Leading Inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel

by Gena Cox

"“A comprehensive guidebook to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace.”."
KIRKUS

*****

"An outstanding source of information and advice for leaders who want to build inclusive work environments. It may also prove extremely beneficial for faculty and students of business administration schools. Highly recommended."
LIBRARY JOURNAL (Starred Review)

*****

Build an inclusive organization from the top down

Why are workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts often disappointing? Organizational psychologist and executive coach Gena Cox asserts that although human variation is normal, true inclusion that embraces these variations remains elusive in the workplace. Leading Inclusion, a “how-to-be” book, educates, challenges, and empowers executives and business owners to lead inclusion from the top of the organization.

Leading Inclusion is a plain-spoken-yet-nuanced guide that shows leaders how to set and incorporate a vision for diversity and inclusion that enables marginalized employees to see and feel the difference in their day-to-day work experiences. Leading Inclusion challenges many preexisting beliefs about how to lead “diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” and urges leaders to develop the necessary mindset for bold action this work requires. Leading Inclusion reframes inclusion as a leadership competency and imperative rather than a moral obligation. Using research from conversations with executives, scholars, DEI practitioners, and the experiences of employees of color Leading Inclusion offers a variation to the traditional “DEI framework. The book’s “Respect First” REDI (Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) model argues for the primacy of Respect. Cox believes that if underrepresented employees don’t feel respected, the “programs or initiatives” leaders implement will not be meaningful or impactful. Leading Inclusion offers a strategic way to forestall disappointing diversity and inclusion outcomes.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction, Self Help, Professional Development, Personal Growth, Psychology

325 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2022

About the author

Gena Cox is an organizational psychologist and executive coach who believes any organization can be a haven for great employee experiences. So she demystifies the leadership actions that can build inclusive workplaces and coaches individuals to optimize their career strategies so they can thrive proactively. Gena’s clients report enhanced employee engagement, attraction, retention, and inclusion and diversity outcomes.

Gena's advice is evidence-based, with multi-disciplinary lessons from organizational psychology, history, and the law. However, Gena’s experiences as a Black woman, immigrant, and mother, add seasoning to the nuanced insights that are her hallmark. Clients hire Gena for her insights but stay for her warm and supportive style.

Gena’s views about organizational life were forged through a decades-long career as a corporate leader, advisor, and executive coach to leaders in multiple global companies and multiple industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, Gena works well cross-culturally, having lived and worked in the US, England, and the Caribbean.

Gena has shared her leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), employee experience, and career optimization expertise with several media outlets, including Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Forbes, BBC, Newsweek, MarketWatch, and the Business Journals. Gena’s professional speaker clients include Zscaler, DTCC, Mitre, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Perceptyx, WiSQ, Cengage, and Keywords Studios. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Reviews

[Lisa Kosak · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a manager I am so thankful that diversity and inclusion is a focus for leaders and companies. For so many years our workforce has ignored that humans are different and true inclusion in our country is rare. We need to be honest with those around us and help one another utterly understand our differences. It’s only been in the past two years that I have seen an insurgence of understanding around diversity and inclusion. Moreover, I have been fortunate to work for companies where it is a focus.

Leading inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel by Gena Cox is a guidebook for understanding and integrating principles from the top down. Cox shares the history of racial inequalities that still exist today. As an immigrant Gena knows firsthand the struggles that exist. True inclusion must start at the top as a priority not just as a “thing” companies feel they have to put out there. Leaders are responsible for educating teams, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and morphing the corporate culture.

Leading Inclusion offers a three-step framework for building inclusion. In addition to sharing her experience Gen shares psychological science, interviews with scores of people, Inclusion examples and initiative-taking ideas to support individual and corporate inclusion growth.

Diversity and Inclusion is a key driver of employee satisfaction and corporate growth. Our workforce is becoming more diversified, and leaders can no longer ignore the benefits and moral obligation to manage inclusion. This book was a revelation for me and as a manager, I have the power to bring change within the teams that I work with.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insightful, helpful and well written book. The amount of research that had to have gone into this book shows. But it has kept it's readability that puts it into a practical book for anyone who desires to be a part of a moving forward business workplace.

I appreciate the author's advice on actionable steps all of us can be a part of. And I agree with her comment wholeheartedly that all of want and need to have and give respect to one another.

Well done. I recommend this book to all folks in leadership positions.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no expectation in return. The above thoughts and comments are mine alone.

[Vanessa Loder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leading Inclusion offers a strategic way to avoid disappointing workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Well-researched and with her unique voice as a Black woman and organizational psychologist, Gena Cox brings a powerful, must-read for leaders who want to be part of the solution and lead an inclusive organization. This book is timely, with powerful stories and insights to show executives the way.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the title with regards to “leading” change can mean different things, the middle section was heavily focused on if you are a c-suite or board member. Ok fine. Yet what about senior level folks and want they can do. Great info and suggestions in the first and last third, yet would have been great to round out leading change with anyone that is a manager….

[Crystal Furgerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leaders if you want a firsthand look at what inclusion means check out Leading Inclusion by Gene Cox. She has a unique approach to putting inclusion into practice and can help you set your organization up for inclusion. Her experiences and research on inclusion are phenomenal and speaks to her character and desire for the world to be inclusive.

[Brittany Peacock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cox has had over 2 decades of corporate and psychology experience working with growing and developing teams. Throughout this book, learn tactics to not only lead a team of diverse individuals but also help them thrive.

[Noah]

Better Allies Newsletter 11/18/22

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leading inclusion: Drive Change Your Employees Can See and Feel by Gena Cox was not what I was hoping for and I did not enjoy reading it. Sorry not for me. I gave two stars for the cover alone.

[Gideon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about inclusion and governance, this book spent a weird amount of time justifying and sympathising with the police

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the concept, but there was just not enough instruction.

[Moe Brasfield schmid · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read based on the current political environment. Focus primarily was on helping the C suite executive acknowledging their own biases.

[Nadya Ichinomiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an activist in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space since 2014, I’ve read and experienced many thought leaders over the years. All illuminate the challenges, yet few offer practical actions that leaders can take.

This book provides insightful and simple steps leaders can take, no matter where they are on their journey to foster more inclusion and engagement among their teams.

I particularly enjoyed the audiobook, Gena’s voice is energizing, yet calm, and full of warmth. Her own personal stories were valuable, vulnerable, and relatable (especially the one about the her neighbor’s flag!)

If you are a leader who wants to increase inclusion in your team, department, or organization, this is the book!