This book study aims for participant transformation rather than information. Participants will make what they study not only something they understand, but something they use in their everyday lives or work. A book study group acts as a bridge, helping people move from passive to active learning. Collaboration among peers is a powerful experience. Shared expertise and opinions of others heighten the reading experience and, at the same time, deepens the insight and adds enduring value that informs our lives and our work.
Inclusify: The Power of Uniqueness and Belonging to Build Innovative Teams by Stefanie K. Johnson
According to the text, humans have two basic desires: -- to stand out and to fit in. Organizations respond to these desires by creating groups that tend to the extreme teams where everybody fits in and no one stands out, or where everybody stands out and no one fits in. Participants will explore how to find a happy medium in which team members can demonstrate their individuality while also feeling they belong.
Book study participants will examine what it means to "inclusify." Inclusifying – unlike including or diversifying – implies a continuous, sustained effort toward helping diverse teams feel engaged, empowered, accepted, and valued. Participants will learn transformative leadership skills that make it possible for all ISBE employees to build stronger relationships that create a more positive environment for everyone, both in the agency and the field.
- Understand the leadership skills and common archetypes that bring about different perspectives while enhancing team cohesion.
- Develop strategies for fostering a more inclusive organization and more inclusive teams.
- Identify who is and is not “at the table" when decisions are made, and how you will move toward more inclusivity as you learn and discover new things from the book study.
- Apply the Equity Impact Analysis Tool to the programs/projects/policies/practices in your department/center using knowledge gained from "Inclusify."
