The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has released a survey with some hard-to-believe results. Today, only 13% of chief executive positions in local government are held by women – a number that has remained exactly the same since 1981. A lot of other things have changed since the same year IBM introduced the first personalRead… Read more »
I think this is a question that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would ask if he were living today. After protests, marches, civil disobedience, untold violence, tragic deaths and the ultimate passage of anti-discrimination laws, why does so much division and inequality endure in the USA? Rutgers University white professor Nancy DiTomaso addresses this issueRead… Read more »
Most government agencies understand the business case for diversity and equal employment opportunity (EEO). It’s evident by now that diverse employees bring a broad range of ideas and viewpoints to the table which can promote positive change, spark innovation, increase productivity and maximize strategic mission-driven results. This is particularly true as the nation and laborRead… Read more »
On Monday, January 19th, the federal government recognizes the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with a holiday. During this time, I have a ritual of digging out research papers I did in seminary on Dr. King who at the time was a major influence on my leadership style in the early 80’s.Read… Read more »
If you think about it a moment, an early experience with bias was our first job application. A job announcement is essentially a statement of bias. The employer can write the job application any way they choose. They determine the skills, qualifications, requirements, educational standards and salary levels for the job. They decide how longRead… Read more »
I hear it all the time in cubicles, in the cafeteria, in the restroom and around the water cooler: • I don’t have a biased bone in my body. • I am not biased, I have two American Indian friends. • I don’t need diversity and inclusion training, I am unbiased toward everyone. • BiasRead… Read more »
Colleen Stanley teaches emotional intelligence to sales professionals and has one of the best plain English definitions of emotional intelligence. What are you feeling, why are you feeling this emotion and how does it impact how you show up? Since interacting with others who are different from us is an emotional experience, emotional intelligence hasRead… Read more »
Inclusion is a slippery subject. It is why most people avoid it much less comment on it in blog posts. The goal posts for inclusion are constantly changing. Is it something the law requires me to do? Is it the right thing to do? Is it good for my business? Requirement Without a doubt, civilRead… Read more »
Recently I was listening to a renowned national thought leader give a speech about engagement. The speaker emphasized how engagement scores for USA workers were slightly higher than last year but still much lower than they need to be. Then he made a stunning statement. He indicated disengaged workers must feel low on the totemRead… Read more »
It is the issue in the room that no one wants to talk about-privilege. As White Feminist, Peggy McIntosh in 1993 described it- “An invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on cashing in each day but about which I was meant to remain oblivious to.” Although no one wants to talk aboutRead… Read more »