In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with LaTonya Wilkins. LaTonya Wilkins is the founder of The Change Coaches. She works with C-suite/executive leaders and their teams where human connection and cultural change happen: below the surface. LaTonya Wilkins is also the author of Leading Below The Surface: How To Build Real and Psychologically Safe Relationships With People Who Are Different From You. In this conversation, LaTonya shares how leaders can become more inclusive by creating cultures of belonging in the workplace. LaTonya Wilkins also shares concrete examples of how leaders can go below the surface to achieve a psychologically safe environment.

Some Highlights:

- LaTonya Wilkins on what leading below the surface is all about

- Why people have a hard time getting below the surface, and why leaders need to become below the surface leaders

- LaTonya Wilkins on questioning the way the world operates and challenging the dominant leadership standard 

- How creating a culture of belonging helps in promoting psychological safety

- Understanding the difference between Person to Person Listening and Person to Belonging Listening

- LaTonya Wilkins on how to effectively approach diversity and inclusion in the organization

Also mentioned in this episode:

Amy Edmondson - The Importance of Psychological Safety; author and current Novartis Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School

Books Mentioned:

- Leading Below the surface: How to Lead Real and Psychologically Safe Relationships with People who are Different from You by LaTonya Wilkins (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1951591844)

- You Have More Influence Than You Think: How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters by Vanessa Bohns (Listen to Vanessa Bohn’s episode on Partnering Leadership) (https://www.partneringleadership.com/you-have-more-influence-than-you-think-and-the-science-of-influence-with-dr-vanessa-bohns-partnering-leadership-global-thought-leader/)

- Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation by Jasmine Syedullah, Lama Rod Owens, and Angel Kyodo Williams

Connect with LaTonya Wilkins:

Website: https://latonyawilkins.com/leading-below-the-surface/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latonyawilkins/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latonyacoaching/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaTonyaWilkins

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

MahanTavakoli.com (http://mahantavakoli.com)

More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: 

PartneringLeadership.com (https://www.partneringleadership.com/)

Connect with Mahan Tavakoli:

Mahan Tavakoli Website (https://mahantavakoli.com/)

Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahan/)

Partnering Leadership Website (https://www.partneringleadership.com/)