Moving beyond mere tolerance
Us-versus-them is the costly mind-set in which organizations, communities, and whole nations too often find themselves trapped. In fact, recognizing difference as a positive force can bring astonishing value to even the most diverse organizations.
In Us Plus Them, leadership scholar Todd Pittinsky introduces a groundbreaking new science of diversity that:
âą Debunks the assumption that wherever there is difference there will be inherent tension and animosity
âą Challenges the effectiveness of our standard attempts to fight prejudice and combat hate in our schools and workplaces, our civic and religious lives
âą Reveals how we benefit from the mixing of different ethnic, racial, national, social, and religious groups in a globalized world
Through a wide range of examples-from Maine and Michigan to Rwanda and Bhutan, and from small-town classrooms to corporate boardrooms-Pittinsky opens our eyes to misunderstood yet useful aspects of us-and-them relations, i