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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 *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.
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First published October 1, 2003
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April 4, 2025Book Review: Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace by Sondra Thiederman
In Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace, Sondra Thiederman delivers a practical and insightful guide aimed at transforming workplace culture through effective diversity and inclusion strategies. Recognizing that bias remains a significant barrier to achieving true diversity, Thiederman outlines a structured approach that organizations can adopt to cultivate a more inclusive environment.
Summary and Key Themes
The book is meticulously organized around seven actionable steps that serve as a framework for combating bias and fostering diversity. Key themes include:
Understanding Bias: Thiederman begins by exploring the nature of bias, emphasizing the unconscious biases that often influence our decision-making processes. By elucidating how these biases manifest in workplace settings, she lays the groundwork for the subsequent actions leaders can take to mitigate their effects.
Creating Awareness: The author stresses the importance of awareness among all employees concerning their own biases and those present in organizational practices. This step highlights the necessity of training and education as foundational elements in the journey toward inclusivity.
Establishing Inclusive Policies: Thiederman advocates for the development of clear policies that promote diversity and address bias. She provides practical guidance on how organizations can implement these policies effectively, ensuring they resonate throughout all levels of the company.
Fostering Allyship: A significant focus of the book is on building allyship within the workplace. Thiederman underscores the role of allies in supporting marginalized groups and encourages readers to actively engage in creating a culture of inclusion and support.
Measuring Progress: Lastly, the author emphasizes the importance of measuring the effectiveness of diversity initiatives. She advocates for organizations to regularly assess their progress and make adjustments as necessary, ensuring that diversity and inclusion efforts remain dynamic and impactful.
Critical Analysis
Thiederman’s writing is clear and accessible, making complex concepts related to diversity and bias understandable for a wide audience. The practical nature of the book, combined with real-world examples and actionable steps, makes it a valuable resource for organizational leaders, human resource professionals, and anyone interested in fostering inclusive workplaces.
One of the strengths of the book is its structured approach, providing readers with a clear roadmap to navigate the challenges of diversity and inclusion. However, some readers might find that while the steps are practical, the book could benefit from deeper engagement with the emotional and social aspects of bias. A more extensive exploration of the experiences of those affected by discrimination could enrich the narrative and enhance empathy among readers.
Conclusion
Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace is an essential guide for organizations striving to create more inclusive environments. Sondra Thiederman successfully combines theoretical insights with practical strategies, making a compelling case for the importance of addressing bias in the workplace. This book is highly recommended for leaders and practitioners committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, as it provides the tools necessary to effect meaningful change and build a more equitable workplace.
In Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace, Sondra Thiederman delivers a practical and insightful guide aimed at transforming workplace culture through effective diversity and inclusion strategies. Recognizing that bias remains a significant barrier to achieving true diversity, Thiederman outlines a structured approach that organizations can adopt to cultivate a more inclusive environment.
Summary and Key Themes
The book is meticulously organized around seven actionable steps that serve as a framework for combating bias and fostering diversity. Key themes include:
Understanding Bias: Thiederman begins by exploring the nature of bias, emphasizing the unconscious biases that often influence our decision-making processes. By elucidating how these biases manifest in workplace settings, she lays the groundwork for the subsequent actions leaders can take to mitigate their effects.
Creating Awareness: The author stresses the importance of awareness among all employees concerning their own biases and those present in organizational practices. This step highlights the necessity of training and education as foundational elements in the journey toward inclusivity.
Establishing Inclusive Policies: Thiederman advocates for the development of clear policies that promote diversity and address bias. She provides practical guidance on how organizations can implement these policies effectively, ensuring they resonate throughout all levels of the company.
Fostering Allyship: A significant focus of the book is on building allyship within the workplace. Thiederman underscores the role of allies in supporting marginalized groups and encourages readers to actively engage in creating a culture of inclusion and support.
Measuring Progress: Lastly, the author emphasizes the importance of measuring the effectiveness of diversity initiatives. She advocates for organizations to regularly assess their progress and make adjustments as necessary, ensuring that diversity and inclusion efforts remain dynamic and impactful.
Critical Analysis
Thiederman’s writing is clear and accessible, making complex concepts related to diversity and bias understandable for a wide audience. The practical nature of the book, combined with real-world examples and actionable steps, makes it a valuable resource for organizational leaders, human resource professionals, and anyone interested in fostering inclusive workplaces.
One of the strengths of the book is its structured approach, providing readers with a clear roadmap to navigate the challenges of diversity and inclusion. However, some readers might find that while the steps are practical, the book could benefit from deeper engagement with the emotional and social aspects of bias. A more extensive exploration of the experiences of those affected by discrimination could enrich the narrative and enhance empathy among readers.
Conclusion
Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace is an essential guide for organizations striving to create more inclusive environments. Sondra Thiederman successfully combines theoretical insights with practical strategies, making a compelling case for the importance of addressing bias in the workplace. This book is highly recommended for leaders and practitioners committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, as it provides the tools necessary to effect meaningful change and build a more equitable workplace.
Want to read
June 23, 2024After it was recommended as supplementary reading for my Diversity Awareness class this year, I decided to pick up this book. I'm excited to delve into its pages and explore the insights it offers on such an important topic. The strong endorsement from my class suggests it will provide valuable perspectives that will deepen my understanding of diversity issues. I'm looking forward to learning from this recommended read.
August 16, 2010
A practical guide for promoting diversity
In the movie Anchorman, a parody about a television news team set in the 1970s, the main character played by Will Ferrell explains to his colleagues, “Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.” Thankfully, society has come a long way since the ’70s. The modern workplace hosts a collection of employees from different backgrounds, races, nations, religions and sexual orientations. For a company to function, all these people have to work together. Organizational leaders must minimize the tensions between individuals and groups to keep operations running smoothly. Left uncorrected, bias can ruin an organization. Sondra Thiederman, an expert on diversity issues in the workplace, has prepared a manual for managers and employees who want to recognize and correct biased behavior. This book contains personal examples and easy step-by-step individual and group exercises for reducing bias. If you want more, Thiederman offers a reader’s guide to stimulate further discussion of this sensitive issue. getAbstract finds this book practical and unexpectedly entertaining, and highly recommends it to human resources professionals and managers.
To learn more about this book, check out the following link: http://www.getabstract.com/summary/11...
In the movie Anchorman, a parody about a television news team set in the 1970s, the main character played by Will Ferrell explains to his colleagues, “Well, I could be wrong, but I believe diversity is an old, old wooden ship that was used during the Civil War era.” Thankfully, society has come a long way since the ’70s. The modern workplace hosts a collection of employees from different backgrounds, races, nations, religions and sexual orientations. For a company to function, all these people have to work together. Organizational leaders must minimize the tensions between individuals and groups to keep operations running smoothly. Left uncorrected, bias can ruin an organization. Sondra Thiederman, an expert on diversity issues in the workplace, has prepared a manual for managers and employees who want to recognize and correct biased behavior. This book contains personal examples and easy step-by-step individual and group exercises for reducing bias. If you want more, Thiederman offers a reader’s guide to stimulate further discussion of this sensitive issue. getAbstract finds this book practical and unexpectedly entertaining, and highly recommends it to human resources professionals and managers.
To learn more about this book, check out the following link: http://www.getabstract.com/summary/11...
April 5, 2010
For a work-related book, this was excellent. I'm excited for my boss to read it. And, it will be extremely useful when I finally get to continue my work's training on harassment.
You can tell that the author has experience in both writing and in providing trainings. She handles the topics of diversity, bias, and cultural differences with an honesty to be celebrated. She talks about uncomfortable situations that we sometimes find ourselves in and how to handle them (p.s. this doesn’t include slapping stupid people).
You can tell that the author has experience in both writing and in providing trainings. She handles the topics of diversity, bias, and cultural differences with an honesty to be celebrated. She talks about uncomfortable situations that we sometimes find ourselves in and how to handle them (p.s. this doesn’t include slapping stupid people).
August 24, 2014
This book takes respecting diversity in the workplace way beyond just being "PC" and makes it a personal journey.
For me, the thing that changed my attitude the most was that having a positive bias can be just as dangerous as having a negative bias. That made me re-evaluate my positive biases toward certain groups.
For me, the thing that changed my attitude the most was that having a positive bias can be just as dangerous as having a negative bias. That made me re-evaluate my positive biases toward certain groups.
February 20, 2025
A little outdated, but concrete steps and actions for thinking about how to approach bias.
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