Beyond Compliance: Creating Genuine Change in the Workplace
Facilitator
Jim Morris was at ground zero when the Executive Order banning diversity training on racism or sexism was issued in September of 2020. Instead of speaking directly to the issue, critics and skeptics conjured a masterful but misleading strategy, claiming he and other DE&I advocates were teaching a harmful and divisive theory meant to disrupt society and make white people feel guilty. They called it “Critical Race Theory,” and the strategy worked, confusing and paralyzing leaders from school boards to CEOs of some of the largest companies in the world. Jim is the author of Gaslights and Dog Whistles, a practical guide to help forge partnerships across the divide, provide the facts over fiction, and defend the real history of racism in the U.S.
Rianna Moore, PhD, is an experienced OD practitioner, author, and diversity-inclusion specialist. She is a member of the NTL Institute of Applied Sciences and a faculty member of their signature Human Interaction (HI) lab. She has worked in client systems in corporate, government, and higher education sectors. Rianna is the co-author of “Journeys on Race, Color and Culture – from Racial Inequality to Equity and Inclusion” with Rick Huntley and Carol Pierce. She is a highly sought after speaker, facilitator and interventionist working with – and advising – the Center for Creative Leadership, NTL, and WMFDP|FD Global, Nationalist China, and throughout the U.S.
Workshop Detail
If you spend a lot of time lobbying for engagement in DEI&B efforts in your organization, you are not alone. Between ambivalence and downright resistance, it is hard for many organizations to get the level of engagement they need to bring about real change. Don’t let the rumor mill or baseless claims designed to spark fear interfere with progress. Learn how to face and confront resistance with courage and grace. Even though you may be further down the path with your DEI&B efforts than those who are just getting started, you may not realize that there are proven ways to get everyone to the DEI&B table. You and your team can learn them.
This workshop will teach you how to:
- Lay out the business and practical case for DEI&B
- Overcome DEI&B resistance with grace
- Leverage diversity and inclusion as a catalyzer instead of as a divider
- Design meetings, workshops, team discussions, and events in ways that create positive partnerships with all employees
Resistance and skepticism can be a cultural barrier to progress in organizations, but they can also be an opportunity to create genuine partnerships across differences. The goal isn’t to change people’s beliefs, but rather to help everyone make positive shifts in their behavior.