Dr. Helen Turnbull: Inspiring Audiences to Embrace Diversity and Inclusion
While diversity is almost a fad for some companies, we also know that having a diverse team adds bottom-line value. As long as diversity is accompanied by inclusivity. The video with Dr. Helen Turnbull CSP highlights that diversity positively impacts the bottom line – but only when everyone feels included and valued. She’s been working in the field a long time and did a TEDx in 2013. She says:
- It’s not enough to simply hire a diverse group of people and pat yourself on the back. You need a culture where everyone feels included and can contribute their unique perspectives and ideas.
- When diversity training elicits an eyeroll… you have an uphill battle. The leader is telegraphing their thoughts and unlikely to foster an inclusive environment.
- But inclusivity does not mean that people should be allowed to monopolize meetings ad nauseum. If they’re not adding value… why are they there?
We all have biases and you might not be aware of yours. It’s part of our most primitive brains so we aren’t going to get rid of it. The only thing we can do is be aware and manage it.
In this video Andrea Adams, MPA speaks with Dr. Helen Turnbull CSP who has been digging into the topic for a long time – long before it (and DEI) became such a key HR issue. Dr. Turnbull TEDx on inclusion in 2013.
- If you’ve ever been rude to an overseas call center representative because they aren’t on your continent, check your bias. Are you REALLY that open-minded and unbiased?
- Confirmation bias and pattern recognition bias are two of the most prevalent examples of unconscious bias in the workplace. Unchecked, either will lead to poor decision-making, missed opportunities and sub-par business performance.
- The only way to minimize the impact of unconscious bias is to bring it to our conscious awareness. She suggests saying “Let’s not make that decision until we check our biases.”
In this inspiring TEDx Delray Beach keynote, Dr. Helen Turnbull talks Inclusion, Exclusion, Illusion and Collusion.We say we want to be inclusive, but what if we are really not? Dr. Turnbull contends that we live daily with the Illusion of Inclusion and she convincingly demonstrates through a series of anecdotes and research results from her online assessment tools that not only does unconscious bias exist, but it has a real impact on our ability to hire and retain top talent.
More information from Dr. Turnbull