Are you ready to navigate conflict this election season?

According to a report from DDI, a global leadership company, half of emerging leaders say they struggle to manage workplace conflict, and only 12% of emerging leaders demonstrate high proficiency handling conflict at work. (HR Dive)

As we head into the presidential elections and grapple with one year of heightened tension in the Middle East, navigating conflict is the most important thing we can do to build more resilient, inclusive teams.

Action Items

1. Join our upcoming workshop on Conflict Evolution this Tuesday, October 15 >

2. Take our free assessment to determine the conflict competency of your team >

Workplace discrimination has soared following outbreak of Israel-Gaza conflict, report finds. Both Muslim and Jewish employees have experienced a rise in behaviours such as stereotyping, verbal harassment and biased treatment in the past year. People Management >

Thanks to Gen Z, a fifth of office holiday parties will be sober this year. The 21% of parties set to go booze-free this Christmas is an increase on the 19% figure from last year. Fortune >

Workers don’t feel like they belong — even with greater DEI awareness. The declines in belonging coincide with increases in mental health issues and concerns about workplace toxicity. HR Dive >

Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the importance of avoiding English-only workplace rules. An English-only rule must be justified by business necessity and put in place for nondiscriminatory reasons. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reports that in 2023 just nineteen lawsuits alleging race or national origin discrimination cost employers $4.9 million. Ogletree >

Employers banned from pushing politics under “captive audience meetings.” A few states have recently enacted bans on what unions and worker advocates can share about how politics influence worker rights. Bloomberg Law >

It will take 50 years to achieve gender parity in the workplace. The 2024 McKinsey Women in the Workplace study demonstrates slight progress in gender representation, but we still have a long way to go. McKinsey >

Toyota curbs DEI initiatives after pushback on LGBTQ+ stance. The company will no longer sponsor cultural events or parades and end participation in corporate culture surveys. Bloomberg >

Here’s what employees need for productive political conversations at work. Explore these policies and practices to help employees navigate political discussion at with colleagues. SHRM >

Why DEI isn’t doomed—even if some brands are rolling back their efforts. Brands like Lowe's and Toyota have recently cut back on DEI. However, many other companies continue to believe that DEI is good for business. Fast Company >

Companies stayed quiet on the anniversary of the attack by Hamas. A survey found that 61% of executives did not plan to acknowledge the anniversary of the attacks, and 30% are unsure and still could be deciding. Axios >

In honor of World Mental Health Day, here’s some resources to integrate more self-care into this season.

📋 Palena Neale’s self-care checklist for leaders offers a few thoughtful frameworks that make self-care feel feasible and realistic, even with the busiest schedules.

❤️‍🩹 Explore these resources to safeguard your mental health as a leader.

❗️“Urgency culture” might be leading you to burnout. Here’s how you can avoid it.

🎁 And here are 45 gifts under $50 for every type of co-worker if you need inspiration to send a colleague some love.

Join our self-paced Effective Facilitation course! This offers an accessible version of our live, virtual sessions that might work better with your schedule. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Foster inclusive, psychologically safe environments that encourage open dialogue and equal participation from all members

• Navigate group dynamics and conflicts with confidence, neutrality, and emotional intelligence

• Adapt facilitation techniques seamlessly across in-person, virtual, and hybrid settings

• Design and execute impactful sessions with clear objectives, engaging activities, and measurable outcomes

• Build organizational facilitation capacity and cultivate self-awareness to enhance overall effectiveness

Ask us about a white-label learning space for you and your team.

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