| Check These Out! |
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Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma
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Global Diversity and Inclusion Benchmarks
by QED Consulting
by Mark R. Warren
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Boston, MA October 18-21, 2011 Pasedena, CA January 17-20, 2012 |
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Greetings!
In this issue, we tackle a question we get asked frequently: "How do I get my organization to do some much-needed diversity work?"
We asked a VISIONS consultant, a client, and a VISIONS youth consultant to share their experiences and ideas. We hope you find their advice interesting and helpful. Let us know about your experiences...contact us!
We want to hear and learn from you.
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| Avoiding the "Buy-in" Dilemma
Removing roadblocks to diversity work.
By Thomas Griggs, Ph.D., VISIONS Consultant
My organization needs to do this work. What's the best approach to secure senior leadership's buy-in for a diversity initiative? How can I set us up to win?
Working to get an effective diversity program into the budgets, schedules and consciousness of senior leadership can be impossible at times. As diversity advocates we often see ourselves on the outside, trying to get in, and senior leadership as resisting attempts to benefit the organization.
Could it be that we are inadvertently creating the very problem we seek to solve by the way we frame our
objective? (read on)
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A Client Perspective:
Four Keys to Open the Door
By Mary Anne Gale, Former VP, Procter & Gamble
 From my experience as the first woman plant manager at Procter & Gamble, there are four keys to getting an organization to commit to the ongoing work that valuing diversity requires. 1. Start with a business case. These days, when people spend their money, they've got to have a measurable return. It doesn't matter if you are a for-profit or a non-profit. So come at it from a business standpoint, not as an altruistic thing. (read on) |
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The Student as Teacher
An example of working from the ground up.
By Kyara Andrade, Charter Public School student
I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes as I thought about  the situation I was in. While keeping the VISIONS guidelines for effective communications in mind, I tried to have a respectful conversation. However, I was left feeling upset and insulted, even after explaining my reasons and offering my apology for not handling the situation as well as I could have.
I was part of a scholarship program led by a prominent donor to my school. I didn't find this program meaningful, plus it took too much time away from my schoolwork. I didn't attend some sessions and turn in an essay, which prompted his anger and this difficult conversation. This encounter, however, sparked something far more important. (read on)
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"In My Opinion..."
Keeping on keeping on...
I am inspired by reading this issue of our newsletter! In challenging times, what helps me "keep on keeping on" is witnessing the transformative power of this work at every level. Since we started VISIONS in 1984, we've
 | | Dr. Valerie Batts |
seen hundreds of senior managers learn the skills of letting go of comfort and adopting a learning posture. These skills transform the individual, the business, and how people relate to each other. Systemic and cultural change becomes possible...and inspiration doesn't get better than that!
The examples are many, but I'll share two here. (read on)
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We hope you've enjoyed our Summer e-newsletter...feel free to share it with friends. If this was forwarded to you, and you would like to receive future newsletters from us, please subscribe here.
Let us know what topics you'd like us to address in our upcoming newsletters. Contact us! We are truly inspired by all of you who continue to work for inclusion, equity and fairness.
Enjoy the rest of summer in the Western hemisphere and the coming of spring in other parts of the world.
Valerie Batts Executive Director VISIONS, INC www.visions-inc.org |
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