Rising Together: How We Can Bridge Divides and Create a More Inclusive Workplace

This perceptive program by leadership coach Helgesen (How Women Rise) offers guidance on how executives can create a workplace that fosters productive relationships among employees from diverse backgrounds. Companies, she contends, need to help workers collaborate across racial, gender, ethnic, and generational divides by addressing the “eight common triggers that undermine our ability to connect.” These include offensive attempts at humor, as well as issues of visibility (employees might resent colleagues “who are good at getting noticed”), miscommunication (people from different backgrounds bring different assumptions and perspectives), and networking (affiliating only with people like oneself makes one oblivious to the concerns of others). Stories from Helgesen’s clients illustrate the proposed remedies, as when the author tells of an employee passed over for a promotion who had to humble herself, which allowed her to get over her resentment and work with her supervisor to plan her career trajectory at the company. Helgesen demonstrates a keen eye for workplace dynamics, and her concrete suggestions—which include recommendations for business leaders to ensure their employees feel heard by building on what they say and asking them “what skills they don’t get a chance to use”—offer pragmatic means to promote inclusivity. Executives will find this a boon. (Feb.)