Happy New Year

I know — it’s been a l-o-n-g time since I’ve posted a blog.  Not because I don’t have something to say — that’s never a problem!  It’s simply been a lack of time.  Okay, perhaps more like a lack of time management.

But the need is still there.  The need to connect people, particularly employees in the workplace.

​One would think that connecting employees and D&I in general would be getting easier.  After all, Corporate America is certainly spending the money!  A couple of years ago, a SHRM study reported diversity-department budgets at Fortune 1000 firms averaged about $1.5 million per year (it was a wide range, from $30k up to $5 million!).  My guess is that average is even higher now.

But what do we have to show for all that spent money?  Maybe some of us are a little more aware of our unconscious biases?  

During most of my current keynote presentations, I ask the audience if we’re more divided now than ever and virtually every hand shoots into the air.  Race, politics, MASKS!  Everyone has an opinion and we’re having trouble expressing that opinion with civility!  

I think the solution is in our minds.  We can all learn about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging but until we BELIEVE in it, not much will change.  Actually, it’s not belief in DEIB, it’s belief in people.  It’s a mindset that people are great and everyone has something to offer.

I wrote a blog last year that focused on inspirational people quotes.  Sayings that focus on the uniqueness of people and how each one of us is special in our own way.  That blog offers lots of wisdom but for me, one quote stands out:

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"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has – or ever will have – something inside that is unique to all time.  It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression."
                                                                                                                                           ~Fred Rogers (as in Mr. Rogers)

​Do those words inspire you as they do me?  Do they challenge you to look at others as special and unique?  I hope so!

Those words certainly challenge me to see the best in others.  They also inspire me to work even harder at building cultures where people are valued.  I'm inspired to help people connect to each other, particularly people who see life differently, and help them work through their differences in a civil manner. 

So I'll continue my culture and people work throughout this year:  keynote presentations, training workshops, emceeing corporate events, moderating panels, conducting culture studies.  I'll also write a lot, tweet a lot, and drop in a few videos here and there.

And maybe, just maybe — when I ask people at the end of 2022 if they think the world is as uncivil as ever, just a few less hands will shoot up.  ​

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              I’m here to help!  I deliver keynotes, develop and deliver training workshops, moderate
              panels, and emcee/facilitate Town Halls and other corporate and employee events.  If
              you’d like to explore ideas to build a Value Others Culture, please don’t hesitate to contact me!