It's Time to Talk about Race at Work

CHAPTER 16Reducing Tokenism and Bias: Give Your Diverse Employees and Suppliers a Genuine Seat at the Table

I once read something about gaining and losing weight that struck me with its simplicity and wisdom: “Gaining weight is unintentional and easy. Losing weight is intentional and difficult.” I read it years ago, but it has always stayed with me. While preparing for and then writing this book, I kept thinking that companies that are diverse—or those that are not—could be described the same way: Becoming a nondiverse company is unintentional and easy. Becoming a diverse company is intentional and difficult. I don't believe that most all-White companies set out to be nondiverse; they didn't intend for it to happen—they just evolved into it. It's easy to fall into hiring the same types of employees who have always worked well in a corporate culture, who “fit a mold.” And the companies that work to make their organizations diverse and equitable and inclusive? They work with intention. They plan, create strategies, learn, and evolve, and they work their butts off.

I think it's an important distinction, because I have talked to some executives and leaders who feel that “demographics are our destiny” and that they don't really have to “do” anything to drive diversity efforts. They believe that the changing demographics of the United States and the world will just “naturally” bring them more diverse talent over time. I don't think that's a safe assumption. I believe that what will ...