Diversity Done Right with Tyronne Stoudmire

Tell us about your book,
"Diversity Done Right" is a surprising new look at diversity, equity, and inclusion at contemporary workplaces and beyond.
In my book Diversity Done Right: Navigating Cultural Difference to Create Positive Change in the Workplace is a necessary tool to navigate in our world today.  As Senior Vice President of Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Hyatt Hotel Corporation, and a diversity practitioner for the last three decades I have had the opportunity to drive enlightening and startling look at group dynamics via using case studies and interviews representing a variety of backgrounds. In my book, you’ll learn how to use proven and tested frameworks and tools to assess, develop, and demonstrate cross cultural competence and humility in each chapter.
You’ll also discover:
·       Strategies for developing humility and understanding of organizational and societal group dynamics.
·       Real-world examples of situations in which individuals were offended or harmed through the misbehavior of others.
·       The consequences of the collision of different world views
Perfect for managers, executives, directors, and other business leaders, Diversity Done Right will also prove invaluable to human resources professionals and DEI leaders seeking to make their workplaces more just places.

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What has your experience been since you've become an author?
I believe it’s a little too early to talk about my full experience at this point.  However, becoming an author has been a transformative journey that transcends mere writing. It’s a path marked not just by the creation of words, but by the crafting of worlds, the shaping of ideas, and the stirring of emotions. Many people have come up to me at the airport, in the grocery store and even out at dinner, expressing their gratitude and excitement about the book. I guess you can say have reached a different level of expertise and notoriety by becoming an author.

What advice would you give someone who seeks to become an author?
Many people who love to write want to become authors. Whether you want to write a best-selling novel, a self-help book, or an interesting memoir, the path to becoming an author takes hard work, persistence, and a plan.
Here are a few tips I used in becoming an author:

• Practice is the best way to get better at writing
• Ask other writers, beta readers, or people in writing groups for constructive critiques
• Try different writing methods and find the best ones that represents your voice
• Polish your work by reviewing it carefully and making changes
• Test and learn on your social media platforms
• Create content and publish on social media

How has your faith impacted your journey?
Faith is important in everyday life. It provides a steady compass. It is not the destination but a journey. My relationship with Jesus changes how I see things and how to walk in and out of situations. My faith touches various aspects of my being and helped to shape my worldview down through the years. Faith provides a sense of confidence and freedom, knowing that I am not alone and can trust in a higher power to guide me. It helped me to know what matters most and keeps me focused on what was important to me and my family and any success that I have gained.  

What is your advice in staying safe and fighting at the same time?
When it comes to staying safe and handling confrontational situations, there are several strategies I have found to be helpful that everyone can employ. Whether you’re dealing with hostile individuals or facing multiple assailants, here are some key tips:
Psychological safety in the workplace, consider the following steps:

• Talk about it openly and acknowledge its importance.
• Assess your organization’s psychological safety performance using the Psychological Safety Scale.
• Request employee input to foster a sense of safety.
• Admit mistakes and encourage a culture of learning.
• Prioritize your safety: If you feel uncomfortable or threatened, leave the situation. Seek help or contact law enforcement if necessary.
• Distance matters: Maintain a healthy distance from aggressive individuals. Avoid engaging unless absolutely necessary.

How do you handle situations that won't respect Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)?
I have learned over the years a few powerful ways to take real action on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace and here are a few.

• Change the conversation. The inability to have meaningful conversations contributes significantly to the unproductive relationships that can sometimes develop across diversity divides which creates polarization; them versus us one up and one down. Most leaders will focus on managing and preserving the status quo, diversity equity inclusion is about challenging the status quo.
• Map network connections across boundaries. Removing boundaries struggles and pitfalls which prohibits equality for all.
• Boost coaching, mentoring, and sponsoring. Understanding the real meaning of coaching, mentoring and sponsorship. In today’s environment people really need sponsorship more than anything else. Studies and research say that 80% of what is said about you is when you are not in the room.  if you have sponsors to speak up on your behalf for example “perhaps Charles is not having a good day”, “did you know that he was in a car accident this morning before coming to work”. When we are in relationship with one another we are more likely to speak positive and demonstrate empathy plus action equal’s care.

Most talent practices are full of bias.  Analyze talent practices and focus on equality and equity for all not just for one race or class of people is key!