I know it will because we had this discussion twice since the murder of George Floyd, once with our management team and then with the entire company.

Still, they are fears you need to take on if you, your team, and your company want to move forward in the middle of a crisis (such as that teeny global pandemic that is still going on.) Worrying about adding salt to wounds or saying the wrong thing are reasonable concerns. They enable leaders and employees, both Black and non-Black to become more comfortable having dialogue around race.” “These conversations lead to a better understanding of the needs of others, such as Black employees. “Courageous conversations in the workplace are part of developing a learning culture,” explains Tony Bond, EVP chief diversity & innovation officer, Great Place to Work ®. Why is it important to have courageous conversations in the workplace? They are the sort of conversations that can stir strong emotions, which might feel out of place for work, and they require careful and mindful discussion. Ĭourageous conversations in the workplace are about broaching complex and sensitive subjects like race and privilege with your team, boss or HR manager. And these experiences are crucial for things like employee well-being, innovation and productivity. You’re very likely scared that you, or someone else, will say the wrong thing, mess it up or cause more pain.īut avoiding the subject altogether can undermine employee trust, inclusion and belonging at work. You probably don’t want to have a tough conversation in your workplace.