Diverse teams can be more creative, yet team members’ diverse backgrounds and identity can also lead to unwanted conflict. In this episode, Dr. Tanya Williams shares her insights about diversity, difference, power, and privilege and how to move past that uncomfortable conflict into a place of authenticity and possibility. Possibility is a precursor to creativity. This episode will help you tap into the power of diversity within your team and bring out their true creativity.
What You’ll Learn
- Why diversity matters in teams
- The types of conflict diversity can cause
- Why diversity can be difficult to talk about
- Three steps to help you build inclusion in your team
- What is means to “create space”
About Tanya Williams
Tanya O. Williams, Ed.D is a self defined Social Justice Educator, Life Lover, Possibility Creator, Liberation Seeker and Hope Giver. In her over 20 years as an administrator and educator in higher education working at institutions such as the University of Illinois, Southwestern University, Mount Holyoke College, Union Theological Seminary and University of Massachusetts Amherst, she has been able to maintain her mission to provide and create spaces in relationships, conversations, communities for all people to feel seen and appreciated for their authentic selves. She comes to her work from a belief that humans are capable of greatness, that our world is beautiful, and that the world can be better for everyone. She sees the work that she does through Authentic Coaching and Consulting – helping organizations and individuals align to their values and visions for a socially just world – as part of a contribution to a larger plan, and believes that if we all can live in authenticity, oppression and discrimination won’t stand a chance.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode
- Tanya Williams, Authentic Coaching & Consulting
- LeaderShape
- Episode 23: How Conflict Impacts Team Creativity
- Episode 26: Is the Imposter Syndrome Decreasing Your Creativity?
- Beverly Daniel Tatum
The Weekly Challenge
Notice and reflect. 1. Do an internet search on Social Identity. What do you learn? 2. Notice who is on your team or in your workplace. Who do you see? What do you notice? 3. Work to understand power and oppression and how it shows up in your daily life, particularly in your work teams.
