Spicy Conversations

New podcast episode with my client Sarah Noll Wilson, Inc. what was intended to be a conversation about compliments gone awry ended up as a conversation about the current state of leadership and the challenges when an organization wants to bring on folks who are different from the current leaders. I'd love your thoughts and reactions.

Episode 098: A Conversation on This Moment in Leadership with Stephanie Chin Sarah Noll Wilson and Stephanie Chin discuss this moment in leadership, personal growth, and how to create inclusive workplaces.

The Ruffins make learning about racism so amusing. They bring humor to the regular racism their family experiences and give awards for it. I also love their other book You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey. I recommend it to white people who want to learn more about the daily racist encounters experienced by Black people and for people of color to feel less alone.

The World Record Book of Racist Stories From the New York Times bestselling authors of You’ll N…

Seeing all the young people at this Youth forum led talk on The "New" College Process at The The City Club of Cleveland makes me so excited to hear what's on their minds.

A client just asked if I have any recommendations for books or intro content about economics and capitalism since I often talk about how economics assumes scarcity, which means that no economic system is built to be a tool to get out of scarcity into abundance. If we limit ourselves to economic structures, there will always be people with unmet needs, not enough homes, not enough good, because we only know how to operate when we restrict access. any recommendations for books? I just found Doughnut Economics by Kate Raworth and am reviewing it.

I'm a mad scientist. I feel my feels big.

You are a Mad Scientist Measuring Your Happiness Can Help Improve It

An insect that looks like a leaf is crawling on my windshield after my soundbath! Feels like that says something about connecting to nature.

I was reminded today that gratitude costs little to nothing, and can be fun with chalk.

Downside of working outside. This insect just fell on my head and then my foot. Do you know what it is?
Also, my foot probably needs some lotion.

It's a beautiful day to work outside in Cleveland.

Not just white men. Based on similarity bias, people tend to choose the talent they think is best, which tends to be people just like them.

Who Has Potential? For Many White Men, It’s Often Other White Men Companies struggling to build diverse, inclusive workplaces need to break the cycle of “sameness” that prevents some employees from getting an equal shot at succeeding, says Robin Ely.

More gold from Julia Louis-Dreyfus 's podcast. This one from Diane von Furstenberg "I always say the most important relationship in life is the one we have with ourselves, because once we have that, any other relationship is a plus and not a must." https://youtu.be/-VN31yvAP_0?feature=shared

Shout-out to Gina Skinner-Thebo for recommending Julia Louis-Dreyfus 's podcast wiser than me. Insight of the day from Ruth Reichl: "If something scares you, you have to do it." Love!

Julia Gets Wise with Ruth Reichl | Lemonada Media On this episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia gets enlightened by 75-year-old food writer, magazine editor, and author Ruth Reichl. From her infamous New York Times review of Le Cirque to greenlighting a controversial David Foster Wallace article in Gourmet, Ruth is as gutsy as they come. Ruth talks to Ju...

When people ask where I'm from, I answer, "Cleveland, Shaker Heights" because people often know Shaker Heights, Ohio , have heard of it because they know someone from Shaker or they read Celeste Ng 's Little Fires Everywhere. I feel like Shaker is different in part because I don't know anyone else who had a planetarium in their high school and classes like Oppression and Human Rights. Like Little Fires Everywhere, Laura Meckler 's new book Dream Town: Shaker Heights and Racial Equity remind me of how I became me, and the role of my hometown in how I shaped both my identity and worldview. How often do you think about how "where you're from" shapes who you are today and how you move through the world? https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61796651

Also, super Shaker, my sister invited me to a Living in Shaker group which required retyping rule 12 but only up to rule 9 displayed, so they declined my request. I feel like that's so Shaker. "Oh, you didn't follow the rules, so well just decline you."

Goodreads Discover and share books you love on Goodreads.

Chatgpt wrote Stephanie Chin's bio:

Stephanie Chin is a multifaceted individual who has made significant contributions in various fields throughout her career. Born and raised in a vibrant cosmopolitan city, Stephanie developed a passion for exploring diverse cultures, ideas, and perspectives from an early age.

Stephanie's educational journey began with a strong focus on the sciences. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from a prestigious university, where she excelled academically and demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for analytical thinking and problem-solving. Her research during this time delved into the intricate world of molecular biology, specifically investigating the role of epigenetics in human health.

Driven by her insatiable curiosity and desire to make a broader impact, Stephanie later pursued a Master's degree in International Relations. This decision allowed her to merge her scientific background with a deep understanding of global affairs and the interconnectedness of our world. She specialized in sustainable development and worked on projects that aimed to address environmental challenges through innovative solutions and policy frameworks.

Stephanie's expertise and passion for sustainable development led her to collaborate with renowned organizations, both in the public and private sectors. She worked closely with international NGOs, governmental bodies, and corporations to develop and implement strategies that fostered a more sustainable and equitable future. Her efforts ranged from advocating for renewable energy adoption to promoting responsible consumption and production practices.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Stephanie is an avid adventurer and advocate for social causes. She has traveled extensively, immersing herself in diverse communities and embracing the richness of cultural diversity. Through her experiences, she has gained a profound appreciation for the power of education and empowerment in fostering positive change.

Stephanie's commitment to making a difference extends to her local community as well. She actively volunteers with various non-profit organizations, mentoring young individuals and supporting initiatives that promote education, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship.

As a talented communicator, Stephanie has also honed her skills as a writer and public speaker. She has delivered compelling talks and presentations on topics such as sustainable development, global citizenship, and the intersection of science and policy. Her ability to distill complex ideas into accessible and engaging narratives has made her a sought-after thought leader in her field.

With her unique blend of scientific expertise, global perspective, and passion for sustainability, Stephanie continues to push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and inspire others to join her in creating a more just and sustainable world. Her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact has solidified her reputation as a change agent and a visionary leader.

Yes! Leadership's job is to get things out of the way of staff doing the job they are trying to do! Ginni Rometty shares what good power looks like with Adam Grant .

Cultivating good power with longtime IBM CEO Ginni Rometty (Transcript) TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading - through TED.com, our annual conferences, the annual TED Prize and local TEDx events.

I still love these charts about economic opportunity in the US. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/27/upshot/make-your-own-mobility-animation.html

People tend to believe that their own cultural expectations are "normal" and others are inappropriate or weird. How often might you just be missing someone else when you interact?

"In America, you praise and acknowledge each other whenever you can. This too could not be more different from the Dutch context, where no one should feel or act any better than another person. No worse, but certainly no better either, than another person. My mom used to tell me “that acting normal would be crazy enough,” usually in response to me doing something that—​in her eyes—​caught too much attention. Nobody should stand out. When I asked my mom, growing up, if she considered me pretty (hoping she would say yes, I guess), she answered: “I think you are about average.” She was telling me the truth, both grounding me and providing “real connection” between her and me."

Americans Are Fake and the Dutch Are Rude! - By Batja Mesquita - Behavioral Scientist What I learned about emotions when I traded Amsterdam for Ann Arbor.

A good free alternative to other assessments like Clifton Strengthsfinder.

HIGH5 Strengths Test Results for Stephanie Chin I just took the HIGH5 strengths test and learnt that my top strength is Philomath. What's yours?

I know what you mean, when you say that unity without justice isn't really unity. I know you are trying to say that the org is hypocritical, deceptive, insincere. BUT, my friends, it's really important that you know unity can and does exist without justice.

In fact, that is how injustice thrives- by those who create unjust policies, by those who enforce unjust policies *and* by those who believe that neutrality is real. Indifference to injustice furthers injustice. And I need you to know this because there are folks who are unified in banning books, unified in making it illegal to talk about race in America, unified in making life hell for anyone who is "different"- that isn't fake. It's effective... really, really effective. This is why you must choose to be unified in the service of justice. Because neutrality on the issue of justice is but an illusion.

Who wants daily affirmations texted to you once a day for the next 50 days? Comment with a name/direct message with your phone number if I don't already have it.

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I was just talking with a friend who is also a consultant about how it might be fun to have each other as a thought partner when we do our own strategic planning. would anyone else value a 3-day strategic planning retreat space with 1/2 a day of programming and 1/2 a day for work each day?

Interesting. I'm listening to the audiobook of Katy Milkman 's book How to Change and am reminded of Janet in The Good Place and the red lab coat in Better Off Ted . I reset a lot and move around a lot. those resets give me the opportunity to learn and grow at a much faster and easier pace than others who don't have the aid of newness to help them change their patterns. https://www.goodreads.cw-to-change

So I just drove in the snow and was so impressed with how reasonable Cleveland drivers are after the first big snow of the year.
And then, I thought, I probably only think they're so reasonable because that's what I grew up with, not that they're necessarily better than in other communities.
And that's an example of bias.

Today, I'm reminded how powerful this scene in Inside Out is. When we talk about toxic positivity, we're talking about the ineffectiveness of Joy's approach and the power of Sadness's ability to listen and connect with Bing B**g. I love to use the Inside Out emotions in role plays because interactions take different paths depending on the emotions someone's bringing into the room with them.

Inside Out Sadness comforts Bing B**g

Even experts need to practice. Don't wait until the stakes are high to figure out how you want to approach an important conversation.

A Conversation on Difficult Conversations (Part 2) Sarah Noll Wilson and guest Stephanie Chin discuss how preparation helps when we are faced with difficult conversations.

If this podcast episode whets your appetite to have your own spicy conversations, please register to join our winter cohort: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spicy-conversations-inclusive-leadership-wednesday-winter-2023-cohort-registration-483448115327

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This is a fun exercise. My niece needs to identify three character traits of a character in a book. she was given this sample list. play this with friends and colleagues. what 3 traits would you use to describe each other? how are they the same? different? Do people experience you as the person you want to be?
PS- I'm very proud that the first word she associated with me was funny.

Great session today. Missed out on the event? Don't miss out on the learning. Free Spicy Conversations cheat sheet with 5 simple steps to a better conversation. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PWDdGxql-qlcM2-0vO7hKn0MYFheVmPA/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13BYq_udUfUbm8YePD0w8IbMZktBMAWCI/view?usp=drivesdk

Spicy Conversation Cheat Sheet.pdf