How can leaders effectively work with and lead people who are different from them? Kevin welcomes Kelly McDonald to explore the challenges and benefits of leading diverse teams and how embracing different perspectives can drive better business outcomes. She explains why the term "diversity" has become a challenge in workplaces and offers practical strategies for leaders to navigate workplace differences, such as using the powerful phrases "Tell me more about that" and "I need your help" to foster understanding and collaboration. She also shares why diverse teams consistently outperform homogeneous ones across all business metrics, even though working with different perspectives can feel more challenging. McDonald emphasizes that friction and disagreement in diverse teams are part of the process that leads to better outcomes.

Listen For

00:00 Introduction Why This Topic Matters
00:34 About The Remarkable Leadership Podcast
01:19 How to Join Live Podcast Recordings
02:02 Kevin's New Book Flexible Leadership
02:34 Welcoming Kelly McDonald
03:24 How Kelly’s Journey Led to Diversity Work
06:18 The Business Case for Understanding Changing Demographics
10:07 Why Kelly’s 2017 Book Is Still Relevant Today
10:46 Why the Word Diversity Makes People Uncomfortable
14:49 The Problem with Traditional Diversity Training
16:23 The Benefits of Working with People Who Are Different
20:35 The Murder Mystery Study Why Diversity Feels Hard
23:32 Do I Have to Like My Colleagues
24:10 How to Focus on the Person Not the Difference
25:29 The Power of Tell Me More About That
26:47 Why I Need Your Help is a Game Changing Phrase
29:35 How Leaders Can Address Prejudice on Their Teams
34:40 Kelly’s Hobbies Cello Boxing and Pickleball
35:30 What Kelly is Reading Right Now
37:02 Where to Learn More About Kelly McDonald
37:55 Kevin’s Final Question Now What

Kelly's Story: Kelly McDonald is the author of four bestselling books on customer experience, leadership, and marketing -- all from the standpoint of working with people "not like you". Her book, How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You has been on two bestseller lists. She is the president of McDonald Marketing and an acclaimed speaker who specializes in consumer trends and changing demographics. She has been featured on CNBC, in Forbes Magazine, BusinessWeek, Fast Company, on CNNMoney.com, and on SiriusXM Radio. Her client experience includes iconic brands such as Toyota, State Farm, Nike, Harley-Davidson, Miller-Coors and Sherwin-Williams, Great Clips and NASA.

This Episode is brought to you by...

Flexible Leadership is every leader’s guide to greater success in a world of increasing complexity and chaos.

Book Recommendations

How to Work With and Lead People Not Like You: Practical Solutions for Today's Diverse Workplace by Kelly McDonald
Outthink. Outperform.: Transform Your Organization Through Behavioral Marketing by Roger Hurni
Innovation is Everybody's Business by Tamara Ghandour
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

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