Don’t DEI. This book says to think bigger

“Lead Bigger: The Transformative Power of Inclusion” by Anne Chow

c.2024,

Simon & Schuster                                         

$28.99                                 

272 pages

The last kid picked.

If you were ever in that position, you probably remember what it was like. Being out of the loop, the last person tapped, the one left out, none of this feels good – whether you’re a kid or an adult and an employee. So, how do you ensure that your team belongs? Read the new book “Lead Bigger” by Anne Chow, and choose it.

When Anne Chow started working at AT&T years ago, she was often the only woman in the room, the only woman in the department, and the only Asian-American in the building. As she moved up the ladder to a better position, she decided that the old ways of business leadership didn’t work anymore.

“Lead Bigger” author, Anne Chow. Photo by Austin Wilder

She expanded her outlook into what she calls “leading bigger,” which is “really about inclusive leadership…” DEI leadership, she says, is “more narrow” than leading bigger, and the latter seems to work better for employees and stakeholders (a term Chow prefers). Leading bigger isn’t a “task” but “a refreshing and revitalizing way to approach work…”

The first step to leading bigger is to know your company’s purpose and identify those with a stake in its success. Bring your team together and be curious about their viewpoints. Define the values you want your company to reflect. Look hard at the places you’re selling, including online and on social media.

Be flexible but intentional.

Knowing that you may lead several generations of workers, be aware of the differences you’ll face, including their well-being, physically and mentally. Know that inclusive support is more than just for LGBTQ individuals and those of other races, but also for those needing childcare and eldercare. Connect with your employees often and ask for feedback, but don’t allow derogatory comments. Remember that we all have unconscious bias. Give employees room to be authentic. And finally, remember that you’re not just leading today’s workers. You’re setting up employees for the future.

At first glance, you may think “Lead Bigger” is quite wordy. You’d be right on that. There’s a considerable bit of repetition and a lot of the commonsensical. And yet, find this book, and you’re about to be schooled.

Being inclusive may feel like a minefield these days, but author Anne Chow offers practical, usable guidelines that may need some outside buy-in but can be implemented today. Her ideas are carefully curated and may surprise readers who aren’t used to thinking in a bigger circle; they cover various concerns and cautions and present things to think about. This gives the savviest of readers the chance to take the process further by tailoring it to their business, including cultures and issues that must be addressed. 

If an old-school management style isn’t working, or if you need help with inclusion or being included, you may find the solutions you seek here. If you need a book to help, “Lead Bigger” should be picked first.