LaVada English and I took time this week to have a comfortable conversation about uncomfortable conversations. LaVada is the owner of L English Consulting, a coaching and consulting firm that helps organizations develop cultural transformation strategies. In this episode, LaVada and I talk about political correctness, the power of the media, and how organizations can approach real change to build a legacy worth leaving.

In the current climate, honest discussions about race and diversity are being quickly dismissed for fear of “getting too political.” However, these issues are not of a political nature, but a human one. LaVada delves into how the media not only propagates this divide, but also intentionally uses it to deflect focus from the real issues. We also exchange ideas about how to develop a questioning attitude when it comes to what we see, enabling us to, “think above the fray.”

Finally, we talk diversity and inclusion in the workplace, highlighting key questions that organizational leaders should ask themselves long before bringing in a D&I consultant, and why it’s important to know and understand our country’s history with racism. As 2020 finds us repeating behaviors and responses from the 1960s, LaVada calls us to the mat with this challenge: Are we going to allow ourselves to go back to sleep when we have an opportunity to seek greater understanding?