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"I
like tacos; you like fish. We must move beyond that," Zulma Xenia Barrios
says emphatically. Too much of our society today focuses on the differences
between people, she continues, rather than looking at individual strengths
and talents. Currently Vice President, Women and Diversity Leadership,
The Gallup University at the Gallup Organization, Barrios has developed
a concept she calls "talentism." She explains, "Talentism is based on
a belief that human development transcends gender, ethnicity, and age.
It focuses on those innate qualities or behavioral strengths that each
individual possesses."
Barrios explains that when we can focus on our own strengths and gifts as well as look at the gifts and strengths of others, we go beyond differences and can accept people and work with them in new and better ways. "If we would acknowledge our gifts, we would all be able to contribute more and in a better way to our communities and society." She believes that talentism is a tool that can be used to eradicate racism, envy, and anger because it demands self-understanding and the willingness to listen and value others.
Raised in El Salvador, Barrios moved to the U.S. to continue her college education, receiving a master's degree in English and psychology. She worked in the insurance industry for 30 years, becoming the first female general manager for Mutual of Omaha, going on to work with the company in marketing to Hispanic audiences. Barrios recently received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
While she is proud of her career accomplishments, what changed her life was a personal tragedy. In 1981, three men broke into her brother's house in El Salvador, killing him and leaving behind his wife and two children. They came to the United States to live with Barrios, who says that she began to see that her life before had no meaning. "I wanted to inspire these kids, and I knew there was much more to life than what I had known before." It was as if one life ended there, she explained, and another began.
Barrios says that bringing meaning to life boils down to responsibility and that it doesn't take a jolt of the kind she received. "We can ask and answer the question of what is my responsibility and start to act on that responsibility we have."
"My passion is in developing people, especially women and minorities." Barrios has been able to do just that in her work for Gallup and in other arenas as well, speaking to audiences about the values of strength and leadership.
The first step in creating the change from looking at differences to looking at strengths is to educate people to help them understand themselves. "Leadership is a product. There are new books on the shelves everyday about leadership," says Barrios, "but they aren't very useful if people don't understand themselves and the gifts they have to offer."
The question to ask yourself is a deceptively simple one, "What am I happy doing?" As a leader, asking that question of yourself and exploring where it leads is imperative. Once you understand yourself, says Barrios, you can then give others the tools they need to understand themselves. Barrios believes that talentism can help communities discover the vitality and strengths that may be lost when groups live separately and define themselves by their differences.
"Leaders should ask people where the vitality and strength is in the community. They need to get people to focus on the talents and gifts that are in the community and that can be used to make the community a better place to live. People often complain that 'nobody is listening' but talentism can change that because it is a process that encourages listening to one another."
She also suggests that leaders of all types immerse themselves in the communities or organizations that they lead. "If we're going to create a more peaceful world, we must begin to understand ourselves and each other."
Past Profiles
Dr. Joseph O'Rourke