Carl begins by responding to the ‘Dear REL Talk’ question and sharing his own experiences within the airline industry in working toward change. Along the way, he and our hosts look at ways to engage in authentic conversations, the need for diversity in leadership positions, the definition and effects of white privilege, and how to deal with others who possess a closed mindset. Together, they also explore the impact of social media these days, the Black Lives Matter movement, the need to learn about others’ perspectives through dialogue, making changes in the leadership of organizations, and the importance of respecting others. Carl concludes by asking some questions of the listener regarding the situation they describe in their question, demonstrating the very heart of today’s episode by engaging in dialogue to gain greater understanding, and making the sincere effort to work together to improve the current situation – a masterful example for us all to follow.

 

·   Carl’s advice for the listener who asked ‘Dear REL Talk’ about how employees can start to make a change in an organization which currently lacks a diversity, equity, and inclusion mindset

·   Pushing past the discomfort and having the tools to have authentic conversations

·   The need for diversity in leadership positions

·   White privilege

·   Dealing with closed mindsets

·   Respecting each other

·   The impact of social media

·   Black Lives Matter

·   Learning about the perspectives of other people through dialogue

·   Making changes in organizational leadership

·   Carl’s questions for the listener

 

“I want to be a leader to those that look like me.”

 

“Studies have shown that when you have more people that look like them, they tend to stay in the positions longer.”

 

“Just understand that these are real concerns by real people that work for you.”

 

“It just shocks me that anyone anywhere would think it’s a good idea when you have diverse customers to not have diverse decision makers.”

 

“It’s about white privilege understanding that they need to give up a little bit of power in order for minorities to start to succeed.”

 

“We’re the minority, I can’t get in his face.”

 

“If you don’t agree with immigration, then you shouldn’t be here.”

 

“This is just me reaching out so I can understand more about you.”

 

“I can’t be mad at her for believing what she believes. I just have to try to understand it, and if I don’t understand it, I just have to respect it.”

 

“I still respect you because you are a human.”

 

“They think that their internet world is the same as their real world.”

 

“Everyone in America looks like idiots…stop blaming other people and take some responsibility for yourself.”

 

“Silence is a stance.”

 

“Black Lives Matter is inclusive. It does mean all lives matter. It is for police lives, too.”

 

“It’s about the misuse and mistrust of power.”

 

“Everybody is out there speaking in absolutes instead of just trying to understand each other.”

 

“I think it all starts with having conversations and asking ‘why’…and, like, seeing different perspectives.”

 

“If you really want to make change, you have to be a catalyst for it.”