Winters - We Cant Talk about That at Work!: How to Talk about Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics

Praise for We Cant Talk about That at Work!

Im very excited about the release of We Cant Talk about That at Work! The issue of discussing polarizing topics at work is a really tough one. People are not comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Im happy that there will finally be a resource to guide us all on how to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Michele C. Meyer-Shipp, Esq., Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Prudential Financial, Inc.

This book is a comprehensive, practical, and highly accessible tool for empowering people to have the brave conversations that are needed in these tumultuous times. Mary-Frances has given readers an invaluable resource for organizations and individuals to navigate the charged times that we live in and make a contribution toward cocreating a more compassionate future.

Nene Molefi, diversity and inclusion thought leader and CEO, Mandate Molefi, Johannesburg, South Africa

Mary-Frances Winterss wisdom shines throughout this book. She helps us understand deeply why we need to talk about polarizing topicsyes, at workand then proceeds to show us how with care, concern, and compassion for those who may not agree with us. I hope that all leaders and employees read it and implement her wise suggestions and counsel.

Julie OMara, coauthor of Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks and other inclusion works and Past-President, American Society for Training & Development (now ATD)

We are living in times of crisis. Day after day, we are confronted with polarization about issues of real import to our society and our world that can seem difficult, if not impossible, to talk about. And yet this is not a time for timidity. We must talk about these issues if we are going to cross the great divides in our ideologies and exist together in civil society. Mary-Frances Winters has created an extremely helpful guide for better understanding and navigating those difficult conversations. Be bolduse this book!

Howard Ross, founder and Chief Learning Officer, Cook Ross

We Cant Talk about That at Work! has hit the mark. This body of work is critically important to advancing inclusion and dialogue in our workplaces. As we work diligently to increase our diversity, we struggle with inclusion and having the difficult conversations about the various aspects of diversity. Now, we have a road map and tools to support diversity professionals, leaders, and employees in any work environment. This will be the book used by all.

Darlene Slaughter, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, United Way Worldwide

In the current global political and social climate, characterized by increasingly polarized views, the ability to embrace views different from our own, without judgment or vilification, is more critical than ever. It is also at the heart of all diversity and inclusion work. For with all our ideals, we often overlook the fact that diversity and inclusion can be hard. In We Cant Talk about That at Work!, Mary-Frances addresses this issue head-on, providing practical skills to empower leaders and managers to have effective dialogue across difference.

Kate Vernon, Director, Strategic Programmes, Asia, Community Business

The presidential farewell address is a perfect way to set up this powerful and practical guide to effectively engaging in conversations about polarizing issues. I too believe that we need to meet people where they are, and not expect them to necessarily see the world from our view, and that we all have work to do to close the cultural divide and change hearts. What makes this book different is its soft approach to bold conversations, using talking tips, templates, and reflection questions.

Tyronne Stoudemire, Vice President of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and Adjunct Lecturer of Management and Organization, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Whether in her writing, public speaking, or consulting, Mary-Frances Winters always delivers. Deep subject matter expertise, strategic thinking, sociocultural insights, contemporary application, and wisdom will spill out of these pages as you engage with them.

Andrs Tapia, Senior Client Partner and Global Practice Leader, Workforce Performance, Inclusion and Diversity, Korn Ferry Hay Group, and author of The Inclusion Paradox

WE CANT TALK ABOUT THAT AT WORK!

We Cant Talk about That at Work!

Copyright 2017 by Mary-Frances Winters

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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First Edition

Paperback print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-9426-4

PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9427-1

IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-9428-8

2017-1

Produced and designed by BookMatters, copyedited by Tanya Grove, proofed by Janet Reed Blake, indexed by Leonard Rosenbaum. Cover design by Irene Morris/Morris Design.

To the generations of freedom fighters, civil rights leaders, and social justice advocates who preceded me in the ongoing quest for an inclusive, equitable world that values the dignity of all people.

And especially to those who lost their lives in the struggle. Without their sacrifice, my voice would not be possible.

For too many of us its become safer to retreat into our own bubbles, whether in our neighborhoods, or on college campuses, or places of worship, or especially our social media feeds, surrounded by people who look like us and share the same political outlook and never challenge our assumptions.... All of us have more work to do.... Hearts must change.... But without some common baseline of facts, without a willingness to admit new information and concede that your opponent might be making a fair point... then were going to keep talking past each other.... None of this is easy.