Joe Gerstandt | keynote speaker, freedom fighter, freak-flag flier

One of the books I have really enjoyed this year is Switch from the Heath brothers.  One of the ideas that has continued to bounce around in my head since I first read it is: What looks like resistance is often a lack of clarity. I find this to be very true, especially regarding the   [Read More…]

I am in Chattanooga, TN and will be presenting for the local SHRM chapter tomorrow.  Here are my slides…lot to cover! Why (and How) Diversity Matters Now View more presentations from Joe Gerstandt.  

Brand new human being, being pretty freaking cute. Little bit lax on the blogging this week as we brought our brand new baby boy home this weekend.  Allow me to introduce you to Oscar Augustus (ozzie)…   Be good to each other.

I know smart people. When you have no original ideas of your own, like me, you have to find ways to be around smart people and I have a massive collection of smart people in my life.  One of them is Mark Hirschfeld.  It is always cool to see someone that you have known for   [Read More…]

Where does responsibility for Diversity and Inclusion belong? I think organizations that do D&I well are good at diffusing resonsibility from top to bottom and side to side, but internal practitioners are generally housed inside of the HR function.  This issue is to some degree dependent on the size of the organization and the scope   [Read More…]

Diversity (difference) and shows up in a lot of different ways…there are many ways that we can be different from each other.  A couple of important characteristics of difference: Difference is relational…it exists within the context of relationships.  Diversity (or difference) does not exist in people, but between people.  Difference is a relational attribute and   [Read More…]

When I tell people that my work is about helping organizations and communities build inclusive cultures, they generally think that I advocate a kinder, gentler way of doing things.  I do not.  I do not have anything against kinder or gentler, but inclusive is not kinder, gentler.  Inclusive is not giving everyone a trophy.  It   [Read More…]

The power of mixing stuff up. Here is a great clip about the value of difference from leadership guru Tom Peters.  If you are not he boss, president or CEO, you should forward this on to them today.  Not only is from Tom Peters (who I dig a lot) but he is talking about insights   [Read More…]

I am attending HRevolution 2010 and not entirely sure what to expect, but I am very much looking forward to it. Giddy, you might say.  It will, at the very least, be a great opportunity to meet a number of folks that I know online but have not yet met in real life. I am   [Read More…]