Leading in Black and White: Working Across the Racial Divide in Corporate America (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership))

Many blacks in the workplace face a set of dynamics unique to being African American in a traditionally white, male-dominated world. In this landmark book, authors Ancella Livers and Keith Caver-- co-facilitators of the Center for Creative Leadership's African-American Leadership Program for the past five years-- explain how the leadership experience for blacks is radically different from the experiences of their white colleagues. These differences, of which most white managers are unaware, can lead to miscues and distortions in communication and ultimately get in the way of effective performance and optimal productivity for organizations. In Leading in Black and White, the authors not only clearly explain how things go wrong, they also provide sensible solutions for both the white manager and the black manager on how to make them right. Many blacks in the workplace face a set of dynamics unique to being African American in a traditionally white, male-dominated world. In this landmark book, authors Ancella Livers and Keith Caver -- co-facilitators of the Center for Creative Leadership's African-American Leadership Program -- explain how leadership experiences for blacks are radically different from those of their white colleagues. These differences, of which most white managers are unaware, can lead to miscues and distortions in communication and ultimately get in the way of effective performance and optimal productivity for organizations. In Leading in Black and White, the authors not only clearly explain how things go wrong, they also provide sensible solutions for both the white manager and the black manager on how to make them right.Drawing on research findings, personal experiences, and interviews, the authors have identified several significant areas in which black leaders interpret and interact in the workplace differently from others. Leading in Black and White Working Across the Racial Divide in Corporate America......Page 5 Contents......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 15 The Authors......Page 17 Introduction......Page 19 Part One: A World of Difference for Black Managers......Page 31 1. The Assumption of Similarity......Page 33 2. Who Are We?......Page 45 3. Looking Out for Each Other......Page 66 4. Navigating the Shoals of Race and Gender......Page 92 5. Working the Networks......Page 111 6. Growing and Grooming Leaders......Page 134 7. Understanding the Political Landscape......Page 155 Part Two: Coming Together......Page 183 8. Strategies for Black Managers......Page 187 9. What Colleagues Need to Know......Page 211 10. What Organizations Need to Know......Page 227 Appendix: Assessing Your Political Savvy......Page 239 References and Suggested Readings......Page 244 Index......Page 247 About the Center for Creative Leadership......Page 255 "Many blacks in the workplace face a set of dynamics unique to being African American in a traditionally white, male-dominated world. In this landmark book, authors Ancella Livers and Keith Caver - co-facilitators of the Center for Creative Leadership's African-American Leadership Program - explain how leadership experiences for blacks are radically different from those of their white colleagues. These differences, of which most white managers are unaware, can lead to miscues and distortions in communication and ultimately get in the way of effective performance and optimal productivity for organizations. 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Based on more than a thousand in-depth interviews with black executives as well as on the authors' own extensive experience in training leaders-- and as leaders themselves-- Leading in black and white reveals the everyday reality for African American executives in the predominantly white world of American business, education, and government. Ancella Livers and Keith Caver-- from the Center for Creative Leadership-- give a clear picture to all executives of the challenges black leaders face and offer solid recommendations to both white and black managers on how to work together more effectively As we explain in the Introduction, there are six major areas in which black managers may perceive and experience the workplace differently from their mostly white colleagues.