there’s never been a greater need for smart and thoughtful leaders good
smart and thoughtful leaders good
smart and thoughtful leaders good decisions don’t stand a chance
decisions don’t stand a chance
decisions don’t stand a chance in these times of polarization
in these times of polarization
in these times of polarization alternative facts and fake news but
alternative facts and fake news but
alternative facts and fake news but there is a solution to this problem and
there is a solution to this problem and
there is a solution to this problem and it lies in a type of intelligence called
it lies in a type of intelligence called
it lies in a type of intelligence called inclusive intelligence which is formed
inclusive intelligence which is formed
inclusive intelligence which is formed through diversity it turns out that
through diversity it turns out that
through diversity it turns out that diversity actually makes you smarter
diversity actually makes you smarter
diversity actually makes you smarter diversities been a defining element of
diversities been a defining element of
diversities been a defining element of my entire life
my entire life
my entire life I had a transformative experience when I
I had a transformative experience when I
I had a transformative experience when I was 5 years old living in the deep south
was 5 years old living in the deep south
was 5 years old living in the deep south with my family during the darkest days
with my family during the darkest days
with my family during the darkest days of the civil rights movement my mother
of the civil rights movement my mother
of the civil rights movement my mother took my sisters and I along with her one
took my sisters and I along with her one
took my sisters and I along with her one day as she went on her visiting nurse
day as she went on her visiting nurse
day as she went on her visiting nurse duties giving shots to poor families
duties giving shots to poor families
duties giving shots to poor families throughout the community I remember
throughout the community I remember
throughout the community I remember pulling up in front of what could only
pulling up in front of what could only
pulling up in front of what could only be described as a shack in the middle of
be described as a shack in the middle of
be described as a shack in the middle of a field and watching as several black
a field and watching as several black
a field and watching as several black children ran out to greet us they took
children ran out to greet us they took
children ran out to greet us they took us inside and we sat down to play with
us inside and we sat down to play with
us inside and we sat down to play with their only toy which was a board game in
their only toy which was a board game in
their only toy which was a board game in pristine condition that experience
pristine condition that experience
pristine condition that experience rocked me to my core but it wasn’t until
rocked me to my core but it wasn’t until
rocked me to my core but it wasn’t until later when I was in school and learned
later when I was in school and learned
later when I was in school and learned about the history of our country I put
about the history of our country I put
about the history of our country I put two and two together and figured out
two and two together and figured out
two and two together and figured out that what I was looking at that day was
that what I was looking at that day was
that what I was looking at that day was the vestiges of slavery that turned my
the vestiges of slavery that turned my
the vestiges of slavery that turned my soul inside out I decided to go to law
soul inside out I decided to go to law
soul inside out I decided to go to law school and my first job after law school
school and my first job after law school
school and my first job after law school was as a federal civil rights prosecutor
was as a federal civil rights prosecutor
was as a federal civil rights prosecutor with the US Department of Justice it was
with the US Department of Justice it was
with the US Department of Justice it was there that I prosecuted hate crimes
there that I prosecuted hate crimes
there that I prosecuted hate crimes police brutality and I even had a
police brutality and I even had a
police brutality and I even had a slavery case after I left the Department
slavery case after I left the Department
slavery case after I left the Department of Justice I became deeply passionate
of Justice I became deeply passionate
of Justice I became deeply passionate about advocating for diversity and
about advocating for diversity and
about advocating for diversity and teaching people about this new paradigm
teaching people about this new paradigm
teaching people about this new paradigm called inclusion which is necessary to
called inclusion which is necessary to
called inclusion which is necessary to unlock all of the benefits
unlock all of the benefits
unlock all of the benefits diversity and those benefits are
diversity and those benefits are
diversity and those benefits are tremendous you may not realize this but
tremendous you may not realize this but
tremendous you may not realize this but researchers have discovered that diverse
researchers have discovered that diverse
researchers have discovered that diverse teams of people outperform homogeneous
teams of people outperform homogeneous
teams of people outperform homogeneous groups they’re more innovative more
groups they’re more innovative more
groups they’re more innovative more productive and companies with greater
productive and companies with greater
productive and companies with greater diversity are more profitable now when I
diversity are more profitable now when I
diversity are more profitable now when I share this with you you probably think
share this with you you probably think
share this with you you probably think and rightly so that when you bring
and rightly so that when you bring
and rightly so that when you bring people together from different social
people together from different social
people together from different social identities and backgrounds they’ll have
identities and backgrounds they’ll have
identities and backgrounds they’ll have new and different information and
new and different information and
new and different information and perspectives to share with the group and
perspectives to share with the group and
perspectives to share with the group and if those are incorporated into into the
if those are incorporated into into the
if those are incorporated into into the groups of work then that could lead to
groups of work then that could lead to
groups of work then that could lead to these findings that diverse teams
these findings that diverse teams
these findings that diverse teams outperform homogeneous groups but it’s
outperform homogeneous groups but it’s
outperform homogeneous groups but it’s more than that researchers have
more than that researchers have
more than that researchers have discovered a second hidden reason why
discovered a second hidden reason why
discovered a second hidden reason why diverse teams of people outperform
diverse teams of people outperform
diverse teams of people outperform homogeneous groups in a research study
homogeneous groups in a research study
homogeneous groups in a research study published in 2006 the researchers
published in 2006 the researchers
published in 2006 the researchers enlisted the help of nearly 200 people
enlisted the help of nearly 200 people
enlisted the help of nearly 200 people who had shown up for jury duty at the
who had shown up for jury duty at the
who had shown up for jury duty at the local courthouse and because they were
local courthouse and because they were
local courthouse and because they were trying to find out whether race made a
trying to find out whether race made a
trying to find out whether race made a difference in decision-making groups
difference in decision-making groups
difference in decision-making groups they divided everyone up into mock jury
they divided everyone up into mock jury
they divided everyone up into mock jury panels half of which were diverse
panels half of which were diverse
panels half of which were diverse meaning they consisted of both black and
meaning they consisted of both black and
meaning they consisted of both black and white people the other half of the jury
white people the other half of the jury
white people the other half of the jury panels were homogeneous consisting of
panels were homogeneous consisting of
panels were homogeneous consisting of all white people they showed everyone a
all white people they showed everyone a
all white people they showed everyone a half an hour Court TV case involving a
half an hour Court TV case involving a
half an hour Court TV case involving a criminal matter and then put them into
criminal matter and then put them into
criminal matter and then put them into deliberation rooms videotaping their
deliberation rooms videotaping their
deliberation rooms videotaping their conversations so that the researchers
conversations so that the researchers
conversations so that the researchers could go back frame by frame and count
could go back frame by frame and count
could go back frame by frame and count instances of behavior to compare the two
instances of behavior to compare the two
instances of behavior to compare the two groups and what they found was yes in
groups and what they found was yes in
groups and what they found was yes in fact the diverse jury panels
fact the diverse jury panels
fact the diverse jury panels outperformed the homogeneous jury panels
outperformed the homogeneous jury panels
outperformed the homogeneous jury panels but it was more because they were
but it was more because they were
but it was more because they were working harder cognitively than the the
working harder cognitively than the the
working harder cognitively than the the all-white jury panels which fell into
all-white jury panels which fell into
all-white jury panels which fell into sort of a groupthink mentality and they
sort of a groupthink mentality and they
sort of a groupthink mentality and they got a little bit lazy in
got a little bit lazy in
got a little bit lazy in processing of the information so you can
processing of the information so you can
processing of the information so you can see from this screen capture from the
see from this screen capture from the
see from this screen capture from the study the differences in performance
study the differences in performance
study the differences in performance between the two groups first of all
between the two groups first of all
between the two groups first of all notice that the diverse jury panels
notice that the diverse jury panels
notice that the diverse jury panels deliberated longer they spent 30 percent
deliberated longer they spent 30 percent
deliberated longer they spent 30 percent more time talking about the facts of the
more time talking about the facts of the
more time talking about the facts of the case they actually talked about more of
case they actually talked about more of
case they actually talked about more of the facts in the case than the all-white
the facts in the case than the all-white
the facts in the case than the all-white jury panels they made fewer mistakes
jury panels they made fewer mistakes
jury panels they made fewer mistakes with respect to the evidence they made
with respect to the evidence they made
with respect to the evidence they made fewer uncorrupted inaccurate statements
fewer uncorrupted inaccurate statements
fewer uncorrupted inaccurate statements and they cited more of the missing
and they cited more of the missing
and they cited more of the missing evidence that they would have liked to
evidence that they would have liked to
evidence that they would have liked to have seen presented in the case now as a
have seen presented in the case now as a
have seen presented in the case now as a former federal civil rights prosecutor
former federal civil rights prosecutor
former federal civil rights prosecutor this is really disturbing to think that
this is really disturbing to think that
this is really disturbing to think that just the racial makeup of the group
just the racial makeup of the group
just the racial makeup of the group could result in these kinds of
could result in these kinds of
could result in these kinds of disparities in performance if you were
disparities in performance if you were
disparities in performance if you were the criminal defendant in this case
the criminal defendant in this case
the criminal defendant in this case which jury panel would you rather have
which jury panel would you rather have
which jury panel would you rather have decide your fate so the question is how
decide your fate so the question is how
decide your fate so the question is how smart are you that’s your chair in the
smart are you that’s your chair in the
smart are you that’s your chair in the middle the red chair who’s sitting in
middle the red chair who’s sitting in
middle the red chair who’s sitting in the chairs around you who are you
the chairs around you who are you
the chairs around you who are you putting in those chairs if it’s a very
putting in those chairs if it’s a very
putting in those chairs if it’s a very homogeneous group people who are quite a
homogeneous group people who are quite a
homogeneous group people who are quite a bit like you in terms of social
bit like you in terms of social
bit like you in terms of social identities and backgrounds and
identities and backgrounds and
identities and backgrounds and perspectives you’re not doing yourself
perspectives you’re not doing yourself
perspectives you’re not doing yourself any favors in fact you’ve created an
any favors in fact you’ve created an
any favors in fact you’ve created an echo chamber if you want to build your
echo chamber if you want to build your
echo chamber if you want to build your own inclusive intelligence you’ll want
own inclusive intelligence you’ll want
own inclusive intelligence you’ll want to put different people in those chairs
to put different people in those chairs
to put different people in those chairs people who are going to challenge your
people who are going to challenge your
people who are going to challenge your thinking and make you think harder and
thinking and make you think harder and
thinking and make you think harder and think smarter another way to build your
think smarter another way to build your
think smarter another way to build your inclusive intelligence is to look into
inclusive intelligence is to look into
inclusive intelligence is to look into your blind spots each of us has multiple
your blind spots each of us has multiple
your blind spots each of us has multiple intersecting identities many of which
intersecting identities many of which
intersecting identities many of which are listed on the screen some of those
are listed on the screen some of those
are listed on the screen some of those identities though are a little bit more
identities though are a little bit more
identities though are a little bit more important than others one of those
important than others one of those
important than others one of those identities that’s important to me is my
identities that’s important to me is my
identities that’s important to me is my occupation
occupation
occupation with respect to those important
with respect to those important
with respect to those important identities they inform and form our
identities they inform and form our
identities they inform and form our worldview were much more apt to pay
worldview were much more apt to pay
worldview were much more apt to pay attention to information that has to do
attention to information that has to do
attention to information that has to do with an important identity which for me
with an important identity which for me
with an important identity which for me is my occupation so I’m paying more
is my occupation so I’m paying more
is my occupation so I’m paying more attention to information that impacts
attention to information that impacts
attention to information that impacts this identity pulling it through and
this identity pulling it through and
this identity pulling it through and factoring it into my thinking more
factoring it into my thinking more
factoring it into my thinking more readily than I am with respect to some
readily than I am with respect to some
readily than I am with respect to some other identities for example an identity
other identities for example an identity
other identities for example an identity that I don’t think about at all during
that I don’t think about at all during
that I don’t think about at all during my day is my race as a white person in
my day is my race as a white person in
my day is my race as a white person in our society I don’t think about being
our society I don’t think about being
our society I don’t think about being white I don’t think about my race and so
white I don’t think about my race and so
white I don’t think about my race and so what that means is instead of it being a
what that means is instead of it being a
what that means is instead of it being a lens that informs my thinking it’s back
lens that informs my thinking it’s back
lens that informs my thinking it’s back here in my blind spot I’m not attending
here in my blind spot I’m not attending
here in my blind spot I’m not attending to this identity I’m not seeing through
to this identity I’m not seeing through
to this identity I’m not seeing through that lens necessarily and the point of
that lens necessarily and the point of
that lens necessarily and the point of this is is that when you’ve got blind
this is is that when you’ve got blind
this is is that when you’ve got blind spots you can make mistakes in your
spots you can make mistakes in your
spots you can make mistakes in your thinking and that’s what happened to the
thinking and that’s what happened to the
thinking and that’s what happened to the American Red Cross last year when it
American Red Cross last year when it
American Red Cross last year when it sent out its swim safety poster which
sent out its swim safety poster which
sent out its swim safety poster which was posted at swimming pools all across
was posted at swimming pools all across
was posted at swimming pools all across the country
the country
the country a woman in Colorado took a very close
a woman in Colorado took a very close
a woman in Colorado took a very close look at this poster and noticed that
look at this poster and noticed that
look at this poster and noticed that every child of color depicted in the
every child of color depicted in the
every child of color depicted in the poster was doing something naughty and
poster was doing something naughty and
poster was doing something naughty and breaking the rules whereas every white
breaking the rules whereas every white
breaking the rules whereas every white child in the poster was playing by the
child in the poster was playing by the
child in the poster was playing by the rules and being cool now I don’t think
rules and being cool now I don’t think
rules and being cool now I don’t think for a second that the American Red Cross
for a second that the American Red Cross
for a second that the American Red Cross did this intentionally or on purpose in
did this intentionally or on purpose in
did this intentionally or on purpose in fact it turns out that all of the
fact it turns out that all of the
fact it turns out that all of the executives at the American Red Cross are
executives at the American Red Cross are
executives at the American Red Cross are white and I believe like me they have
white and I believe like me they have
white and I believe like me they have raced back here in their blind spot and
raced back here in their blind spot and
raced back here in their blind spot and they just didn’t see what this poster
they just didn’t see what this poster
they just didn’t see what this poster depicted another example involves the
depicted another example involves the
depicted another example involves the Regional Transportation district in
Regional Transportation district in
Regional Transportation district in Denver
Denver
Denver Colorado a couple of years ago there was
Colorado a couple of years ago there was
Colorado a couple of years ago there was an election to the Board of Directors
an election to the Board of Directors
an election to the Board of Directors and the two new board members elected
and the two new board members elected
and the two new board members elected that year were people with disabilities
that year were people with disabilities
that year were people with disabilities including the woman in the photograph
including the woman in the photograph
including the woman in the photograph who has visual impairments
who has visual impairments
who has visual impairments unfortunately the ongoing board members
unfortunately the ongoing board members
unfortunately the ongoing board members at RTD and the staff planned a board
at RTD and the staff planned a board
at RTD and the staff planned a board bonding day that included a trip to the
bonding day that included a trip to the
bonding day that included a trip to the go-kart race track immediately these two
go-kart race track immediately these two
go-kart race track immediately these two brand-new people were standing on the
brand-new people were standing on the
brand-new people were standing on the sidelines as everyone else participated
sidelines as everyone else participated
sidelines as everyone else participated and they were excluded again I don’t
and they were excluded again I don’t
and they were excluded again I don’t believe for a minute that that was done
believe for a minute that that was done
believe for a minute that that was done intentionally in fact I believe that the
intentionally in fact I believe that the
intentionally in fact I believe that the planning committee had disability back
planning committee had disability back
planning committee had disability back here in their blind spot they just
here in their blind spot they just
here in their blind spot they just weren’t attending to it clearly if
weren’t attending to it clearly if
weren’t attending to it clearly if anyone had had this lens front and
anyone had had this lens front and
anyone had had this lens front and center a different decision would have
center a different decision would have
center a different decision would have been made now you don’t need to have a
been made now you don’t need to have a
been made now you don’t need to have a disability in order to have this lens up
disability in order to have this lens up
disability in order to have this lens up for yourself right you can pull these
for yourself right you can pull these
for yourself right you can pull these blind spots forward and that’s going to
blind spots forward and that’s going to
blind spots forward and that’s going to help you develop your inclusive
help you develop your inclusive
help you develop your inclusive intelligence and that’s what my
intelligence and that’s what my
intelligence and that’s what my husband’s been doing as a man in a
husband’s been doing as a man in a
husband’s been doing as a man in a male-dominated industry he’s decided
male-dominated industry he’s decided
male-dominated industry he’s decided that gender is an identity that he just
that gender is an identity that he just
that gender is an identity that he just doesn’t think about on a daily basis
doesn’t think about on a daily basis
doesn’t think about on a daily basis it’s just not an important identity so
it’s just not an important identity so
it’s just not an important identity so he’s been practicing pulling that lens
he’s been practicing pulling that lens
he’s been practicing pulling that lens forward and looking through it more
forward and looking through it more
forward and looking through it more deliberately and intentionally and he’s
deliberately and intentionally and he’s
deliberately and intentionally and he’s been having some big aha moments as a
been having some big aha moments as a
been having some big aha moments as a result in fact he was at a big meeting
result in fact he was at a big meeting
result in fact he was at a big meeting where everyone was just divided up into
where everyone was just divided up into
where everyone was just divided up into smaller discussion groups and he went
smaller discussion groups and he went
smaller discussion groups and he went across the room to join a circle of
across the room to join a circle of
across the room to join a circle of people that he had been randomly
people that he had been randomly
people that he had been randomly assigned to when a female staffer walked
assigned to when a female staffer walked
assigned to when a female staffer walked up to the group and asked the woman in
up to the group and asked the woman in
up to the group and asked the woman in the group to take the notes because he
the group to take the notes because he
the group to take the notes because he had this lens up he recognized that
had this lens up he recognized that
had this lens up he recognized that gender my core inequity for the first
gender my core inequity for the first
gender my core inequity for the first time in his life because of core
time in his life because of core
time in his life because of core when women are asked to do what’s called
when women are asked to do what’s called
when women are asked to do what’s called the housework of work it puts them in a
the housework of work it puts them in a
the housework of work it puts them in a one down position
one down position
one down position she can’t participate in the
she can’t participate in the
she can’t participate in the conversation at the same level as
conversation at the same level as
conversation at the same level as everyone else while she’s also trying to
everyone else while she’s also trying to
everyone else while she’s also trying to take the notes and they may not view her
take the notes and they may not view her
take the notes and they may not view her as their equal in the conversation even
as their equal in the conversation even
as their equal in the conversation even if it’s only unconsciously because she’s
if it’s only unconsciously because she’s
if it’s only unconsciously because she’s attending to this ministerial or
attending to this ministerial or
attending to this ministerial or secretarial duty but because he was
secretarial duty but because he was
secretarial duty but because he was pulling this lens forward he saw this
pulling this lens forward he saw this
pulling this lens forward he saw this inequity and now he’s got a new plan
inequity and now he’s got a new plan
inequity and now he’s got a new plan he’ll volunteer to take the notes or at
he’ll volunteer to take the notes or at
he’ll volunteer to take the notes or at the very least make sure that this task
the very least make sure that this task
the very least make sure that this task is shared more equitably so that it
is shared more equitably so that it
is shared more equitably so that it doesn’t always fall to the woman so the
doesn’t always fall to the woman so the
doesn’t always fall to the woman so the question is what will you do to build
question is what will you do to build
question is what will you do to build your inclusive intelligence so that you
your inclusive intelligence so that you
your inclusive intelligence so that you makes smarter better decisions one thing
makes smarter better decisions one thing
makes smarter better decisions one thing that you can do is pull these blind
that you can do is pull these blind
that you can do is pull these blind spots forward and look through these
spots forward and look through these
spots forward and look through these lenses that will help you make smarter
lenses that will help you make smarter
lenses that will help you make smarter decisions also surrounding yourself with
decisions also surrounding yourself with
decisions also surrounding yourself with people who are different from you
people who are different from you
people who are different from you they’ll bring new and different
they’ll bring new and different
they’ll bring new and different information to your thinking and they’ll
information to your thinking and they’ll
information to your thinking and they’ll force you out of your comfort zone and
force you out of your comfort zone and
force you out of your comfort zone and make you think harder and work smarter
make you think harder and work smarter
make you think harder and work smarter because the challenges that we’re facing
because the challenges that we’re facing
because the challenges that we’re facing aren’t getting any easier they’re
aren’t getting any easier they’re
aren’t getting any easier they’re becoming more and more complex will you
becoming more and more complex will you
becoming more and more complex will you be blindsided by those difficult
be blindsided by those difficult
be blindsided by those difficult problems or will you have the inclusive
problems or will you have the inclusive
problems or will you have the inclusive intelligence to meet them head-on
intelligence to meet them head-on
intelligence to meet them head-on the key to making good decisions is
the key to making good decisions is
the key to making good decisions is diversity because it’s diversity that
diversity because it’s diversity that
diversity because it’s diversity that makes you smarter
”
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