“One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.” – Linda Lambert*** What if we could hire someone to step up to the plate and take our place every time we must have a difficult conversation with someone else? That would certainly be nice… but that’s probably not going

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.*** I was in the store the other day. I was glad I was able to walk right up to the counter without having to wait in line. The sales clerk

“Always remember that you are unique just like everyone else.” – Margaret Mead*** A Dose of Reality An African American employee complained of unfair treatment and harassment based on race in her nursing department. The diversity leader in the organization was responsible for investigating such allegations. This diversity leader and

“When people treat you like they don’t care, believe them.” Author Unknown*** Unfortunately, I had a conversation…more than once…in which I had to explain to an HR professional why I had acted on an employee’s behalf the way that I did. While it wasn’t directly stated, the implication was that

“It never ceases to amaze me that companies spend millions to attract new customers (people they don’t know) and spend next to nothing to keep the ones they’ve got! Seems to me the budgets should be reversed!” – Tom Peters, Speaker and Author*** How would you feel if you spent

“They always say time changes things but you actually have to change them yourself.” – Andy Warhol*** What makes an organization thrive? Most people would say the service or product they provide. This is definitely part of their success but what else makes a good product or a good service

“God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” – Max Lucado*** In our neighborhoods, on our jobs and generally in public places there are two things we have learned to avoid discussing and that is our pay rates and politics.

“Sometimes a change of perspective is all it takes to see the light.” – Dan Brown*** Many organizations are recognizing the need to employ sensitivity when creating appearance standards and guidelines that address hairstyles. These particular organizations, which can include educational facilities as well as private businesses, large and small,

“Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.” – Stevie Wonder*** An accommodation is an action or change that removes a barrier to learning or getting work done for individuals with a physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Accommodating disabilities can be inclusive good

“To be culturally humble mean that I am willing to learn.” – Joe Gallagher, CEO, First Nations Health Authority, British Columbia*** We cannot always look to others to help us become more inclusive and prompt us to embrace diversity. Diversity and Inclusion efforts and initiatives help us and they should

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin*** Some years ago, I used a video that featured conversations with real people. One of these individuals, a white man, possibly in his late 30’s, early 40’s, was adamant in

“A coach is someone that sees beyond your limits and guides you to greatness.” – Michael Jordan*** My daughter joined her high school dance team in her sophomore year of high school. She had been trained in studio dance since she was four years old. She transitioned from dance teachers

“Fear, like hope, can be very motivating and is not inherently bad. The challenge is to identify when fear is being used deceptively.” – Delores Albarracin, PhD, Professor of psychology, business, and medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign*** In my March 25, 2022 post, Why Being Colorblind is

“She was a rainbow but he was colorblind” – Author Unknown*** Would the world be better off if we were colorblind? Is being colorblind really bad for inclusion? On March 22, 2022, during the historic confirmation hearing of the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson for Supreme Court, Senator Ted Cruz referenced

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford*** Think on this…Someone under your leadership comes to you and tells you they feel that are being treated unfairly and they believe it is discrimination. What’s your next move?Whether we want to

“No one has ever made himself great by showing how small someone else is.” – Irvin Himmel*** Camille was a kind, educated woman. She was driven but soft spoken; a willing servant and a pleasure to work with. She was happy to marry the man of her dreams but it

“Diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice we make everyday. As leaders, we have to put out the message that we embrace, and not just tolerate, diversity.” – Nellie Borrero*** Ever wonder why some small and mid sizes businesses seem to house an entire crew of people who

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path & leave a trail.” – Ralph W. Emerson*** Some years ago, I received a public recognition and award for being a trailblazer in my field. I was honored of course, and pleasantly surprised. The individuals