Tayo Rockson - Cross Cultural Communication: Leveraging Differences to Make a Difference

1. Chapter 4
2. Chapter 10
3. Chapter 11
4. Chapter 16

A truly inspiring read and a must for anyone thinking of creating an inclusive culture within their workplace through understanding the role they can play, with detailed explanations of key concepts around Diversity and Inclusion and some powerful ways to create a sense of belonging for all, through understanding key barriers and solutions to inclusion in a globally workable context.

Asif Sadiq, MBE, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging thought leader and global expert

This book is an incredibly thorough piece of thought leadership. Tayo has provided the world with a tool for readers who are interested in diving far beneath the superficial treatment that diversity materials often receive. Anyone intentional enough to read this book will increase their cultural fluency and have access to deeper levels of interpersonal discernment and communication. This book should be required reading in a number of settings.

Dr. Tiffany Jana, founder of TMI Portfolio and best-selling author of The B Corp Handbook, Erasing Institutional Bias, and Overcoming Bias

Tayo Rockson meticulously unpacks the complex barriers to leveraging our difference to make a difference and provides tangible solutions to counter those forces while we hold fast to our core values.

Tsedal Neeley, Harvard Business School professor and author of The Language of Global Success

Tayo beautifully acknowledges our differences as superpowers, and how our unique positionalities can be used as tools to bridge across divides. He interweaves his global upbringing in a proactive and interactive manner throughout the book; it feels as though you're having a one-on-one dialogue with him.

Liz Kleinrock, founder of Teach and Transform

This is a great primer for us all to reflect on our own part in the current divisiveness in our workplaces and world places with fantastic ideas on ways to move forward to connect and createtogether. It's a book to share with everyone on your team to create an environment of less ego, more openness, and more possibilities!

Cy Wakeman, New York Times best-selling author, drama researcher, and author of No Ego

This book is a must-read for all Diversity and Inclusion professionals; it's a wonderfully constructed manual that will ensure inclusive corporate environments.

Caroline Codsi, ICD.D., president and founder, Women in Governance

Tayo Rockson is an authentic voice for our times. He possesses the rare ability to draw on his own personal story, combine it with his highly developed intellect and commitment to knowledge, and deliver a truly tangible set of learning steps and action items for us all. Along with an unquenchable thirst for cultural learning and understanding, he displays a deep passion for serving our global human family. This is a not only a contemporary book for our current times but is one whose message will have a profound impact on generations to come.

Brett D. Parry, founder and CEO, Cultural Mentor

Tayo Rockson's deep passion for using his difference to make a difference comes through loud and clear in his handy new book, which is chock-full of information and ideas to improve your cultural competence skills.

Andy Molinsky, Brandeis professor and author of Global Dexterity & Reach

TAYO ROCKSON

Copyright 2019 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.

Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Rockson, Tayo, author.

Title: Use your difference to make a difference : how to connect and communicate in a cross-cultural world / Tayo Rockson.

Description: Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., [2019] | Includes index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2019017165 (print) | LCCN 2019019089 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119590729 (Adobe PDF) | ISBN 9781119590736 (ePub) | ISBN 9781119590699 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Intercultural communication. | Interpersonal relations. |Toleration. | Multiculturalism.

Classification: LCC HM1211 (ebook) | LCC HM1211 .R635 2019 (print) | DDC 305.8dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019017165

COVER DESIGN: PAUL McCARTHY

COVER BACKGROUND ART: GETTY IMAGES / R.TSUBIN

This book is dedicated to all those who have been told that they were too weird, too strange, too big, too little, or invisible. I want you to know that you matter. Your quirks are your superpowers. I see you. I hear you. I affirm you and I love you!

As a global educator, I have had the opportunity to teach children of diplomats, personal growth icons, teachers, secretaries, CEOs, actresses, film directors, and some of the most amazing minds I could ever imagine. People often ask me, What do these parents teach their children about success? I completely understand the intention behind the question. People want to know if there are any secrets or tips that they could also gift their children. But what's interesting is that oftentimes when people reach a certain level of affluence, they realize that there are actually three types of success: success in health, success in wealth, and success in relationships. The third is measured by impact. Therefore, what is discussed in these spaces is that parents truly want their children to understand that being a millionaire also means impacting a million lives. What's beautiful about having an impact is that you can do it right now. And do you know how to determine whether or not you have given someone an impactful experience?