The Ladybird of Peace

Each of these ladybird tiles are laid on ground on which senseless violence such as deadly crimes have taken place. It’s a ground-up initiative on peace. I saw this one in Amsterdam.

The invisible past can get lost in the busy-ness of the days. So I appreciate this initiative to remind us to not forget our acts of violence and transform these to visually powerful reminders for peace. 

In most of our usual workplace or personal interactions, it’s not blood that is shed but people’s dignity can be violated. And the wounds are invisible. 

In our programmes, I sometimes share this quote by Dr Donna Hicks who taught me in grad school. She is the author of “Leading with Dignity”:

“…the experience of humiliation, resentment and anger that dignity violations instinctively create do not go away on their own. The injuries are as serious as a gunshot wound but no one is rushed to an emergency room when they happen.” 

What if every time we witnessed dignity violations, we imagined these ladybird tile appearing there to mark a spot that needs transformation? 

Yet we may not be even aware of when we have violated someone’s dignity, or we are so used to it being done we have accepted it as normal. Donna has articulated 10 elements of dignity. 

Here’s one:

Safety –  “Put people at ease at two levels: physically, so they feel free from the possibility of bodily harm, and psychologically, so they feel from concern about being shamed or humiliated and free to speak without fear of retribution.” Through Donna’s interviews with hundreds of employees, she says the element of dignity violated the most was safety. Employees did not feel safe to speak up to their bosses when they felt uncomfortable with the way they were being treated. 

Looking at these 10 elements and your leadership, workplace or personal life:

When have you experienced/witnessed/been part of dignity being honoured in an inspiring way recently? 

When might you have violated/witnessed or had your own dignity violated? What would it mean to invite the ladybird to land on the ground on which it happened and transform the space so something life-giving emerges from it? 

Resources
“Dignity” and “Leading with Dignity” by Donna Hicks
“Nonviolent Communication” by Marshal Rosenberg