Did That Just Happen?!

Beyond "Diversity"-Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations

By: Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, Lauren Wadsworth

Narrated by: Joy Vandervort

Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

An accessible guide showing all people how to create and sustain diversity and inclusivity in the workplace - no matter your identity, industry, or level of experience

Offering real-life accounts that illustrate common workplace occurrences around inclusivity and answers to questions like “How do I identify and handle diversity landmines at work?” and “What can I do when I’ve made a mistake?” this handbook breaks down ways that organizations (and all people) can improve their cultural awareness and become more equitable in their work and personal relationships.

We know that diverse teams are stronger, smarter, and more profitable, and many companies are attempting to hire more diverse teams, but most struggle to create a real culture of inclusivity in which people from all backgrounds feel comfortable. As clinical psychologists, as well as individuals with marginalized identities, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth show the emotional and physical impact of marginalization and how that leads to a decrease in employee engagement and, often, increased job turnover.

“Did That Just Happen?!” will be invaluable for employees who come from underrepresented communities and identities (identities discussed include race, age, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, and gender expression). But the book is essential for leaders of companies, supervisors, HR departments, and for anyone who wants to understand and support diversity/equity/inclusion practices. The book will also make readers feel more confident in their navigating of friendships/interactions with people who hold different identities.

©2021 Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Lauren Wadsworth (P)2021 Beacon Press

Critic reviews

“In the evolving realm of DEI titles, Pinder-Amaker and Wadsworth have provided a next-level standout, guiding all manner of organizations in establishing a sustainable, inclusive culture. With authority and authenticity, the authors provide practical, concise direction illuminating the pitfalls and opportunities faced by anyone engaging in this difficult work.” (Booklist)

“Successful leaders understand that culture really is everything. On winning teams, nobody stands on the sidelines; every team member is valued, empowered, and contributes toward shared goals. But you don’t leave this to chance. Did That Just Happen?! is a game plan for leaders looking to create a culture built for the long term and built for success.” (Mike Krzyzewski, head basketball coach, Duke University)

“An essential road map for moving from diversity as a hollow corporate initiative to building vital, resilient organizations that are inclusive at their core. Filled with real-world anecdotes that resonate and with skills and practices that leaders can deploy immediately; this book belongs in the library of everyone who is dedicated to building great teams.” (Rich Paret, entrepreneur and tech executive, formerly senior engineering director, Google, and VP of engineering, Twitter)

Fantastic book!

This book is a must read! The book explores common pitfalls in implementing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. They use vignettes as the launching pad for the explorations. The vignettes are concise, meaningful, and illustrative of societal issues that make it difficult for rising identities to thrive in some workplaces. These societal issues can result in a “leaky pipeline” of talented individuals leaving an organization before they reach their potential.

The authors' leverage their expertise as DEI consultants and clinical psychologists to provide skills and practical advice aimed at remediating the “leaky pipeline”. These changes function to develop more inclusive and efficient workforces. Further the skills that they elucidate build better employee relations and make the workplace more inviting and vital for all.

The authors’ passion for the subject is palpable throughout the book and they relay the importance of the topic to the reader. In addition to the vignettes, the authors cite research proving the efficiency of diverse teams. They also explore pivotal new terminology and concepts throughout the book. The new terminology replaces outdated terms that are plagued with cultural stigmas. By the end of the book, the reader learns about identity related aggressions, swimming with the stream and idiosyncrasy credits. The authors also provides book reference that the reader can use to fill in their knowledge gaps.

The end result is a guidebook that is vital to all organizations! It provides a path toward creating sustainable, vibrant and efficient workplaces that empower employees to grow. Additionally, this book can be beneficial to your personal life too! The anecdotes have a universal quality and provide insights to deepen relationships with your loved ones that have rising identities. Don’t miss out on reading this book!

A great book to understand our socialization

This is an amazing book to help us all to live beyond our socialization to enable us to live in a more inclusive world.
Fantastic read