Reviews for Inclusion Breakthrough: Unleashing the Real Power of Diversity

The average rating for Inclusion Breakthrough: Unleashing the Real Power of Diversity based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-05-29 00:00:00 Josef Costa I read this book in researching the topic for a webinar presentation I recorded on the value of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. While the book was published back in 2002, it carries important advice still relevant today. For instance, it starts off emphasizing that diversity is actually "mission critical"-- not some politically correct notion to appease an organization's reputation. How we embrace and make use of diversity can provide both internal and external value, attracting and retaining talented employees, as well as customers, investors, and others. I really appreciated their use of the phrase to be "an employer of choice". The book talks about four key areas that team leaders can be evaluated on to help them leverage differences: "Diversity: Hires, promotions, turnover, pay, grade distribution, and comparisons to other organizations. Do we have the diversity needed to get the best results? Inclusion: Succession, project team diversity, cross-division, and cross-department movement, mentoring, climate, morale, team effectiveness, and a 'How are we doing in our treatment of you?' Survey; Opportunity to grow: Training, mentoring, participation rates and rotation assignments. Are people getting the exposure that will enable them to make larger contributions in the future? Adding value: Performance ratings and skill distribution" (p. 53-54). The book has a lot of examples of how to incorporate, measure, and leverage diversity in very practical and realistic ways, illustrating their conclusion that "Most organizations believe that having a diverse workforce in itself will create value. In reality, having a diverse workforce is just having an under-leveraged asset unless there is strategic intent to unleash that diversity with the critical elements to support it…When diversity is leveraged, innovation and creativity take hold..." (p. 97).

Review # 2 was written on 2014-01-09 00:00:00 Thomas Herrera The Inclusion Breakthrough: Unleashing the Real Power of Diversity by Frederick A. Miller and Judith H. Katz was chosen by Soundview Executive Book Summaries as one of the Top 30 Business Books of 2013. THE SOUNDVIEW REVIEW: "Capitalizing on diversity requires more than simply hiring a diverse work force," argue Frederick A. Miller and Judith H. Katz in their book The Inclusion Breakthrough: Unleashing the Real Power of Diversity. Despite substantial changes in the demographics of the modern workplace during the past two decades, the term diversity is still a concept that escapes a strategic definition. In the new Soundview Executive Book Summary of Miller and Katz's book, executives have an opportunity to learn the way in which diversity can create an organizational breakthrough with diversity. The path to a breakthrough requires executives to commit to what the authors refer to as "radical change." Readers shouldn't quiver at the use of the word radical. The Inclusion Breakthrough demonstrates the intensity of change needed to power the "culture of inclusion." The authors emphasize repeatedly that it is the responsibility of the leaders to both create and stay at the forefront of the effort to create change. Executives should focus their energy on the book's second section "The Elements of an Inclusion Breakthrough." Miller and Katz provide five key elements that put practical business applications to diversity strategies. Of particular note is the element that recommends creating new competencies. Organizations that hold firm to their existing workplace competencies should heed the authors' advice that competencies, like software, need frequent updates to work at full efficiency. The theme of frequent evaluation and revision of various elements carries throughout The Inclusion Breakthrough. It is the kind of advice that can revolutionize your company's diversity strategy and can make a significant difference in other areas of your business, too. Soundview's 8-page Executive Book Summary of The Inclusion Breakthrough is available here.