Making Diversity Work : Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace

Litigation. Costly turnover. Lost business. Discrimination. These are the penalties workplace bias exacts from American business-penalties that companies cannot afford to pay. Calling on her 25 years of experience in the field, diversity expert Dr. Sondra Thiederman has found a way to prevent these losses by providing executives and managers with a step-by-step strategy for minimizing bias and maximizing the ability to manage diversity effectively. To that end-and ignoring the stifling rules of political correctness-Dr. Thiederman dissects the problems surrounding diversity in the workplace and offers specific, doable strategies focused on creating individual change. Using real-life examples, practical tips, and exercises, she guides readers on a journeyof self-discovery, intellectual awareness, and healing. The workplace and personal anecdotes in Making Diversity Work have been obtained from a research survey conducted by the author. Making Diversity Work outlines: *How to see people more accurately and, therefore, to function more effectively and feel more comfortable in a diverse workplace *Seven steps to defeat biases *How to accurately identify biased attitudes *Tools to help confront the fears that underlie biases *Skills to communicate effectively when faced with diversity-related conflict Women or men, black or white, gay or straight, immigrant or native-born-everyone has prejudices. Making Diversity Work shifts the dialogue from blame to emphasis on the responsibility everyone shares to rid the workplace of bias. Dr. Thiederman delivers the prescription to defeat bias in the workplace in this definitive book for executives, managers, human resources professionals, and diversity practitioners.

Dr. Sondra Thiederman is one of the nation’s leading experts on workplace diversity, cross-cultural business, and bias reduction. As President of Cross-Cultural Communications, a San Diego based training firm, Sondra has 25 years experience as a speaker, trainer, and author helping professionals in Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations, and dozens of associations find ways to successfully navigate our increasingly-diverse workplaces.

Sondra has extensive media experience including mention in such national publications as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. She is published in professional journals ranging from T&D and Real Estate Today to Association Management, has written on diversity for the web site Monster.com, and is the author of four books including: Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace; Profiting in America’s Multicultural Marketplace: How to Do Business Across Cultural Lines; Bridging Cultural Barriers for Corporate Success: How to Manage the Multicultural Workforce; and “Getting ‘Culture Smart’: Ten Strategies for Making Diversity Work.