How our assumptions about other people can shape workplace relationships, and why curiosity is essential to building a culture of respect. A passage in Amor Towles’ award-winning novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, recently made me think about the sometimes nuanced nature of respect. After a acquaintence asks for the opportunity to make a new [...]
Quoting that famous cartoon philosopher, Pogo, “We have met the enemy…and he is us.” When it comes to workplace culture, there has been a marked increase in rudeness and incivility over the past two decades. Blame it on a number of factors. Our increasingly polarized political climate, the pandemic and resulting years of social isolation, the digital blindness created by our social media platforms, and stress from overwork have all converged with other forces to create work environments that can be uncivil at best and, at worst, downright toxic.
Quoting that famous cartoon philosopher, Pogo, “We have met the enemy…and he is us.” When it comes to workplace culture, there has been a marked increase in rudeness and incivility over the past two decades. Blame it on a number of factors. Our increasingly polarized political climate, the pandemic and resulting years of social isolation, the digital blindness created by our social media platforms, and stress from overwork have all converged with other forces to create work environments that can be uncivil at best and, at worst, downright toxic.
Quoting that famous cartoon philosopher, Pogo, “We have met the enemy…and he is us.” When it comes to workplace culture, there has been a marked increase in rudeness and incivility over the past two decades. Blame it on a number of factors. Our increasingly polarized political climate, the pandemic and resulting years of social isolation, the digital blindness created by our social media platforms, and stress from overwork have all converged with other forces to create work environments that can be uncivil at best and, at worst, downright toxic.
The term and concept of "sensitivity training" emerged in the mid-20th century as a response to societal shifts and the growing awareness of social issues such as discrimination, prejudice, and inequality. Its direct roots can be traced back to Kurt Lewin, a German-born psychologist (later working for Cornell University and MIT) who developed the concept of group dynamics and pioneered the use of experiential learning methods in the 1940s.
Despite some of the recent pushback that has been in the news recently, diversity training is as crucial in today’s multicultural and globalized society as it’s ever been. Why? For the simple reason that it leads to a workplace culture better suited for getting things done.
A closer look at the evolution of this very topical term.
Updated: August 5, 2026 Respect in the workplace means engaging every colleague fairly and without judgment, regardless of background. It shows up in two forms: respect as a person (equal courtesy for everyone) and respect for professional achievement (recognition for good work). Workplaces with strong respect see lower stress, higher productivity, better collaboration, and [...]
There is no escaping the conclusion that we have work to do if we truly desire to create a more equitable economy and society. If inequity in our society is compelling enough for you to commit to take action, here are 4 examples of meaningful actions you can start doing to become an active inclusionist.
Every one of us has unique views and opinions. With over 7 billion people on this planet, it's no wonder that we see things differently from one another. These differing viewpoints can lead to disagreements, arguments, and even violence. Most of us like to think that we're open-minded and respectful towards those who see [...]
