In this timely and important episode, Craig sits down with Lily Zheng, one of today’s leading voices on workplace transformation, to tackle the challenges and evolution of DEI. Lily brings both research-backed frameworks and real-world pragmatism, reflecting on how shifting from DEI to FAIR offers a practical way through current backlash and confusion.

Lily’s refreshing candor provides a thought-provoking and valuable frame to the conversation. They don’t shy from complexity, but treat hesitancy, fear, and failure as necessary parts of meaningful progress.

The episode is filled with practical advice, including tying every initiative to a real business problem, focusing on behaviors not buzzwords, and the need for every leader to own the responsibility for inclusion. Technology’s double-edged role is candidly discussed, warning leaders that AI will multiply both strengths and flaws.

At its core, this episode asks: how do we actually do better? Lily urges leaders to focus on “atomic units” of behavioral change, reminding us that real progress is messy, ongoing, and built one intentional action at a time.

What You’ll Learn

- The power and pitfalls of language in DEI work.

- Navigating the politicization of inclusion.

- Let data—not dogma—drive your priorities

- Move beyond ‘admiring the problem’: Replacing performative acts with real progress.

- Redefining representation: Beyond the numbers.

- Technology & AI: A double-edged sword.

- The power of atomic units of change.

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) - Introduction to Lily Zheng and the Origin of the Book

(08:00) - Reframing DEI: Why Focus on Fairness?

(14:41) – Lessons in Leadership: DEI Backlash

(20:34) - From Performative to Problem-Solving DEI

(25:15) - Systemic Change & Diversity Leadership

(35:55) - Representation vs. Quotas and Building Trust

(43:04) - Technology, AI & Fairness Risks

(48:38) - FOFO: Fear of Finding Out and Organizational Reality

(56:14) - The Atomic Unit: Driving Change Through Behaviors

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Fairness, DEI, Inclusion, Equity, Representation, Organizational Change, Systemic Change, Workplace Culture, Diversity, Performative DEI, Accountability, Unconscious Bias Training, Artificial Intelligence, Politics, Cultural Transformation, CEO Success

In this week’s episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I speak with Vanessa Druskat, a globally recognized expert in team performance and author of "The Emotionally Intelligent Team." Vanessa shares the inspiration behind her research, highlighting the gap between anecdotal advice and evidence-based practices for building successful teams. She discusses the importance of cultivating esprit de corps—meaning a sense of belonging, value, and psychological safety—within teams, and emphasizes that this must come from both leaders and team members.

Our conversation explores practical norms and routines that emotionally intelligent teams use, dispelling myths around individual emotional intelligence versus collective TeamEI. Vanessa provides actionable examples, such as brief check-ins, team charters, and structured feedback mechanisms, underscoring the need for leaders to be intentional, especially in remote or hybrid environments. Questions from the live audience explored topics such as the role of team charters, overcoming ineffective norms, and the courage required to embrace feedback and conflict constructively. The episode is packed with research-backed insights and practical strategies to help leaders create high-performing, emotionally intelligent teams.

What You’ll Learn

- Great teams do things differently… and intentionally.

- The importance of assessing your team’s norms (anonymous surveys work wonders!).

- Develop a charter and revisit it regularly.

- Make feedback part of your culture rather than a once-a-year event

- How to lead remote/hybrid teams effectively.

- Why you want to finish meetings with a Plus/Delta.

Podcast Timestamps

(00:00) – Welcome to the Podcast

(10:25) - Defining Team Emotional Intelligence vs Individual EQ

(19:56) - Common Team Norms: Good, Bad, and Misunderstood

(24:32) - Creating and Using Team Charters

(27:12) - Activities to Build Understanding and Belonging

(32:11) - Best Practices for Team Assessment

(36:54) - Feedback and Accountability in Emotionally Intelligent Teams

(41:20) - Constructive Conflict and Avoiding Sidebar Conversations

(49:33) - Emotional Intelligence in Remote and Hybrid Teams

(54:33) - Final Reflections

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Team Emotional Intelligence, Team Norms, Self-awareness, Psychological Safety, Feedback Culture, Team Rituals, Team-Building, High-Performing Teams, Team Assessment, Team Charter, Remote Teams, Hybrid Teams, Collaboration, Accountability, Sense of Belonging, Respect, Onboarding, Team Effectiveness, CEO Success

It seems that uncertainty is the rule rather than the exception, and this trend only appears to be intensifying with each passing day. In this environment, making high-quality decisions is of paramount importance. For this solo episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I reference groundbreaking research published in MIT Sloane Management Review to identify five traits for effective decision-making, which were derived from a global study of business leaders.

The common thread that runs through these five qualities is that they are learnable. Another key element is that our mindset plays a critical role in influencing our effectiveness, a theme we have discussed multiple times before.

Tune in to learn how you can become a highly skilled decision maker by avoiding common traps that can undermine our effectiveness.

KEYWORDS

Positive Leadership, Personal growth, Decision-Making, Managing Stress, Navigating Uncertainly, mastering our Mindset, Growth Mindset, Focus on the Positive, CEO Success

Source:Five Traits of Leaders Who Excel at Decision-Making