Fearless Curious Conversations in the Workplace with Monica Guzman
In episode 112, Coffey talks with Monica Guzman about how organizations can promote healthy dialogue about social and political issues.
They discuss the current perceived and actual US social and political divide impacts workplaces; employees’ changing expectations of employers; “pernicious assumptions in our politics”; certainty vs. curiosity; using curiosity as a tool to mitigate conflict; the importance of curiosity in innovation and business; creating a culture of curiosity; the importance of “ritualizing” organizational values in responding to conflict; understanding other’s workstyles and preferences; and how leaders can develop curiosity as a skill.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—premium background checks with fast and friendly service. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. Her new book, "I Never Thought of it That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times" was featured on the Glenn Beck Podcast and named a New York Times recommended read.
She’s Senior Fellow for Public Practice at Braver Angels, the nation’s largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America; founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, an organization working to build a more curious world; cofounder of the award-winning Seattle newsletter The Evergrey; and advisor for Starts With Us and the Generations Over Dinner project.
She was a 2019 fellow at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, where she studied social and political division, and a 2016 fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, where she researched how journalists can rethink their roles to better meet the needs of a participatory public.
She was named one of the 50 most influential women in Seattle, served twice as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, and plays a barbarian named Shadrack in her besties’ Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
A Mexican immigrant, Latina, and dual US/Mexico citizen, she lives in Seattle with her husband and two kids and is the proud liberal daughter of conservative parents.
Monica Guzman can be reached at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniguzman
https://twitter.com/moniguzman
https://www.facebook.com/moniguzman
https://www.instagram.com/moniguzman/?hl=en
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, human resources professional, licensed private investigator, and HR consultant.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations firm helping risk-averse companies make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Today, Imperative serves hundreds of businesses across the US and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence and has twice been named HR Professional of the Year.
Additionally, Imperative has been named the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike is a member of the Fort Worth chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and volunteers with the SHRM Texas State Council.
Mike maintains his certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute. He is also a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Mike lives in Fort Worth with his very patient wife. He practices yoga and maintains a keto diet, about both of which he will gladly tell you way more than you want to know.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the impact of external social-political factors on the workplace.
2. Use of curiosity as a conflict-resolution tool.
3. Cultivate a culture of curiosity in the workplace to maintain a healthy environment.