Professional Development
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How to Design an Online Training Session on Foundational EDI
Given the fears and restrictions related to the ongoing pandemic, someone asked a great question recently: How might you effectively design an online foundational EDI training that still fosters a productive, engaging learning environment? The Nuts & Bolts: Design an Effective Online Training Event For starters, make sure you have the right technological infrastructure in place to give you the flexibility to design meaningful engagement, including breakout rooms, chat and Q&A functions, poll function, and a raise hand feature to bring people into the conversation live. To date, the longest online session I have facilitated is about 2 hours. If you plan for longer sessions, be sure to schedule…
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COVID Pandemic: A Threat to EDI Efforts – or an Opportunity for Leaders to Innovate?
“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” ― Kenji Miyazawa Our mission as change agents has never been tougher. The global crisis caused by the pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives. While we have heard and witnessed many acts of kindness and goodwill, the ugliness of racist slurs, longstanding prejudices and hatreds has ballooned as some look to lay blame for what has happened. Consequential to the Pandemic, Deep Inequities Become Obvious The pandemic has spotlighted the cracks and brought to the surface the inequities that are in our current system. Let us embrace this time for thoughtful analysis and to think…
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Diversity Workshops: Foundations for Meaningful Change or Just Fluff?
“I hate diversity workshops. Real change comes from having enough comfort to be really honest and say something very uncomfortable.” – Michelle Obama This powerful quote by Michelle Obama illustrates that we needn’t wait for mandatory training or once-a-year workshops to start tough conversations around diversity and inclusion in our organizations. Indeed, real change is sparked when we are comfortable enough to get uncomfortable to engage in honest dialogue. But starting the conversation is just the beginning… Diversity Workshops – A Foundation for Change For meaningful, sustainable change, delving into how we came to be a society of exclusion instead of inclusion provides a relevant base upon which…
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In Life, Change Is the Only Certainty
In what seemed an instant, our lives were changed. Most of us still have the look on our faces of a deer caught in the blinding glare of oncoming headlights. Our faces show it. Our insides feel it. Suddenly, the fabric of our daily lives was torn away in ways never before experienced: schools closed, businesses shuttered and working from home has become the new normal, for many. And a concept our world never contemplated – social distancing- has become almost a law. Cities in lockdown, no hand shaking, no close contact. In a world so social, we are locked down, sheltering in place. And for many, this could…
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How to Take the Headache Out of Conferences (and still enjoy all the benefits)
Conferences. You know the value of them – yet you get overwhelmed just thinking about juggling your work responsibilities and your personal schedule to attend them. Then there’s planning travel time and accommodations. It doesn’t have to be that way! Sign up for my all-new Envision 2020: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Conference – and forget about travel, traffic and scheduling hassles. This flexible conference package is based entirely online – so it fits seamlessly into your busy schedule. A win-win! Learn more here. Here’s what I know: when it comes to professional development opportunities, there is no “one size fits all” approach. I created my virtual conference…
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Come Experience Envision 2020: The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Virtual Conference
Want to take the headache out of attending professional conferences? Who doesn’t! All those course titles and descriptions that flood our email inboxes around this time of year sound compelling. But let’s get real. Skip the Hassles this Conference Season You just don’t have the time. Travel time. Waiting at the airport, waiting in traffic. And conferences…sitting for long hours in a crowded room in an uncomfortable chair, trying to pay attention, but distracted by continual coughing and sneezing…and those ‘what-if’ thoughts start…what if it’s the flu? Or a virus? Then there’s those non-learning hours after the conference is over for the day…you know, when you’re thinking about all…
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Emotional Intelligence: Your Key to Navigating Difficult Situations
We all know what IQ is: a rating of your intelligence based on test results. But how about Emotional Intelligence? Do you know how you rate? Do you know what it is? Simply put, emotional intelligence is: Your ability to not only be aware of, understand and manage your emotions, but to effectively recognize, understand and influence the emotions of others around you. How strong your emotional intelligence is can be an extremely influential factor in your career success. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou Do…
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Is Workplace Conflict Pushing Your Buttons? Try This.
Are you tired of workplace drama – the same old employees pushing your buttons, because they just seem to know your triggers? Transform Workplace Conflict? YES, It IS Possible! Do you feel like you’re in a battlefield, where a productive, inclusive and rewarding atmosphere has been crushed by continual arguing, insults and toxic behaviors? And worst of all, are you frustrated because you want to change the way you respond, but can’t seem to see your way out? Good news! You don’t have to tolerate it or hope that someday things will get better – I can show you how to respond effectively to toxic workplace situations – with…
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Speaking Out About Mental Health – No More Shame
Up until now, mental health was a topic most everyone agreed NOT to talk about due to pervasive societal stigma and debilitating bias. But with the huge impact of the internet, social media and its 24/7 influence on our lives, and the persistent work of social change agents, the topic is finally being discussed more openly and honestly. People are talking about their mental health, admitting to anxiety, depression, panic disorders and a wide range of other struggles as well as the social and organizational barriers to equity and social justice for issues of mental health. Can you relate? I talk so much now about the importance of self-care &…
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I’m Not Racist…Or Am I? The Answer Might Be Yes.
Ever been told you were racist? I have – or in reality, I was confronted about the racist impact of something I did – which FELT like they called me racist! That was one of the worst things I could ever imagine happening to me – especially from a person of color who was a colleague at the time. It was so traumatic an experience that I spent three very painful years in a dysfunctional pool of shame, fear and self-recrimination. I created my own isolation, yet there were people around me who would have helped me, if I had only reached out and chosen the path of courage and…
