okay picture this mid-80s I was hired by a fortune 50 company to become one of 26
a fortune 50 company to become one of 26
a fortune 50 company to become one of 26 division sales managers I was really
division sales managers I was really
division sales managers I was really proud of that in my performance I was
proud of that in my performance I was
proud of that in my performance I was rocking it I was number six out of
rocking it I was number six out of
rocking it I was number six out of twenty six business changes happened
twenty six business changes happened
twenty six business changes happened divisions needed to be collapsed mine
divisions needed to be collapsed mine
divisions needed to be collapsed mine was one of them when they announced the
was one of them when they announced the
was one of them when they announced the new Sales Leader the person who had the
new Sales Leader the person who had the
new Sales Leader the person who had the worst sales record in the company got
worst sales record in the company got
worst sales record in the company got the job hmm I was crushed I really
the job hmm I was crushed I really
the job hmm I was crushed I really didn’t know what happened I mean the key
didn’t know what happened I mean the key
didn’t know what happened I mean the key metric for this organization was sales
metric for this organization was sales
metric for this organization was sales and then it occurred to me maybe it
and then it occurred to me maybe it
and then it occurred to me maybe it happened because I was different I was
happened because I was different I was
happened because I was different I was the only woman out of 26 division sales
the only woman out of 26 division sales
the only woman out of 26 division sales managers and guess what that
managers and guess what that
managers and guess what that organization didn’t know what to do with
organization didn’t know what to do with
organization didn’t know what to do with me he know how to cross the difference
me he know how to cross the difference
me he know how to cross the difference they didn’t know how to create a culture
they didn’t know how to create a culture
they didn’t know how to create a culture of inclusion yes that was because of
of inclusion yes that was because of
of inclusion yes that was because of gender but this could happen for a
gender but this could happen for a
gender but this could happen for a multitude of reasons it could happen
multitude of reasons it could happen
multitude of reasons it could happen because of race or ethnicity who your
because of race or ethnicity who your
because of race or ethnicity who your parents are where you went to school
parents are where you went to school
parents are where you went to school where you’re going to school
where you’re going to school
where you’re going to school socioeconomic status it could happen
socioeconomic status it could happen
socioeconomic status it could happen just because you don’t fit the mold lots
just because you don’t fit the mold lots
just because you don’t fit the mold lots of organization want leaders to rush the
of organization want leaders to rush the
of organization want leaders to rush the stage grab the microphone in heaven
stage grab the microphone in heaven
stage grab the microphone in heaven forbid if you’re an introvert where
forbid if you’re an introvert where
forbid if you’re an introvert where extroverts are really the key leaders
fast-forward 1995 my son John Michael he
fast-forward 1995 my son John Michael he was in second grade
was in second grade
was in second grade I picked the perfect school for him my
I picked the perfect school for him my
I picked the perfect school for him my dear friend owned operate and ran this
dear friend owned operate and ran this
dear friend owned operate and ran this school I bend at a school a couple times
school I bend at a school a couple times
school I bend at a school a couple times and I’d seen some of the kids in his
and I’d seen some of the kids in his
and I’d seen some of the kids in his second grade class but I’d never been
second grade class but I’d never been
second grade class but I’d never been there when all the kids were there at
there when all the kids were there at
there when all the kids were there at once until the day of the field trip to
once until the day of the field trip to
once until the day of the field trip to the pumpkin patch now some of you have
the pumpkin patch now some of you have
the pumpkin patch now some of you have been on some of these field trips I was
been on some of these field trips I was
been on some of these field trips I was sitting on my bale of hay and the kids
sitting on my bale of hay and the kids
sitting on my bale of hay and the kids streamed off to find their perfect
streamed off to find their perfect
streamed off to find their perfect pumpkin I have this amazing awareness my
pumpkin I have this amazing awareness my
pumpkin I have this amazing awareness my son’s blonde head shone brightly across
son’s blonde head shone brightly across
son’s blonde head shone brightly across the sea of the children he was the only
the sea of the children he was the only
the sea of the children he was the only white kid in the school every other
white kid in the school every other
white kid in the school every other child was african-american and you know
child was african-american and you know
child was african-american and you know what the most beautiful thing was he
what the most beautiful thing was he
what the most beautiful thing was he never noticed and you want to know the
never noticed and you want to know the
never noticed and you want to know the more beautiful thing is the other kids
more beautiful thing is the other kids
more beautiful thing is the other kids never noticed they embraced my son for
never noticed they embraced my son for
never noticed they embraced my son for his difference Charlotte’s the South
his difference Charlotte’s the South
his difference Charlotte’s the South Charlotte we’re less than a hundred and
Charlotte we’re less than a hundred and
Charlotte we’re less than a hundred and fifty years earlier 44 percent of the
fifty years earlier 44 percent of the
fifty years earlier 44 percent of the residents were slaves every person in
residents were slaves every person in
residents were slaves every person in that school embraced all the differences
that school embraced all the differences
that school embraced all the differences all the voices were being brought
all the voices were being brought
all the voices were being brought together for the purpose of ensuring
together for the purpose of ensuring
together for the purpose of ensuring that these kids were performing at their
that these kids were performing at their
that these kids were performing at their absolute best and guess what in that
absolute best and guess what in that
absolute best and guess what in that culture in that environment where
culture in that environment where
culture in that environment where differences were valued where
differences were valued where
differences were valued where differences were embraced the kids were
differences were embraced the kids were
differences were embraced the kids were performing to to
performing to to
performing to to four grade levels above national
four grade levels above national
four grade levels above national standardized tests you may be sitting
standardized tests you may be sitting
standardized tests you may be sitting there wondering why am i telling you
there wondering why am i telling you
there wondering why am i telling you about my career from a long time ago and
about my career from a long time ago and
about my career from a long time ago and my son who by the way will be 28 this
my son who by the way will be 28 this
my son who by the way will be 28 this month the reason I’m telling you is I
month the reason I’m telling you is I
month the reason I’m telling you is I think the times that we live in are so
think the times that we live in are so
think the times that we live in are so absolutely critical for us to find a way
absolutely critical for us to find a way
absolutely critical for us to find a way to cross this difference we live in a
to cross this difference we live in a
to cross this difference we live in a time of great complexity great
time of great complexity great
time of great complexity great complexity and disruption disruption
complexity and disruption disruption
complexity and disruption disruption simply meaning this unrelenting change
simply meaning this unrelenting change
simply meaning this unrelenting change every day technology changes seismic
every day technology changes seismic
every day technology changes seismic demographic shifts social media
demographic shifts social media
demographic shifts social media globalization I wake up in the morning
globalization I wake up in the morning
globalization I wake up in the morning wondering what massive changes happened
wondering what massive changes happened
wondering what massive changes happened that’s going to impact my life my world
that’s going to impact my life my world
that’s going to impact my life my world my affairs and so we need a new way of
my affairs and so we need a new way of
my affairs and so we need a new way of having dialog across difference so that
having dialog across difference so that
having dialog across difference so that we can address these situations these
we can address these situations these
we can address these situations these problems that are emerging we need a way
problems that are emerging we need a way
problems that are emerging we need a way to capitalize on the intelligence of
to capitalize on the intelligence of
to capitalize on the intelligence of differences we need a way to take
differences we need a way to take
differences we need a way to take advantage of the opportunities that are
advantage of the opportunities that are
advantage of the opportunities that are coming our way
we need a shift in thinking so what’s
we need a shift in thinking so what’s the answer I believe that inclusion is
the answer I believe that inclusion is
the answer I believe that inclusion is the solution inclusions about getting
the solution inclusions about getting
the solution inclusions about getting everybody’s voice heard to drive to an
everybody’s voice heard to drive to an
everybody’s voice heard to drive to an outcome it’s about ensuring that
outcome it’s about ensuring that
outcome it’s about ensuring that everybody’s perspective experience
everybody’s perspective experience
everybody’s perspective experience talents are used to drive to a result
talents are used to drive to a result
talents are used to drive to a result you have to do something to include
you have to do something to include
you have to do something to include people you have to do something to
people you have to do something to
people you have to do something to practice inclusion
practice inclusion
practice inclusion I’m gonna tell you what that is and then
I’m gonna tell you what that is and then
I’m gonna tell you what that is and then I’m going to tell you how I came up with
I’m going to tell you how I came up with
I’m going to tell you how I came up with it in my day job I’m founder and CEO of
it in my day job I’m founder and CEO of
it in my day job I’m founder and CEO of inclusion Inc we take inclusion really
inclusion Inc we take inclusion really
inclusion Inc we take inclusion really seriously number one asked me what I
seriously number one asked me what I
seriously number one asked me what I think number two keep me informed number
think number two keep me informed number
think number two keep me informed number three let me participate in
three let me participate in
three let me participate in decision-making those super straight
decision-making those super straight
decision-making those super straight forward behaviors are things that
forward behaviors are things that
forward behaviors are things that emerged as a result of a global study
emerged as a result of a global study
emerged as a result of a global study that we did with SMU executive education
that we did with SMU executive education
that we did with SMU executive education department called the global inclusion
department called the global inclusion
department called the global inclusion index Oh for about twenty years we had
index Oh for about twenty years we had
index Oh for about twenty years we had been looking at inclusion behaviors with
been looking at inclusion behaviors with
been looking at inclusion behaviors with our clients yes
our clients yes
our clients yes these emerged from business and yet the
these emerged from business and yet the
these emerged from business and yet the study that we did did cross position
study that we did did cross position
study that we did did cross position across age gender in fourteen countries
across age gender in fourteen countries
across age gender in fourteen countries we looked at the full spectrum of people
we looked at the full spectrum of people
we looked at the full spectrum of people within the workplace the first question
within the workplace the first question
within the workplace the first question we wanted to ask was our inclusion
we wanted to ask was our inclusion
we wanted to ask was our inclusion behaviors important a resounding yes in
behaviors important a resounding yes in
behaviors important a resounding yes in every single one of the fourteen
every single one of the fourteen
every single one of the fourteen countries people wanted inclusion
countries people wanted inclusion
countries people wanted inclusion behaviors at a higher level than was
behaviors at a higher level than was
behaviors at a higher level than was culturally normative that is gigantic
culturally normative that is gigantic
culturally normative that is gigantic because what it says to me while this
because what it says to me while this
because what it says to me while this was done in the workplace that everybody
was done in the workplace that everybody
was done in the workplace that everybody wants to be included even if it isn’t
wants to be included even if it isn’t
wants to be included even if it isn’t what they experienced day in and day out
what they experienced day in and day out
what they experienced day in and day out in their culture you want to be included
in their culture you want to be included
in their culture you want to be included I want to be included the other question
I want to be included the other question
I want to be included the other question we wanted to ask answer is there a
we wanted to ask answer is there a
we wanted to ask answer is there a return on investment for inclusion
return on investment for inclusion
return on investment for inclusion behaviors when I found the data the
behaviors when I found the data the
behaviors when I found the data the first time I was so lit up about it and
first time I was so lit up about it and
first time I was so lit up about it and I still AM
I still AM
I still AM every organization any of us are
every organization any of us are
every organization any of us are involved with whether it’s education
involved with whether it’s education
involved with whether it’s education whether it’s a volunteer organization
whether it’s a volunteer organization
whether it’s a volunteer organization whether it’s the workplace we are leaner
whether it’s the workplace we are leaner
whether it’s the workplace we are leaner than we’ve ever been before when we can
than we’ve ever been before when we can
than we’ve ever been before when we can find something that’s going to impact
find something that’s going to impact
find something that’s going to impact the return on investment with no dollar
the return on investment with no dollar
the return on investment with no dollar investment it’s so exciting to me what
investment it’s so exciting to me what
investment it’s so exciting to me what we found is that inclusion is a strategy
we found is that inclusion is a strategy
we found is that inclusion is a strategy to drive engagement productivity
to drive engagement productivity
to drive engagement productivity innovation and retention let’s start
innovation and retention let’s start
innovation and retention let’s start with retention again retaining your best
with retention again retaining your best
with retention again retaining your best talent in your volunteer organizations
talent in your volunteer organizations
talent in your volunteer organizations is just as critical as retaining your
is just as critical as retaining your
is just as critical as retaining your best talent in the workplace
best talent in the workplace
best talent in the workplace participants were 15 percent less likely
participants were 15 percent less likely
participants were 15 percent less likely to leave in the next year simply with
to leave in the next year simply with
to leave in the next year simply with inclusion behaviors being used five
inclusion behaviors being used five
inclusion behaviors being used five percent more productive the holy grail
percent more productive the holy grail
percent more productive the holy grail in organizations is engagement
participants said they were 25 percent
participants said they were 25 percent more engaged when inclusion behaviors
more engaged when inclusion behaviors
more engaged when inclusion behaviors were used the globally translated word
were used the globally translated word
were used the globally translated word for that is motivated imagine that you
for that is motivated imagine that you
for that is motivated imagine that you could motivate people by 25 percent
could motivate people by 25 percent
could motivate people by 25 percent simply by using inclusion behaviors in
simply by using inclusion behaviors in
simply by using inclusion behaviors in the final area innovation innovation is
the final area innovation innovation is
the final area innovation innovation is needed to deal with the complexity of
needed to deal with the complexity of
needed to deal with the complexity of our times
our times
our times not only were people 12 percent more
not only were people 12 percent more
not only were people 12 percent more likely to come up with ideas but they
likely to come up with ideas but they
likely to come up with ideas but they were also 12 percent more likely to
were also 12 percent more likely to
were also 12 percent more likely to share those ideas
the results of the global inclusion
the results of the global inclusion index align very nicely with an article
index align very nicely with an article
index align very nicely with an article that a Harvard Business Review wrote
that a Harvard Business Review wrote
that a Harvard Business Review wrote called why diverse teams are smarter
called why diverse teams are smarter
called why diverse teams are smarter very simply paraphrased it says that
very simply paraphrased it says that
very simply paraphrased it says that diverse teams look at information and
diverse teams look at information and
diverse teams look at information and examine the facts more carefully because
examine the facts more carefully because
examine the facts more carefully because they don’t go into groupthink they don’t
they don’t go into groupthink they don’t
they don’t go into groupthink they don’t let homogeneity of the team drive
let homogeneity of the team drive
let homogeneity of the team drive towards some predetermined outcome
towards some predetermined outcome
towards some predetermined outcome implied in that article is a practice of
implied in that article is a practice of
implied in that article is a practice of inclusion and so I’ve laid out here why
inclusion and so I’ve laid out here why
inclusion and so I’ve laid out here why I think inclusion is important and what
I think inclusion is important and what
I think inclusion is important and what inclusion is I’ve also laid out the
inclusion is I’ve also laid out the
inclusion is I’ve also laid out the return on investment so the question is
return on investment so the question is
return on investment so the question is if it’s so straightforward why aren’t we
if it’s so straightforward why aren’t we
if it’s so straightforward why aren’t we doing it because it’s hard to do because
doing it because it’s hard to do because
doing it because it’s hard to do because I may not want to ask you what you think
I may not want to ask you what you think
I may not want to ask you what you think I know you’re gonna disagree with me
I know you’re gonna disagree with me
I know you’re gonna disagree with me probably before I ask you and if if I
probably before I ask you and if if I
probably before I ask you and if if I inform you you may use it against me in
inform you you may use it against me in
inform you you may use it against me in the next conversation we have oh and if
the next conversation we have oh and if
the next conversation we have oh and if I let you participate in decision-making
I let you participate in decision-making
I let you participate in decision-making I know how long you talk I may never get
I know how long you talk I may never get
I know how long you talk I may never get my work done today
that’s human and remember it’s also
that’s human and remember it’s also human to want to be included I want to
human to want to be included I want to
human to want to be included I want to be included you want to be included
include
include getting all the voices together to drive
getting all the voices together to drive
getting all the voices together to drive towards an outcome to drive toward a
towards an outcome to drive toward a
towards an outcome to drive toward a result the practice of inclusion asked
result the practice of inclusion asked
result the practice of inclusion asked me what I think inform me let me
me what I think inform me let me
me what I think inform me let me participate in decision-making this is
participate in decision-making this is
participate in decision-making this is our call to action this is our practice
our call to action this is our practice
our call to action this is our practice maybe we didn’t know the impact that we
maybe we didn’t know the impact that we
maybe we didn’t know the impact that we could have maybe we didn’t know the
could have maybe we didn’t know the
could have maybe we didn’t know the shift that we could make by practicing
shift that we could make by practicing
shift that we could make by practicing inclusion come on let’s do it let’s make
inclusion come on let’s do it let’s make
inclusion come on let’s do it let’s make the shift
”
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