Many of our conversations around diversity have us walking on eggshells. Have you ever found yourself saying, “Some of my best friends are” or “I don’t think of you as” or “I’m colorblind”? We often make statements that are intended to be supportive or complimentary but that end up being problematic. Meant as joining statements, these remarks often have the opposite effect and end up creating a larger divide or even the loss of a job. You will learn about common communication traps, how to avoid them and what tools to use in their place. These practical applications will quickly transform the quality and effectiveness of your interactions around diversity and inclusion. You will learn:

• Eight core concepts for dismantling barriers to effective communication relating to issues of diversity and inclusion.
• The types of statements that are intended to build a more inclusive workplace but that fall short. These statements can have a devastating effect in the workplace by diminishing relationships and a willingness to work cooperatively with colleagues, which negatively affects the quality of work output.
• How to move beyond your fear of saying the wrong thing and gain skills to effectively respond for the times we cause harm. We all make mistakes. How we respond to those mistakes is the key to future interactions.