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November 2016 Newsletter		audreynelson.com \| thegendercommunicationhandbook.com \|codeswitching

Who is Audrey?

Audrey's Blog

Audrey Nelson PhD. is an international trainer, key-note speaker, consultant and author who works with organizations to increase their productivity and profitability through winning communication. strategies.

You can reach Audrey at audrey@audreynelson.com
or at 303.448.1800 O - 303-448-1801 F - 303.448.1802 C www.audreynelson.com

Audrey is co-chair of the Diversity and Employee Relations PDG for Mile High SHRM.

SHRM SHRM is a preeminent and globally recognized HR professional society whose leadership, perspective, resources and expertise are sought and utilized to address the most pressing, current and emerging human resource management issues. Mile High SHRM is a Mega Chapter with a 1,000 membership.

Smart Talk

“Lady CFO:” A Case of Unconscious Bias

During the annual meeting for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, the discussion centered on technology-driverless cars, cutting edge developments.

Just a few minutes after the shareholders rejected a proposal for more information about pay equity at Google, a shareholder asked, “My first question is to the lady CFO.” He was referring to Alphabet’s finance chief, Ruth Porat, one of Wall Street’s most powerful and influential executives. He then addressed legal chief David Drummond as Mr. Drummond. A teachable moment! Although a sexist slight, it went unacknowledged, at least on the executive stage.

Jessica Guyun (USA TODAY) reported Danielle Ginach, associate director of Sonen Capital, a firm that focuses on investments with social and environmental impacts, was in disbelief: “Imagine addressing the ‘man CFO.’ What is the relationship between gender and CFO? Google declined to comment.

I remember being at an academic convention with several male colleagues and we were having a discussion when a dean came over and introduced us to his colleague. The introduction went like this: “This is Dr. Jones, Dr. Frentz and Audrey.” Hey, if we are playing Dr., I want to play too! You have to keep your sense of humor. So I stepped forward, smiled, shook his hand and said, “Dr. Nelson, nice to meet you.” Sometimes, you have to teach people how to treat you. You need to take care of the business of unconscious bias.

Bias is not simply another word for racism or sexism. Bias represents an association between things. Everyone forms associations, a process that is simply part of being human. Even animals form such associations (think of Pavlov’s dog). Implicit bias refers to associations that are not fully conscious. We could not survive if all our decisions were completely subject to the conscious mind. Because the mind processes so much information, the brain has evolved to look for short cuts. This is done by habituating many of the brain’s functions, letting the unconscious process large quantities of information through lumping data together in a streamlined, rapid fashion. While the conscious mind is slow and more deliberate, the unconscious is big and very fast.

Conscious bias (also known as explicit bias)
Unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias)

It is important to note that biases, conscious or unconscious, are not limited to ethnicity and race. Though racial bias and discrimination is well documented, biases may exist toward from any social group. One’s age, gender, gender identity physical abilities, religion, sexual orientation, weight, and many other characteristics are subject to bias.

Did you miss one of the Smart Talk Columns?

Browse the archives of Audrey’s 2006 to date- Smart Talk Columns on her web! Simply visit www.audreynelson.com and click on “Newsletters.

Have you checked out
Audrey’s blog?

Some Thoughts on Changing for the Better: Women and Men in the Workplace

Click for article

WOW! Did you know Audrey is the gender communication blogger for Psychology Today? Check out her monthly blog postings. Take a look at her statistics:

7 Days: 3,414

30 Days: 15,255

90 Days: 40,816

All Time: 683,368

Audrey's Travels
Audrey was a keynote and breakout session speaker for The Leadership Investment 20th Annual Leadership Success Forum to much success. More than 600 individuals from across Colorado descended on the Colorado Convention Center to be inspired to improve leadership diversity in organizations of every size.
Audrey returned to New Balance to conduct A Woman’s Guide to Leadership (see the evaluation chart below).
Audrey with a participant of Pioneer Natural Resources in Dallas.
Audrey presented A Women’s Guide to Leadership to Vectra Bank.

Sound Bites

The Most Asked Questions About Gender Communication

• Are there individual differences as well as gender differences?
• Who acts as though they're responsible for effective gender communication, women or men?
• Haven't things changed in gender relationships? . ...watch

What People are saying about Audrey

Good Afternoon Audrey,

I enjoyed this seminar very much and the only piece I regret is that I did not bring any Women Co-Workers with me. I have been a leader in the Food Industry for several years and found the content enjoyable, as well as, thought provoking. I loved the opportunity to network with people from other companies and I hope to continue the dialog. I have already practiced not utilizing "tag questions" just this morning and I achieved my goal!
I would recommend this seminar to any leader that has the desire to improve or sharpen their skills in an ever-changing environment.

You are a very inspiring presenter!

I am also enjoying the articles and I intend on watching one video daily for as long as I have this site.

Thanks again and if you come back into the Columbus Area, I will highly recommend your seminar to some of my partners.

Sincerely,
Jan Roeske
Director of Area Operations
The Wendy’s Company
One Dave Thomas Blvd. Dublin, OH. 43017

Did I mention that your presentation today was awesome? I also liked your points on being assertive. Finally, I really want the Gender Communication Handbook so I am bombarding your email. Ha. And….No apologies!!!!!

Thank you so much for traveling to Boston and delivering another great session! We truly enjoyed you being here and I think all who attended thoroughly enjoyed the session. It definitely got us thinking! Thank you. Below is the feedback, please let me know if you have questions! See you soon.

Andrea
New Balance

Hi Audrey,
This is my feedback for today:
I especially took acknowledgement of the 12 A’s and the way we talk as women talk. I realized, I am rarely assertive these days and I take a back seat more often then I should. I apologize profusely trying to find my worth/ credibility and I rarely get either. I am a strong women, but cannot execute that well. I am afraid of conflict or that I may be wrong…I learned its ok to be wrong, unsure and scared of the reaction of other people.
I also cried a little at the video you showed as I have 2 girls and 1 boy. I am scared that my girls will fall into the same pattern I have fallen into.
I love the video and would love to share that with my girls. It empowered me.

Which book should I start with, then move on to in order?
Thank you so much for you time today. I feel like every word resonated, now I just need to execute.

Amy Roe
Vice President, Relationship Manager
Vectra Bank

Audrey's Books

The Gender Communication Handbook – Conquering Conversational Collisions Between Men and Women
	The Gender Communication Handbook is for anyone who works with the opposite sex. If you are a part of a management team, in HR, or develop corporate training, this book is a comprehensive guide filled with smart advice, extensive research, self-assessments, and compelling true-to-life case studies. More

Code Switching – How to Talk so Men will Listen
	Code Switching is a hands-on tool for everyday use at the office. It is a practical resource with how-to steps to help businesswomen conquer the communication nuances between men and women in the workplace. This book explores the gender impact on business talk. - More

You Don’t Say – Navigating Nonverbal Communication Between the Sexes
	You Don't Say is the first book to explore the misunderstandings that often arise between the sexes due to nonverbal communication — and to show readers how to say what they mean and get what they want. More than words, it's nonverbal cues that have the power to improve — or impair — our interactions with the opposite sex at home and in the workplace.

"Audrey's Top 4 CD Communication Hits"

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