Getting the Best from Others

Program Highlights

• How to be comfortable with discomfort.
• Why we can't see our own privilege—but outsiders can.
• How celebration can replace fear, guilt and self-righteousness.

Good managers, wanting to do the right thing, often miss the boat when it comes to getting the best out of a diverse workforce. Not wanting to offend, they choose peace over honest feedback, thereby limiting their people's potential. Not understanding what motivates each individual, they offer incentives that are not meaningful, or "encouragement" that backfires and alienates their staff.

Doug Harris has spent his career discovering what it takes to start the dialogue and establish parameters for healthy debate. He explains the steps for reaching awareness, managing biases, and "doing unto others as they want to be done unto." He encourages us to expand our network, explore cultural events, and study up. By bringing different people to the table, different questions get asked. This leads to innovation, better solutions and an empowered, involved workforce.

Doug Harris began his career with Procter & Gamble and Scott Paper, where he served as an employee relations specialist, sales trainer and sales professional. He also served as founder and president of Samuel Roberts & Associates, an executive search firm specializing in minority recruitment. Mr. Harris is the advisor for the Diversity Committee for Chicago SHRP.