Manager's Guide to Sexual Orientation in the Workplace

Bob Powers is president of Bob Powers & Associates, Inc., a firm which helps organizations attain business goals and enhance life in the workplace. He has worked with clients including AT&T, British Airways, Federal Express, General Motors, the Internal Revenue Service and the New York Stock Exchange. Powers has consulted with the highest levels of the world's most impressive organizations and is publicly outspoken about being gay. Alan Ellis teaches psychology and human sexuality at San Francisco State University and is president of Bob Powers Publications. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois.

• Chapter 1 Getting Oriented; Chapter 2 Gaining Knowledge; Chapter 3 Gaining Skill; Chapter 4 Using Knowledge; Chapter 5 Making It Work; Chapter 6 Deepeninq Knowledge; Chapter 7 Finding Resources;

"'...down in the trenches at many companies, unfamilar lifestyles are being demystified at lunch, over coffee and in meetings. Mere familiarity begins to change perceptions. Until recently, most Americans couldn't say the words 'gay' and 'lesbian' without thinking something weird was coming out of their mouths,' said Bob Powers, a diversity consultant in San Francisco." -- New YorkTimes, Sunday, June 13, 1993"A Manager's Guide is a clear, readable handbook that achieves its stated goal. Those who do not already appreciate the need to foster an inclusive environment for gay and lesbian employees will be touched by the many personal narratives that are presented." -- Journal ofGay and Lesbian Social Services"The first book to demonstrate the impact diversity has on productivity and preformance. A Manager's Guide is essential reading for smart managers and a shrewd investment." -- W.E. Downing, Executive Vice President-Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer Pacific Telesis Group"Unlike any other book, A Manager's Guide answers the kind of questions people are afraid to ask. This is a stunning achievement!" -- Rand Rosenberg, Managing Director-Head of Global Telecommunications, Salomon Brothers Inc."A Manger's Guide will change the way organizations look at sexual orientation in the workforce. This book is a huge contribution to businesses, large and small." -- Forrest Miller, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Bell Directory"The stories in this book are incredibly moving - a most effective way of raising awareness about issues that many of us are insensitive to without realizing it. The techniques for being more inclusive are specific and practical. They have applications for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals - and also for other groups who have traditionally been less-than-fully-welcomed in the workplace." -- Ann W. Parkman, Executive Vice President, Center for Effective Performance, Inc."Written expressly for heterosexuals, this book equips managers to tackle the toughest of all diversity issues--sexual orientation. A Manager's Guide is much needed!" -- Julie O'Mara,Past President, American Society for Training and Development"Not only does A Manager's Guide show why sexual orientation, like all diversity, is a business issue, it shows how it affects total performance and gives managers the tools and resources to dramatically improve performance. This is a powerful book!" -- Mike Underhill, Diversity Consultant, Amoco Corporation"This book will change the way we manage all people, regardless of their sexual orientation." -- AlvinHageman, Managing Director, Citicorp"A Manager's Guide to Sexual Orientation in the Workplace provides both a general manager's toolkit as well as a stirring and personal educational journey for its readers. It speaks to the hearts and minds of individuals through profoundly moving stories about the actual experiences and contributions of gay and lesbian employees, and it provides concrete, tactical guidance to managers in a concise and readable format. A remarkable and rare feat indeed to accomplish all in a single book." -- Mary Gentile, PhD, Harvard Business School"'What does sexual orientation have to do with business effectiveness?' 'Why do we need to talk about this stuff at work?' A Manager's Guide challenges the assumptions that are behind such questions, allowing managers to better understand how invisible biases stand in the way of achieving the full productivity from all memebers of their workforce." -- Kim Cromwell, Senior Consultant, Diversity and Change, Bank of Boston"Finally a book that helps all managers get through a very uncomfortable aspect of their job and enables them to deal effectively with these critical issues." -- Dr.Roger Addison, Vice President & Manager, Wells Fargo Bank"It's time to wake up and welcome all people into the workforce, regardless of sexual orientation. This remarkable book tells us how." -- Reverend CecilWilliams, Minister, Glide Memorial Methodist Church"The stories in this book are incredibly moving -- a most effective way of raising awareness about issues that many of us are insensititve to without realizing it. The techniques for being more inclusive are specific and practical. They have applications for gays, lesbian, and bisexuals -- and also for other groups who have traditionally been less-than-fully-welcome in the workplace." -- Alan W. Parkman, Executive Vice President, Center for Effectice Performace, Inc."No one has wanted to talk about sexual orientation and the impact on the workplace performace, in part, becuase until this book there were no resources to help the average manager deal with these issues. This is a timely and important book!" -- William C. Cosarelli, President, National Society for Performace & Instruction"An easy-to-read and interstingly constructed text. AManager's Guide to Sexual Orientation in the Workplace shows us how to tackle the issues of sexual orientation dealing with gay, lesbian and bisexual employees... the reader becomes intimately acquainted with the authors and with the lives of eleven people." -- The Lesbian Reviewof Books"To ensure equality of opportunity across all human dimensions is a bedrock duty of leadership. For those who do not yet acept this duty, this book is essential. For those who do, this book is also essential." -- John R.Gaulding, President and CEO, ADP Claims Solution Group"This is the book we've been waiting for. Now, managers can no longer ignore these issues and their impact on the bottom line." -- Arun Sarin, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy/ Development & International Operations, Air Touch Communications"A Manager's Guide is a powerful combination of heartfelt stories, well-tested tools and hard business facts. This book really helped us use our resources to the fullest." -- Thomas Oliver, President and Chief Executive Officer, VoiceCom Systems, Inc."In order for us to live and work peacefully together we need to accept all sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs." -- Susie Tompkins, Owner and Founder, Esprit"The issues surrounding sexual orientation, like HIV/AIDS which has been a catalyst for understanding illness... embracing diversity... creating safe work environments, raises the bar for what it means to be a manager in the 90s' and far beyond." -- Paul A. Ross, Worldwide Manager, HIV/AIDS Programs, Digital Equipment Corporation"Powers and Ellis bring sensitivity to management and empower all diverse working populations." -- JaniceMirikitani, President, Glide Foundation"In today's global and competitive world, no company can afford to get less than the best from all its employees. Bob Powers' new work provides valuable insights and practical advice for managers on how they, their staff, and their companies can do better by being better." -- Elliot Maxwell, Director, International Technology Policy, Department of Commerce"...is a how-to book for personell managers and small business owners." -- Seattle Gay News"Aimed at managers, [A Manager's Guide] shows how to achieve inclusiveness and why it is important. [Powers and Ellis] anticipate problems that differing sexual orientation might create among co-workers, employees, bosses, and customers, and they suggest how to handle each situation. The authors use numerous examples - some moving, some amusing - effectively. Included are a sample diversity policy, a bibliography, and a helpful resource guide that lists consultants, company-sponsored employee grous and business organizations for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals." -- David Rouse, Booklist September 15, 1995