closing the gap: becoming a successful leader
DESCRIPTION
Closing the Gap: As students of higher education, how do we close the gap in collaborating with the 70% of Americans who have not pursued a college degree? In many cases, there is a cultural gap or a communication barrier that makes it difficult to relate to those of a different educational background either in the workplace, on community projects, etc. For example, you may be the future manager of a group of technicians with barely a high school diploma. Will you understand their personal needs and goals? Can you relate to or understand their interests? If you are unable to relate to your employees or at least have insight, how will you gain their respect and lead/coach them to be successful? Have you ever worked on a factory floor? Almost 13 million Americans currently work in a factory. Do you answer “No” to the majority of the questions asked in this quiz? If so, you may need to become more knowledgeable on the “typical American.” (culture/interests). See book: Coming Apart and associated quiz http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/01/27/how-thick-is-your-bubble/TRANSCRIPT
Closing the GapBecoming a Successful Leader
Have you ever lived for at least a year in the U.S. at a family income that was close to or below the poverty line?
TOTAL HOUSEHOLD POPULATION 113,616,000 % of Total Population
Lower Class 77,417,000 68%
(Household income below $75,000)
Middle Class 27,016,000 24%
(Household income $75,000-150,000)
Upper class 9,180,000 8%
(Household income above $150,000)
Lower Class68%
Middle Class24%
Upper class8%
Household Income
Have you ever lived for at least a year in an American neighborhood in which the majority of your 50 nearest neighbors probably did not have college degrees?
TOTAL U.S. RESIDENT POPULATION 308,745,538
TOTAL COLLEGE ENROLLMENT 20,427,700
7% of Americans are enrolled in College
Did you grow up in a family in which the chief breadwinner was not in a managerial job or a high-prestige profession?
79% of children from parents of higher professionals attend university
21% of children from Routine Workers attend university
Of Those Who Attend College
Of upper class79%
of lower to middle class
21%
% From Given Class
Why?
Cyclical Nature
Affordability
Prestige of secondary education
Environment/Influencers
Parents’ Background
Have you ever walked on a factory floor?
FTE in Industrial Setting (manufacturing/factory/etc.)
121,805,00039% of Americans
About as many people work in manufacturing now as did at the end of the Depression, even though
the American population is more than twice as large today.
Have you ever had a friend who was evangelical Christian?
Religion Membership % of Total Population
Evangelical 2,154,000 1%
Catholicism 68,503,456 22%
Southern Baptist Convention 16,160,088 5%
Nondenominational 8,032,000 3%
% change 2001-2008 2,489,000 8,032,000 323%
Who is Jimmie Johnson?
20 Million people watch NASCAR 6% of the American Population
5,759,000 Attend a race annually
During the last 5 years, have you or your spouse gone fishing?
29,952,000 people fish annually
10% Of the Total Population
88% Of Total Sportspersons
Have you or your spouse ever bought a pick-up truck?
246,283,000 Total Automobiles owned in the U.S
110,561,000 Trucks Owned by Americans
45% of the Total Population
During the last month, have you voluntarily hung out with people who were smoking cigarettes?
1 in 5 Americans Smoke Cigarettes
Have you ever ridden on a long-distance bus or hitchhicked for a trip of 50 miles or more?
Greyhound operated nearly 5.5 billion passenger miles last year
The U.S. operation carried nearly 18 million people
1.8 million unique passengers ride the bus system annually
Quiz Results
Have a college degree 64%
Scored above 50% 30%
Scored above a 50% and grew up associated with the lower/lower-middle class 100%
Do Not have a college degree 36%
Scored above a 50% 69%
Grew-up associated with the lower/lower middle class 100%
Do Not have a col-
lege de-gree69%
Have a college degree
31%
Scored above a 50%
To be a great leader KNOW YOUR PEOPLE!
“A new upper class that makes decisions affecting the lives of everyone else but increasingly doesn't know much about how everybody else lives is vulnerable to making mistakes.” How vulnerable are you?
-Charles Murray