapologetically Privileged: Wield Privilege Like a Sword of Inclusion 
• To learn more about Stacey, visit ReworkWork. Connect with Stacey on LinkedIn and Twitter
• To learn more about Lisa, visit Story Happens Here. Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn and Twitter