Are You Annoying? And Other Fun Tidbits to Have Conversations that Matter: Interview with Jessica Pettitt — Episode 009

We’ve all been there. All of a sudden, a normal conversation
takes a difficult turn and we find ourselves at a loss. Do we
fight? Do we leave the conversation all together and avoid the
offending person for as long as possible?


These conversations are hard and it’s easy to just avoid them or
walk away. However, we’re missing out on some prime growing and
learning opportunities when we avoid instead of engage.


On today’s podcast, I chat with Social Justice Educator and
Wednesday Keynote from the 2017 NRPA Annual Conference Jessica
Pettitt. She shares:


How she developed her diversity and inclusion techniques.
After 20 years she had to ask, “Why wasn’t anyone doing anything
different?”

Why doing the best we can with what we have some of the time
is better than nothing.  

That entering conversations with grace and taking
responsibility for how you show up in them can lead to better
outcomes and a learning opportunity.

The danger of “blocking” people you don’t agree with. Are you
actually in danger or just uncomfortable?

The importance of bringing together different voices, ideas
and backgrounds in a professional environment.

The difference between the picture of diversity and actual
diversity.

Her number one Halloween tip.



You can learn more from Jessica by visiting her website where you
can check out some self-assessments and buy her book Good Enough
Now.