NAVIGATING BUSINESS AND POLITICS

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2025
11:30AM - 1:00PM

REGISTER FOR THIS TRAINING

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A FREE SESSION FOR WVWA MEMBERS LED BY DR. MATTHEW WHITAKER OF DIAMOND STRATEGIES

Politics and the workplace. These words are often anxiety, fear, and anger inducing. 

The filtration of our political beliefs and allegiances into our employment ecosystems is an increasing reality. They color the lens through which we see the world, affect how we prioritize business needs and actions, and sway how we engage customers and their communities. You are a part of this dynamic, whether you like it or not. 

“The good news" is that if organizations choose to acknowledge this, they can navigate their way through it “ethically and effectively.”  “At its core,” writes psychologist Karlyn Borysenko, “the workplace is a social environment. Learning to thrive in that environment is contingent on building effective working relationships” that are built upon active listening and authenticity.  
There is a difference, however, between creating safe spaces for dialogue, involving rules of engagement informed by your mission, purpose, and values, and enabling political proselytizing and judgmental behavior that can traumatize and undermine morale. 

Missteps can alienate colleagues and customers, and damage businesses. The simple solution seems to be to avoid politicized topics completely, but this is practically impossible.  Policies directly impact businesses. Some may appear more beneficial for the general business climate. Some may be more sympathetic to specific types of businesses or industries.  In this context, it makes perfect sense for organizations to address politically charged topics. The challenge is respecting divergent points of view, embracing a consensus and Interest-Based-Resolution (IBR) approach problem identification and solving, and welcoming all voices and the historical context that gave rise to disparate points of view. This training will help you meet these challenges in a welcoming and interactive environment.

RECORDED TRAININGS

These videos have been created by Dr. Matthew Whitaker as a benefit for WVWA members and staff associated with member businesses as an extension of our regular DEBI training sessions. Please do not share these videos beyond your team. If you have any questions, please reach out to Morgen McLaughlin.

Demystifying DEI: It's About ALL OF US
This training is designed to help everyone learn more about the "why?" regarding DEI.  The topic is complex, sometimes heavy, and often misunderstood.  For example, some wonder what the difference is between D&I, DEI, DEIAB, DEBI, DEIB, IDEA, and JEDI.  Is it all about race, gender, and sexual orientation?  Where do White people, men, the neurodivergent, and disabled fit in this work?  Is it about quotas and advancing the unqualified?  How can DEI help promote cohesion and retention, and increase innovation and productivity.  Dr. Whitaker of Diamond Strategies leads a welcoming and empathic chat that helps explain DEI in layman's terms, and in doing so, invites everyone to learn more about how to maximize their human ecosystem.  

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Identifying, Navigation, and Responding to Microaggressions
Microaggressions are the silent killers of culture and productive workplaces," argues Coach Diversity Institute. “They take the form of snide comments, questionable compliments, poor body language, and deplorable behavior. In some cases, microaggressions are deliberate forms of discrimination or passive-aggressive attitudes. For others, the microaggressions are unintentional and stem from implicit bias. This training explores how organizations create a better workplace for individuals of all backgrounds and provide better services along the way.

Primer – Microaggressions are a big deal: How to talk them out and when to walk away, How to Deal with Emotional Triggers

ACCESS THE RECORDED TRAINING
VIEW THE PRESENTATION DECK

2024 TRAININGS

LGBTQ+: Activating and Inclusive Environments - Tuesday, January 9
Generational Differences in the Workplace - Tuesday, March 12
JEDI and Women: Activating and Inclusive Environments - Tuesday, April 2
Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Sustainability, and Innovation - Tuesday, April 9
Race and the Evolution of Oregon - Tuesday, May 14

2023 TRAININGS

Bystander Intervention Training - Tues., Aug. 15, 10am - 12pm
Managing Your Triggers - Wed., Sept. 13, 10:30am - 12:30pm
Abilities and Accessibility - Tues., Oct. 10, 10am - 12pm
Community Engagement and Outreach - Tues., Nov. 14, 10am - 12pm 

RECORDED TRAININGS AVAILABLE TO WVWA MEMBERS

Access to the recordings of previously offered trainings, is available by request.

• What is Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion?

• Inclusive Hiring, REALLY

• Unleashing the Power of JEDI: A Leadership Deep Dive

• Using Tools and Building DEBI Leader Skills

• The Art of De-escalation and Interest-Based Resolution

• Allies and Accomplices: Tools for Equitizing Together