The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Sh*t (HC) (2022)

Once upon a time, companies stayed out of social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) situations. Today, customers and employees expect to be seen, heard, and valued. They expect businesses and their leaders to be transparent about DEI efforts, take a stand on social justice issues, and demonstrate how they're making the world a better place. Misalignment between what a company says and what it actually does destroys credibility and leads to a host of other consequences, including brand reputation damage, high attrition, difficulty attracting talent, lawsuits, boycotts, loss of market share, and more.

DEI and social justice communications is a new and required skill set for communicators. The key to success is to embed them in your processes from the very beginning. We must acknowledge unconscious bias and learn to think and act beyond ourselves and our own limited experiences.

This book helps organizations answer the why, what, when, and how to communicate DEI and social justice subjects. In the book, Stovall and Clark introduce the DEPTH model, a framework and practical tool to help companies craft DEI and social justice and communications aligned with their mission, vision, and values - consistently, proactively, and in ways that are powerful rather than performative.

DEI touches every part of the organization beyond communications, from marketing to sales, human resources to technology. Social justice is no longer something that happens 'out there, somewhere.' In this groundbreaking book, Stovall and Clark lay out the elements of a DEI and social justice communications strategy and a roadmap that will help your organization effectively use a DEI lens to inform all of its work and interactions. The business world has the best potential to usher in change that's long overdue - and now is the time to do it.