Every August when I was a kid, as I headed out each morning to start yet another year of school, my parents commanded me to “be respectful.” My teachers were to be respected, my coaches, the principal, the nurse, the school staff, and yes, even the crossing guard – all were to be treated with […]
Whether it’s friction between individuals or groups, stereotyping and negative assumptions, miscommunication and a silo mentality, clashes between different personalities and behavioral styles, or a dismissive attitude and resistance to feedback, these challenges are all too common in today’s organizational environments. Let’s explore the current state of workplace conflict and how to manage it. Insights […]
Calling someone a “DEI hire” is a racist, bigoted, and misogynistic insult. It implies that the only reason a person in a position of power or authority got their job was because of a handout or a numerical preference based on race, ethnicity, or gender. It also wrongly assumes that any white male in a […]
Introduction This fundamental concept is one of the core principles of my work and integral to DTG’s approach to dealing with Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) issues in the workplace and marketplace. D&I issues or employee relation issues (among people who are different) typically involve two people or more. The perpetrator or the initiator of the […]
Last week, I offered my thoughts on the opinions of Harrison Butker, a professional football player with the Kansas City Chiefs, who kicked off a major controversy recently with his address at Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony. Many reasonable, decent, and thoughtful people with all sorts of political and religious leanings considered his address to be […]
Last week, I had an somewhat loaded discussion with a new friend who had contracted COVID while on a holiday trip that involved a lot of flying. When I asked if they’d worn a mask while at the airport and on their flights, they indicated that they hadn’t because they didn’t believe that masks actually […]
Before delving into a more somber subject, I would like to extend my heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year to everyone. Throughout the past few years, we repeatedly highlighted the unsettling surge in what we call “public disrespect,” incivility, and discord within American society, reaching levels not seen since the tumultuous era of the […]
Shortly after the death of George Floyd in May of 2020, corporate statements and earnings call mentions of support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) jumped through the roof. At that time and for at least two years afterward, it seemed that everyone was talking about the importance of DEI, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) […]
Last year I got an all-too-familiar call from Trevor, the head of HR at a mid-sized accounting firm in Virginia. He’d been recruited into the role six months earlier and, shortly after starting work, found what he called, “a culture of disrespect.” “The senior managers have been playing favorites for years,” Trevor told me, “And […]
Since February I’ve been on a national tour for my new book Restoring Respect, speaking at conferences attended by human resources and diversity, equity, and inclusion professionals. In the past seven months I’ve been, or I’m going to Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida (twice!), Texas, Colorado, Utah, Ohio, Georgia, and half a dozen sites California. Phew! […]
The Seven RespectfulDo’s are behaviors that make up the foundation of Respectful Leadership. They ca...
Respect for Millennials
Born between the late 1970’s and the early 2000’s, Millennials (aka Gen Y, Gen Next, Echo Boomers) a...