The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth

The definition of successful leadership has changed. The Inclusive Leadership Handbook: Balancing People and Performance for Sustainable Growth by Donald Thompson and Kurt Merriweather is a powerful guide that unveils the secrets of this new paradigm: inclusive leadership. Leaders at all levels will learn the skills and mindset essential in creating innovative, efficient, and collaborative work environments that enable organizations to win in the new economy.  

Thompson and Merriweather provide deep insight on how leaders can do the right thing by their organizations and for the bottom line: building strong relationships centered on trust and respect, putting people first, and unlocking the full potential of every team member. Filled with actionable guidance, hands-on exercises, and engaging prompts that drive home learning for long-term success, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook reveals how inclusive leaders not only achieve organizational goals, but also create a culture that fosters creativity, innovation, and excellence. With decades of experience leading teams and building great companies, the authors provide practical steps to guide any leader's journey to excellence.

Based on hundreds of client engagements with leaders worldwide and millions of data touchpoints, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook will help you become a stronger leader through self-reflection, acknowledging strengths, addressing weaknesses, and understanding the impact of your actions on others. Thompson and Merriweather demonstrate how intentional learning and continuous improvement can elevate leadership abilities.

The Inclusive Leadership Handbook is an essential resource for anyone who aspires to create inclusive work environments where individuals feel valued, inspired, and empowered. Packed with practical strategies and insights, this book challenges traditional notions of leadership by leveraging critical "soft skills" such as communication and cultural intelligence to achieve exemplary employee engagement and other critical business outcomes.

A must-read for leaders at every career stage who are committed to fostering inclusive workplaces, The Inclusive Leadership Handbook overthrows conventional management paradigms, providing a roadmap for creating cultures of belonging and well-being.

Donald Thompson, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 SE Award winner, is a globally respected and sought-after business leader with a proven track record of success in growing firms. As a CEO, speaker, investor, advisor, entrepreneur, and executive coach, Thompson brings a wealth of experience and expertise to any organization. Don is CEO & Co-founder of The Diversity Movement, a Workplace Options company. A Certified Diversity Executive®, he is passionate about driving cultural transformation and delivering solid returns for employees and shareholders. Under his leadership, The Diversity Movement has earned numerous accolades, including Inc. Magazine's 2021 Best in Business List in DE&I Advocacy and Fast Company's 2022 "world-changing ideas." In addition, Thompson is a three-time Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies winner, named to the Forbes Next 1000 List, the Business North Carolina Power 100 List, and winner of the 2023 Independent Press Distinguished Favorite Book Award in Leadership. Thompson serves on 12 boards across various industries, including marketing, health, and finance. He is also the author of the book Underestimated: A CEO's Unlikely Path to Success and hosts the podcast "High Octane Leadership in an Empathetic World," both of which provide valuable insights for business leaders. Thompson is a featured columnist, writing about leadership and culture-centric business transformation for WRAL TechWire, the Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle's most important business publication. With his competitive learning mindset, Thompson delivers actionable insights and is the perfect partner for anyone looking to take their business to the next level. Follow him on LinkedIn for updates on news, events, and his podcast, or contact him at info@donaldthompson.com for executive coaching, speaking engagements, or DEI-related content. Working with Thompson is an opportunity to learn from one of the best and take your organization to new heights.

KURT MERRIWEATHER is co-founder and Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at The Diversity Movement, a Workplace Options Company. He developed the MicroVideos technology platform named by Fast Company as a "World Changing Idea" and developed TDM Analytics, the platform used by TDM clients to collect over 1 million data points on organizational culture. Merriweather also led TDM's corporate development efforts, including the completion of a $1 million seed round and guided TDM to a successful exit with Workplace Options.Merriweather is a sought after advisor and speaker. He has served on the SXSW Pitch Advisory board and American Marketing Association (AMA) national nominating committee. He has been a Google for Startups pitch competition judge and mentor. Merriweather has facilitated courses at UNC Chapel Hill, advised research teams at NC State University, and mentored students at SKEMA Business School. He is passionate about addressing groups to help them leverage the link between DEI and innovation. Merriweather has delivered keynote sessions and executive workshops for Sustainable Brands, FujiFilm, NC Bio, AENC, Hitachi Energy, and NC Tech Association.Merriweather's leadership experience at Discovery, AOL, and Procter & Gamble enables him to equip executives with the skills needed to lead inclusive teams. His recent work with organizations such as BAYADA Home Healthcare helped the company gain recognition from Newsweek as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity. In addition to his work at The Diversity Movement, Merriweather advises startup leadership teams on product and go-to-market strategy, inclusive team building, and innovation.Merriweather holds a patent from his work at Warner Bros Discovery. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Kurt lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife Valerie. They are the proud parents of four amazing children.