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Yesterday was Halloween – not my favorite holiday – too... Read More
– Boo! Bias as Magical Thinking
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Dr. Sondra Thiederman is one of the nation’s leading experts on unconscious bias and workplace inclusion issues. As President of Cross-Cultural Communications, a San Diego based training firm, Sondra has more than 25 years’ experience as a speaker, trainer, and author. She helps professionals in Fortune 500 companies, public sector organizations, and dozens of associations find ways to successfully navigate and succeed in our increasingly diverse workplaces.
Yesterday was Halloween – not my favorite holiday – too... Read More
– Boo! Bias as Magical Thinking
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– Unconscious Bias: The News Isn’t All Bad
“I would not hesitate to recommend your services to any... Read More
– Kerry Joyes, Former Director, Educational Enterprises Watch, Think, Act
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Once those questions are answered, Sondra will customize your presentation of choice with the aim of creating something that will resonate with your particular group. This might include client-specific examples, the use of industry language, and particular attention to your organization’s current experiences.
Your presentation will be delivered in the format of your choice.
Perhaps you are looking for a short keynote address in front of a large audience or maybe you require an informal session to a smaller group.
Maybe you’d prefer a half-day workshop or an offering that is video-conferenced to several locations throughout the world.
As an alternative, you might want a webinar delivered from Sondra’s office to participants in dozens of locations around the globe.
“Sondra’s unique ability to engage the audience made us feel as if we were in the same room with her…”
– Janice Bowman, President of the Association of Diversity Councils
Webinars offer the same information as a live presentation. Your webinar includes:
“For 90 minutes, Sondra kept the participants engaged. She told amusing anecdotes, employed industry-specific examples, and took an involving approach that got her message across. No matter what your industry, if you’re thinking of producing a diversity webinar, I would highly recommend Sondra Thiederman…”
– Cindy Levernois, Director, Helathcare Association of New York State
“Sondra’s teleconference was excellent and readily applicable to our practice. Though you were not physically with us, your passion, warmth and humor came through loud and clear. I don’t think there are many speakers that can do that!”
– Young Hee Kim, Program Chair, Western Area Massachusetts Diatetic Association
Dear Visitor:
You probably wouldn’t be at this web site if you weren’t to some degree confronted with the challenges of unconscious bias.
Perhaps you are facing the impact of unconscious bias on hiring and promotions. Maybe the damage is manifested in relationships with customers or clients or in the inability to retain a diverse workforce that – research firmly shows — enhances your organization’s ability to succeed.
No matter what your specific challenge, you have stumbled into an area that is both fascinating and mysterious and, at times, a little scary.
That fascination along with a desire to relieve the problems that biases create is why I have spent upwards of 25 years working in this area. In the course of that time, I’ve come to six conclusions – let’s call them principles – that shape and inform my presentations and my thinking.
Principle #1: There’s a lot we can do to both manage and defeat unconscious bias. Whereas there was a time when most believed that unconscious bias could not be defeated, extensive research has proven otherwise. (Research Blog #1, Research Blog #2, Research Blog #3)
Principle #2: Having a bias does not make people bad. We all have biases; it’s what we do about them that matters.
Principle #3: There are immediately applicable techniques for becoming aware of many unconscious biases. It’s a matter of alertness and commitment and habit.
Principle #4: Identifying what we have in common is a key strategy for defeating unconscious bias. The idea is to simultaneously value diversity while focusing on what we share.
Principle #5: Another element in the fight against unconscious bias is to encourage respectful and courageous dialogue.
Principle #6: The tools for defeating unconscious bias are tangible and immediately applicable. Yes, unconscious biases may seem mysterious and scary, but the solutions are not.
I’d love to hear your comments and how your point of view compares to mine.
Here’s to defeating unconscious bias,
Sondra T.
Honored as a “Pioneer in Diversity” by Profiles in Diversity Journal, Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D. has been immersed in the topics of unconscious bias and workplace diversity/inclusion for nearly three decades.
Sondra’s work in the field of diversity and inclusion continues to this day; she researches the unique problems of her varied clients, preparing resources and presentations that enlighten, engage, and encourage change. She works with companies and media outlets around the world in her mission to help organizations move beyond bias.
Sondra is the author of a number of books including:
Sondra’s client list spans industries and associations ranging from aerospace (The Boeing Company) to Finance (Ernst and Young) to health care (The Mayo Clinic) to communications (AT&T) and beyond.
Click below to find your industry and feel free to contact our office for information on how a presentation can be tailored to your needs.