Author Interview: Sondra Thiederman, PhD

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

 

Sondra Thiederman had some practical ideas in her book, Making Diversity Work: Seven Steps for Defeating Bias in the Workplace. Here's a chat with the author.

What don't project managers know that would make them more interested in managing diversity in a more sophisticated way?

Managing diversity effectively has a practical and often immediate impact on workplace effectiveness. When managed poorly, biases can flourish and, in turn, create tension, misunderstandings and even litigation. These tensions, in turn, cost managers time. They may spend time soothing the feelings of a member of an emerging group (formerly: "minority group") who has felt discriminated against. They may spend valuable energy and, again, time mediating conflicts that are related to intra-staff bias, racism or sexism. In short, the more we manage diversity effectively and the more we work to reduce the biases in our workplaces, the more time and energy managers will have to do their jobs effectively.

How does bias reduce workforce performance?

Biases reduce workforce performance in innumerable ways. Most commonly, workers who are the targets of bias fail to receive the opportunities or feedback they need to succeed. In cases in which the bias directed against the person is negative, they may fail to be given opportunities to learn because managers assume they are …

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