We Offer the Most Effective Diversity Training Workshops, Programs, and Train-The-Trainer Certification   Learn and Teach Diversity and Cross Cultural Competence: Read about our powerful Learning and Certification Programs below.. We take diversity personally. Our twenty years of experience in diversity programs has shown that it's only when people take diversity personally that they are able to turn it into a practice at work. In our nationally recognized diversity training, we do make the business case for diversity. But the way we make this last is by inspiring people to develop a personal commitment to diversity that enables them to manage it effectively everyday on the job. We have done it for some of America's leading organizations, including the New York Public Library, and others. Take a look at the variety of tools, diversity training and certification  programs and videos below, and call us to discuss how we can help you create a culture that champions diversity at work. Call: 1-973-427-3004 or Email Us at: info@communicationideas.com

Get our Free Newsletter to build the new workplace of diversity PLUS $100s Worth of Coupons to our Seminars Get FREE inspiring ideas and Best Practices for creating the Brave New Workplace of diversity, creativity, and collaboration by adding your e-mail below to receive our "Thank God It's Monday" newsletter. You will also get coupons worth several $100s for our seminars and certifiation programs. Join the Thank God It's Monday mailing list Email: Send Page To a Friend

We Can Deliver It at Your Organization, Or You Can Deliver It Yourself   Our pioneering, nationally recognized "Diversity at Work" training effectively brings all 'different' people together. As it celebrates diversity, the workshop also emphasizes the importance of unity and shared values within a unified organizational culture. Click the link below for more information on our Diversity at Work workshop.. Click for Diversity at Work workshop

Generational Diversity: How To Communicate With Generation Y Generation Y members have been molded by Instant Messaging (IM). Having grown with the Internet and cell phones as natural day-to-day devices, the “Y” ers are used to constant communication with their peers and immediate responses to their questions and requests. This culture of instant, short communication, with short, abbreviated text and videos, has made Generation Y a group of fast, visual, and social humans, while rendering them impatient and intolerant of rules and regulations. And for better or worse, they now populate the workplace. How can you work and communicate more effectively with them? One key principle is to modify your communication style. After all, one of the key principles of effective communication is to speak the language of the listener. So to reach Generation Y you need to adopt their communication style, using faster and shorter sentences, engaging them in more frequent communication, and expecting and providing faster responses. Generation Y members are more social and need to be more in touch with their peers, particularly through technology. Providing them opportunities to work in teams will be very helpful to them and the organization. They also need to explore and use the latest technologies at work. Creating a culture that respects and encourages these special preferences will ensure that Generation Y members will perform better and feel better at work. For a training segment on Generational Diversity, see our Diversity At Work workshop on this page.

Unprecedented Opportunity.. Learn and Get Certified to Deliver TWO Most Popular Workshops In One Process: You will receive: • Diversity Training Certification • Cross Cultural Skills / Global Competency Certification . Diversity & Inclusion at Work, and Cross Cultural Competency workshops are available for online certification. Click for complete details: http://www.humanext.com/humanext-seminars.html   Click for Diversity at Work workshop

Diversity at Work Customizable Workshop Template: Just Buy and Deliver $395.00 We have created the ultimate tool to help you produce and deliver a Diversity at Work workshop that projects your organization's mission, message, and culture. We put all the key elements of our pioneering Diversity at Work Workshop in a friendly MS Word file template that you can customize and use. You will get all the important information you need to deliver, from the business case for diversity, the value of diversity at work, the respectful workplace, the relationship to Affirmative Action and EEO requirements, to creating diversity councils, and implementing diversity programs. But the program does not just deliver important information. It delivers a series of exercises and group activities that bring the concept and practice of valuing diversity to participants in a powerful training session. These exercises will help participants develop a positive appreciation of diversity at work. The complete, customizable package of materials included in this program: Facilitator's Guide, Slides, Assessments, Handouts, and Participant Workbook, makes this ready to use program all you need to customize and deliver a powerful diversity awareness training at your organization, with minimum investments in time, effort and money. Just plug in your organization's logo, mission statement, diversity statement (We give you examples) and you have a complete program. Complete Diversity at Work Training Workshop in MS Word and PowerPoint Slides- License for one trainer/ one organization: Buy Now One-Trainer License For $100 off the regular price- Just $395.00 Independent consultants may get certified to become a HumaNext Affiliate to deliver this workshop by attending the Certification Process, or, if not interested in becoming a HumaNext Affiliate, may purchase a Consultant/ Multi-Organization License for $100 off the regular price- Just $495   Click for Diversity at Work workshop

In 1990, Hospitals magazine, the leading healthcare publication in the United States, interviewed Francois Basili about his pioneering work in integrating diversity into the corporate culture as part of good employee relations and good customer service, not as a separate program. The Bureau of National Affairs invited Basili to participate in their multi-volume video based training program, "Bridges." As our early work in this field attracted national recognition, our current work in taking diversity to its logical next step is achieving similar recognition. Our new training workshop, "Diversity at Work" is already helping leading organizations set a new standard for their diversity programs. Click for Diversity at Work workshop

Basili's Diversity Training Covered by National Magazines   Francois Basili ( currently president of Communication Ideas) as appeared in his interview piece by Hospitals Magazine, which covered his early pioneering work in diversity training in 1990. In spring, 2003, Diversity Inc. magazine interviewed Basili for his views on cultural diversity and its effect on the situation in Iraq. Contact us for information at 1-973-427-3004 Click for Diversity at Work workshop

Diversity at Work Onsite Workshop or Keynote Speech Our powerful 'Diversity at Work' one day or half a day workshop brings to the forefront the tremendous value of respecting “The Other” and working in harmony with people from different cultural, social, and personal backgrounds. This next wave of diversity training is the right concept for today’s reality, and it's the right business investment in building good employee relations, respectful corporate culture and exceptional customer service. This innovative workshop brings a new awareness of the value of diversity of peoples within a unified business purpose. But it does not stop at just raising awareness. It goes beyond awareness to deliver skills for working and communicating effectively within a unified work culture of diversity. We use powerful multi-sensory media, from training videos and inter active exercises to world music and slides to bring the learning points home effectively in an upbeat multi-cultural environment. We can supplement our training workshops with employee communication tools, programs, and content for your company publications and Intranet, to create a campaign to create a culture of diversity at work. Our one hour presentation or key note speech on Diversity at Work astonishes its audience by being unusually interactive, dynamic, and packed with group exercises and activities. It not only delivers to the audience a powerful ‘Diversity’ experience that alters their views on the subject, but it also does so in a highly dynamic and fun environment filled with surprising insights and real world human perspective. The result is an audience whose hearts and minds are deeply touched by the experience, and therefore move with passion to embrace Diversity and turn it into a day-to-day practice at work. No wonder national magazines like Hospitals, and leading training organizations like ‘The Bureau of National Affairs’ have recognized our work and collaborated with us on the Diversity issue. Call us to E-mail you an outline of our dynamic workshop, presentation, or keynote speech: 973-427-3004 Click for Diversity at Work workshop

What Participants Said About our Diversity Session at Stevens Institute of Technology

Recently, Francois Basili delivered a ninety minute presentation on Diversity at Work and Cross Cultural Communication to the Graduate Program at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. Here are some of participants’ comments in the evaluation sheets; - Excellent presentation. Very informative./ - Very helpful to understand our differences./ The speaker was very well prepared. Nice sense of humor./ - Excellent role playing activities. Very informative. I can change for the better./ - Surely it is applicable to my work. Click for Diversity at Work workshop

This is what a director of research at the second largest library system in the world wrote in the evaluation sheet of our Diversity at Work workshop. Whether your employees are holders of a Ph.D. degree like this research director, or high school graduates like some of our other participants, they will benefit equally from our inspiring and powerful Diversity at Work workshop. For an onsite training session at your organization, call us for our Diversity Overview Proposal at 1-973-427-3004 To facilitate our Diversity at Work yourself, order the program in electronic MS Word and PowerPoint slides format with complete Leader's Guide and reproducible Participant Workbook- One-Trainer/One-Organization License now only $395 Independent consultants may get certified to become a HumaNext Affiliate to deliver this workshop by attending the Certification Process, or, if not interested in becoming a HumaNext Affiliate, may purchase a Consultant/ Multi-Organization License for $495   Click for Diversity at Work workshop

Valuing Diversity Self-Inventory Profile for Trainers and Consultants - Reproducible Or Online   The Valuing Diversity Profile is a self-scoring, self-inventory designed to profile participants' extent of knowledge, awareness, and practices relating to the issue of diversity. The self-scoring Profile is in an MS Word document so that you may customize it by adding an organization's name or logo, or the title of the training program you are conducting. (It's also available online- See below.) Reproducible: Make any number of copies of this Profile for use by your team, or your entire organization. Consultants can use it for their clients' employees. You can use this assessment tool on its own to gain a sense of diversity awareness at your organization or team. It takes only about 15 minutes to complete, so you can use it in a meeting or part of a training session. You can use the Profile as part of a workshop on diversity. In this case you can use it once early on in the workshop, or use it twice before and after the workshop to measure the impact of the training. Customizable and Reproducible Valuing Diversity Profile- Single User License for One Organization / Location $129.95 Consultants, and Organizations with Multiple Locations, Must Use the Multi-Site License for $149.95 Also available online: Providing privacy, saving your employees time adding, and saving you time copying, distributing, gathering, and adding. Diversity Profile Online - First 10 users/Each $20.00   Diversity Profile Online - 11th to 20th user/Each $19.00  Diversity Profile Online - 21st to 50th user/Each $17.50   Diversity Profile Online - 51st to 100th user/Each $16.00  Contact us for details and access to a sample at service@communicationideas.com

50 Activities for Diversity Training. $139.95 The 50 activities in this resource book have been tested with hundreds of participants to ensure their appropriateness and effectiveness for a variety of diversity training needs. Employees at all levels will be stimulated by interactively learning about cultural and gender differences, and mastering new skills for communicating more effectively in our diverse workplaces. Each activity is ready to use and includes trainer's notes and all necessary handouts and overhead transparency masters. They each take between 15 and 45 minutes to complete. Training Objectives: Illustrate how cultural differences may impact behavior; Increase awareness of the impact of culture in the workplace; Demonstrate skills for managing a culturally diverse work force; Address issues of gender in the workplace. 300 Pages /3-ring binder...Code HR-50DT /$139.95

The Questions of Diversity: Reproducible Survey Instruments and Activities $149.95 Organizations committed to diversity issues cannot afford to be without this valuable collection of tools. This comprehensive resource provides valuable insights and directions for exploring your organization's willingness and ability to function effectively in a multicultural environment. It includes fully reproducible instruments to help you implement diversity efforts in your organization. All of the instruments are also included on diskette for easy customization. Includes: 15 survey instruments on diskette Tips for using diversity surveys Five dynamic activities for group/individual training Case studies Files on diskette are in Microsoft Word Format. 200 pages / 3-ring binder + diskette / Code..QD / $149.95 Click for more details about our powerful Diversity @ work Training

Why Diversity Is the Hottest Issue Today Each of the four politicians who dominated the news in various parts of 2008 represents one diversity issue or aspect. It is valuable to bring national events into your training or your discussion of diversity at work. While most people talked about the historic event for a national party to nominate an African American for the first time, and others talked about how Hillary Clinton’s campaign made it easier for other women to try for the nomination in the future to become the first woman president, and yet others celebrated the choice of Sarah Palin as the first Republican woman to be chosen for the VP position, some have missed the fact that the Republican candidate John McCain also represents an important aspect of diversity, which is age, and generational diversity. The 2008 Presidential election is a testimony to the real progress the issue of diversity has achieved in American life.

Dialogue! Now You're Talking Video Series for Diversity Training   Dialogue! Now You're Talking Series consists of four video-based training programs: Program 1. Communicating in a Diverse World. Overview. What is dialogue - contrasting debate and dialogue. Initiating Dialogue - how to do it, where to do it. The skills of Dialogue - Suspension (of judgment, decision making and status) Listening (with empathy, for understanding, showing you care) Discovery (uncovering and sharing hidden assumptions in yourself and others). Includes a dramatization of how Dialogue helps us communicate across job functions, helping improve relations between people at different levels within the organization as well as between different departments or areas of expertise. Program 2. Dialogue for Cultural Understanding. We apply the skills of dialogue outlined in Program 1 to challenges faced in culturally diverse work environments. We see a dramatization that demonstrates how dialogue can be used to open communication, uncover hidden assumptions, break down stereotypes and facilitate more productive relationships. Program 3. Dialogue between Genders. A dramatized dialogue shows us how the skills we learned in Program 1 can be used to overcome misunderstandings, break down gender stereotypes and improve communications between men and women at work. Program 4. Dialogue among Generations. We demonstrate how the skills of dialogue can be used to bridge the personal and professional style differences that exist between employees of different ages. We uncover how divergent personal and world views common to people of different generations can lead to misunderstandings and distrust and how dialogue can help overcome age barriers and build more productive workplace relationships. Purchase any one program of the above four $625.00 Purchase any two programs For $1062.50 Purchase any three programs For $1462.50 Rent any one program of the above four $295.00 Purchase all four programs for $1875.00 Call us for a Free Preview of this video program email your complete business contact information to  service@communicationideas.com  Support materials include a comprehensive facilitation guide, reproducible handouts, pre- and post-assessments, and PowerPoint slides for classroom presentation.

Measuring Diversity Results and Return On Investment Tool $149.00 Measuring Diversity Results (MDR) Software Tools are packed with powerful formulas and template masters that electronically support calculating diversity ROI. This software is designed to support the groundbreaking approaches to Measuring Diversity Results and How to Calculate Diversity Return on Investment (DROI), by Dr. Edward E. Hubbard. The software provides automated approaches for measuring recruitment and retention, supplier diversity impact, forecasting the time it will take to accomplish a diversity initiative, assessing diversity training impact, and more. It will help you to: Analyze the Survival and Loss Rate among new diverse employee groups Analyze Diversity Hire Performance Impact Calculate Diversity Hit Rate Calculate the Cost per Diversity Hire Analyze the Time to Fill Rate Calculate Your Diversity Return-on-Investment Analyze Gender-based Pay Differentials Calculate the Average Diversity Return-on-Investment And more. Measuring Diversity Results Stat Pack Software and Book/ Code: HRMDRS/ $149.00

The Diversity Series: 4 Complete Video-based Programs We have comprehensive video-based training programs on diversity and the respectful workplace. You can purchase these programs to facilitate them yourelf, or invite us to facilitate them for you. The Diversity Series is a series of 4 programs designed for managers and employees. We focus on the legal, ethical and practical definitions of diversity and address some of the complex issues organizations and employees face. We explore issues of communication styles, workplace values, conflict, stereotypes, fear and building productive workplace relationships with those who are different from us in a variety of ways. Program Contents: Program 1, On the Threshold of Change, is the overview module. We explore the definition of diversity and how it can impact our work lives. Program 2, Gender and Sexual Orientation Workplace Issues.... Program 3, Race, Ethnicity, Language and Religion Workplace Issues. Program 4, Age and Physical Ability Workplace... Scenarios: Each program in The Diversity Series includes dramatizations designed to help focus and stimulate discussion. There are 6 of these scenarios in the series. Purchase any one program of the above four $625.00 Rent any one program of the above four $295.00 Purchase all four programs for $1875.00 For a free online preview of this series send your request specifiying the video and complete business information to service@communicationideas.com

The Diversity Assessment Scale is a web-based workforce assessment tool, consisting of the employee survey and management reports used by organizations to learn about employees’ knowledge, views and experiences relating to diversity and the work environment. The survey results are reported in the form of management reports, providing valuable insight to the organization’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in order to plan a strategy to advance the organization’s diversity efforts. Click the link below for more information on the Diversity Assessment Scale.. Click for Diversity Assessment Scale Online

How Men and Women Think and Work Differently: Gender Diversity at Work. Free Preview  When Lori and Rich Boulware of Kendall Park, New Jersey, hit the road recently, their navigational radars were tuned into different frequencies. Rich used a mental map while Lori used landmarks to get around. As the couple tried to get around a tricky area of town, Rich said, "Turn left on Webster," while Lori said, "You have to turn before the ice cream cone." Dr, Helen Fisher, an expert in gender differences, says the Boulwares are not unusual in their navigational skills. Does the Boulwares’ family story sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Fact is, men and women are very different in the way they speak, behave, solve problems, and even remember where the car keys are. Join host Dr. Nancy Snyderman and a focus group of working men and women as they play THE BRAIN GAME to discover the different strengths men and women bring to problem solving. The Brain Game Training Video Purchase $495.00 / Code..CV-BGP/ 5 day rental for $165.00

The ADA Revisited   The ADA Revisited is based onthe White Ribbon Award Winner, The ADA On Video Program Objectives The ADA Revisited is intended to inform managers and other employees about the opportunities and legal responsibilities organizations and individuals face under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is an excellent way to allay fears and misconceptions about the ADA while sensitizing employees to the benefits of a diverse workforce that includes persons with different abilities. Program Contents The ADA Revisited combines analysis of the ADA by a team of legal experts as well as interviews with employees with disabilities and their managers to provide a balanced view of the impact of the ADA in today’s workplaces. We examine the law’s requirements regarding interviewing and hiring practices, what constitutes equal access to employment benefits and training, how to determine the “essential functions” of a job, as well as what “reasonable accommodations” are and when they are needed. Support Materials The ADA Revisited comes with a comprehensive facilitation package that includes a training guide with course outlines for shorter or more complete training, reproducible handouts, and a Questions & Answers publication from the US Department of Justice and the EEOC. Available in DVD or VHS format. Purchase the program for $625.00 Or rent it for $295.00

AWESOME! Generation Y Training Video Program AWESOME! A New Generation Y Training Video Program- Two videos in one complete training package for $625 Part 1 - A New Generation @ Work  - Part 2 - Engaging Gen Y Overview: What makes Generation Y different? What experiences have influenced their attitudes, values and work styles? What do they need to be successful at work? How can organizations engage and inspire them to maximize their impact and productivity? These questions are becoming increasingly important as the largest generation in history begins entering the workforce. In the next few years, Gen Y will constitute 38% of all employees. They are smart, adaptable, energetic, skilled and eager to make their mark. At the same time, these young people do things differently and enter the world of employment with great expectations and a culture that may be unfamiliar to many of us. Program Contents: To help you better prepare for the task of engaging, inspiring and productively channeling the energies of your new employees, we have created AWESOME!, a 2-part video-based training program. Part 1, “A New Generation @ Work”, presents 24 Gen Y employees from a wide range of occupations who share what makes them tick. Part 2, “Engaging Gen Y”, introduces 5 managers who present their views on how to help Millennials succeed. You’ll be enlightened, energized and entertained! Support Materials: A comprehensive facilitation package accompanies the program and includes a facilitator’s guide, PowerPoint slides, reproducible handouts and program transcripts. Purchase now at $625 Or Rent it (5 days) for $295 Free Preview: For a no-cost online preview send your complete busness information to: service@communicationideas.com

The Fairer Sex? In What Subtle Ways Are Women Treated Differently? Training Video- Free Preview "That man walked in and the interviewer began talking about managerial jobs. She walked in and he was talking about filing!" Women face barriers in the workplace...but it doesn't stop there. With the aid of hidden cameras and microphones, ABC NEWS Prime Time Live went undercover to investigate discriminatory practices against women in routine, day to day transactions and situations. The results will surprise you. THE FAIRER SEX? focuses on the subject of gender bias in our society and its underlying causes. In what subtle ways are women discriminated against? What determines the types of jobs women are offered? Why do women pay more for cars and other retail purchases? Why does society accept economic discrimination against women? THE FAIRER SEX? Part of the Undeniable Series (See http://www.videos4training.com/discrimination-videos.html for all videos in that Series) treats the subject of discrimination in a sensitive, non-confrontational way. Your managers and supervisors will welcome an opportunity to discuss this important subject. CLOSED-CAPTIONED Produced by ABC News Length: 19 minutes Purchase Price: $325.00 $295.00 Price for government, education and non-Profit

What Is the Most Loving Way I Can Resolve this Conflict? This is what Martin Luther King used to ask himself upon encountering conflict. It is a question managers would benefit from asking when faced with conflict at work. It is also a principle they can apply in their communication and management styles for a more effective way to resolve conflict and build teamwork. Trying to tackle conflict in a loving way is a very good lesson to learn from a man who peacefully and lovingly endured all kinds of physical and psychological violence; harassment, threats, beatings, and even bombings. He went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom and dignity for others. The principle of non-violence is as useful and effective in social change as in corporate culture change and performance improvement change. A manager must make sure that he / she does not do violence to the dignity of the people supervised. But unfortunately many managers are totally unaware of this most important of their obligations. The result is that they create a toxic workplace where people walk around with wounded spirits and damaged dignity. In celebrating King's Birthday, Black History Month, and diversity initiatives, an organization should take a wider view of the meaning of Dr. King's life and principles, and find practical ways to put these principles to work in the workplace. Offering a conflict resolution training program which incorporates the habit of asking "what is the most loving way I can resolve this conflict?" is one of the practical ways of truly celebrating diversity at work. (c) From "Content for Communicators" - a Communication Ideas' collection of articles for your publications. Get 12 monthly issues of Content for Communicators packed with articles and cartoons for $149.00 Join the Thank God It's Monday mailing list Email: Send Page To a Friend

Diversity Case-Study: When Men and Women Refuse to Shake Hands at Work In a workshop on Diversity at Work I was giving, a participant related the following incident. He said that a new female Muslim employee arrived on her first day of work wearing the Muslim 'Higab' dress, covering her entire body, except her face. When colleagues came to welcome her, she refused to shake their hands. She explained that she could not do this for religious reasons based on the teachings of Islam. Her colleagues felt embarrassed and uncomfortable. Some asked, 'how come we are supposed to accommodate her and she is not supposed to accommodate us? What about 'our' values and customs of openness and equality? Do we have to sacrifice them and settle for a culture that separates the sexes?’ “How is diversity supposed to help in this case,’ the participant asked me. An article in the New York Times Magazine of 10/27/2002 gave us another interesting case in which a reader wrote to The Ethicist column: "The courteous and competent real-estate agent I'd just hired to rent my house shocked and offended me when, after we signed our contract, he refused to shake my hand, saying that as an Orthodox Jew, he did not touch women. As a feminist, I oppose sex discrimination of all sorts. However, I also support freedom of religious expression. How do I balance these conflicting values? Should I tear up our contract? The New York Times Magazine’s ethicist, Randy Cohen, advised the reader with the following: "you’re entitled to work with someone who will treat you with the dignity and respect he shows his male clients. If this involved only his own person- adherence to laws concerning diet or dress, for example- you should of course be tolerant. But his actions directly affect you. And sexism is sexism, even when motivated by religious convictions. I believe you should tear up your contract." These two real life cases illustrate the fact that sometimes there are no clear or easy answers to the tough questions of living and working effectively in a culture of diversity. But this should not stop us. There is no doubt that the American workplace has become increasingly diverse, with people of different cultures, ethnicities, religions, abilities, styles, and sexual orientations work together and deal with each other on daily basis. The concept of diversity calls upon us to have a mind set open enough not just to accept differences but to value and celebrate our differences. Differences are considered a source of strength, which they are. In teaching diversity, we need to go beyond the generic call for tolerance, and delve deeply into the ‘how-to’ of working together when we are different. My answer to the participant’s question was this: "The two sides in this scenario, the Muslim woman and the organization represented by its HR department, needed to take a more proactive approach that would lessen the negative impact of the situation. Since it was clear that the woman dressed differently for religious reasons, the HR people should have asked her about any special needs she might have, and about how she planed to work with men. The Muslim employee also has an obligation to understand the impact of her behavior on others. She should take a proactive stance in making her special needs known to the HR people. In this case, they might have been able to talk to the department about her ‘no shaking hands’ requirement, which might have averted the embarrassing situation. This applies also to the case of an employee with any kind of disability. The other part of my answer was that in the long term, the Muslim woman will be judged by her colleagues on the basis of her deeper human interaction with them, not on her dress or costumes. They will like or dislike her as they would any other person, based on how she relates and works with them, whether she is truthful, graceful, and kind, and what personal traits and qualities she has. If she turned out to be a great person, her colleagues would easily forget and forgive the ‘no shaking hands’ incident. If she turned out to be a difficult person or worse, they would avoid her and relate to her negatively. As far as the organization is concerned, the test would be how she performs her job, including how she works with others to get things done. It is important to realized that diversity’s call for treating people as equal does not mean treating them as if they were similar. People are equal in their right to dignity and respect, but they are not equal in their abilities, nor should we mistakenly think that they are similar. It has been said that people are similar in 95% of what they think, feel, and do. But it’s the remaining 5% part that causes all the problems. Effective Diversity training helps people become more open to differences in general, and more skilled in handling this problematic 5% part in particular. (c) By: Francois Basili- CommunicationIdeas.com - If you want Francois Basili to deliver a powerful diversity training workshop at your organization or conference, call us at 973-427-3004 Join the Thank God It's Monday mailing list Email: Send Page To a Friend Click for more details about our powerful Diversity @ work Training

Can One Person Change the World? Rosa Parks as a Model If you ever doubted your capacity for making significant impact on your work, your organization, or even your world, just examine the impact that Rosa Parks had left on the world, with one simple, courageous act. She did not have special skills that no body else possessed. She did not necessarily know better than others. She did not have better education, or connections, or wealth. She seemed as simple and powerless as they come. Yet it turned out that she was not powerless at all. It turned out that she, a simple individual, had all the power anyone can ever dream of having. That power is available to you too. It’s inside you, just looking for your decision to release it, as Rosa Parks did when she refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white man. One of the amazing secrets of life is that changing the world is a power that lies in the hands of ordinary individuals, if only they realize and exercise that power. And you don’t have to go to the end of the world to do it. You can do it right where you are now. Perhaps where you work or where you live. Rosa Parks did it on the bus she was riding. By her simple yet powerful act of defiance, courage, and moral dignity, she inspired the civil rights movement in the United States, and many similar struggles around the world. Ask yourself: What did Rosa Parks had that I don’t have? Ask yourself: In what ways can I change the world by starting where I’m now? (c) 2005 Communication Ideas - This article is part of our Content For Communicators service. Add high value and interest to your publications: Get 12 volumes of articles and cartoons to publish in your print or electronic publications for $149.00

The Holidays Diversity Challenge Holidays have become a diversity challenge for many organizations. While in the past decade or so, Diversity during the holidays meant adding a Hanukkah Menorah to Christmas decorations, it’s now a more complicated matter. Employees who follow other religions expect to see some accommodations to their own holidays and religious traditions. But with the wide variety of religious and cultural differences among an increasingly diverse employee pool, what should an organization do to make sure that its holiday events are sensitive to all? Here are a few guidelines that help: Don't assume that all employees celebrate Christmas. Be aware of the seasonal observances of all religions represented in your workforce.  Offer vegetarian alternatives for meals whenever possible. This is usually not difficult but it does require planning. Offering alcohol at parties may make some Christians and non-Christians uncomfortable. If you offer alcohol put it on a separate table and make sure you offer alternatives to it. Get the widest possible input from employees on holiday planning. Actually, let them do it themselves as much as possible. But if you try to accommodate all these requirements, wouldn’t that take away most of the joy of the holiday parties? And why shouldn’t the minority of employees who are not Christians accommodate the majority, instead of the other way around? These are some of the questions I get in my Diversity at Work workshop. So what’s the solution? What I say in response is that the principle of valuing diversity is simple. The objective is not to force the majority to abandon its cultural traditions to accommodate the minority. What’s suggested is for the organization to offer equal opportunity to the minority to feel included and not left out. Let’s remember that a true democracy is one that exercises the “majority rule” principle while protecting the rights of minorities. Diversity is a concept that increases people’s ability to work together in harmony while recognizing cultural and other differences. What do you think? Do you have an insight from handling this issue at work? Contact Francois Basili at info@communicationideas.com

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