Essential Diversity Mindset: How to Cultivate a More Inclusive Culture and Environment

by Soo Bong Peer, Clarence Page (Foreword by)

Overview

A fresh and practical approach to diversity—as a mindset, not as a formula.

"A rich combination of personal stories, research data, and excellent advice to help us think and talk beyond the limits of labels to see, respect, and appreciate the individuals within." — from the foreword by Clarence Page

In our divided climate with heightened concerns and emotions over inclusion, racism, and activism, The Essential Diversity Mindset offers a transformative approach to diversity―as a mindset, not as a formula. Thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (not enforcements, compliances, or statistics) drive diversity outcomes.

The Essential Diversity Mindset provides answers to businesses, organizations, and people searching for alternate perspectives and strategies to advance diversity and inclusion. It is for those who feel different or alienated, and want to foster their sense of self-empowerment and connect with others. And it’s for those who want to deepen their capacity to build greater empathy, open-mindedness, and connection.

The Essential Diversity Mindset will inspire readers to pause and reflect on where they are and explore how we all can make positive shifts to thrive in unity with differences.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632651891
Publisher:	Red Wheel/Weiser
Publication date:	03/01/2021
Series:	Essential Handbook
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Soo Bong Peer is an author, strategy consultant, and executive coach to Fortune 500 multinational corporations. She comes from a multicultural upbringing with over thirty years of experience in strategic marketing, global branding, business development, international joint ventures, and leadership development. Soo and her husband live in Park City, Utah. Visit her at www.soopeerassociates.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction xi

Diversity and Divides

1 Diversity in Changing Times 3

2 Biases and Prejudices 23

3 Our Lens 45

Diversity Journey

4 My Journey into Diversity 67

5 Indoctrination of Early Scripts 85

6 Demystifing Cultural Differences 97

7 Cross-Cultural Agility 115

Advancing Pervasive Diversity

8 Unintended Consequences 137

9 Pervasive Diversity 159

10 Unifying Leadership 179

11 Our Responsibility to Change 199

Acknowledgments 223

Notes 225

Index 229

Editorial Reviews

03/01/2021

“True diversity requires one to become color and label neutral,” argues strategy consultant and executive coach Soo in this impassioned but flat debut. The United States is more polarized than ever, she notes, and argues that this division is due to moral judgments behind such overused accusations as “racist, bigot, sexist, and snowflake.” Inclusivity, Soo argues, comes from mindset shifts and a program that takes into account psychology, emotion, and behavior. This sounds hopeful, but Soo falls back on color blindness as a solution to systemic racism; society should stop “simplifying and dividing humans based on one dimension: race” and instead see people rather than their skin color. Her subsequent rejection of political correctness loses luster when paired with stories of, for instance, condescending to a friend’s views on reparations because “what I wanted most was for Jodie to feel empowered by her own strength and worth as an individual, not to live out the stereotype of her label as a black woman in America.” While Soo calls on leaders to push a different message of diversity, she fails to provide workable ideas on how to do so. This call to action misses the mark. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"The Essential Diversity Mindset is an incredible guide to understanding racism, unconscious bias, and other toxic mindsets that pervade our society, and teaches us how we can create businesses that celebrate diversity, connection, openness and inclusion. With engaging storytelling and actionable practices to implement in your business, Soo ‘s new book is the one that needed to be written for our society."

Marshall Goldsmith

"An intelligent approach to the subject using research and personal narratives. This book is well-organized, easy to read, and thought-provoking. There is no preaching and no rules; Peer just asks for readers' willingness to think and grow when it comes to their diversity mindset." 

Booklist

"The Essential Diversity Mindset delves into the psychology of diversity and inclusion as a transformative approach to human connection and the dismantling of systemic biases. This book resonated with my drive to increase equitable best-practices in workplaces and communities, which spearheaded the launch of the National Diversity Council. I highly recommend this book that will change your perspective on race, ethnicity and diversity beyond America's mental constructs." 

Dennis Kennedy

"In The Essential Diversity Mindset, Soo Bong Peer brings her engaging and provocative voice to the global discussion on equity, inclusion and diversity. She wisely purports that an expanded approach—and new mindset—is needed to create organizations and communities where each person can thrive and where new heights of accomplishment are achieved. I highly recommend this book not only for evangelists of equity, diversity and inclusion but also, for anyone who wishes to increase their impact as a leader."

Kristin Colber-Baker

"Soo eloquently weaves lifetime stories of her experiences from around the world to portray a path to bring people together in a rich fabric of diversity. This book should be of interest to leaders, managers, academics, or anyone else who want to explore alternate ways to thrive in differences."

Deepa Purushothaman

An intelligent approach to the subject using research and personal narratives. This book is well-organized, easy to read, and thought-provoking. There is no preaching and no rules; Peer just asks for readers' willingness to think and grow when it comes to their diversity mindset." 

From the Publisher