Difficult Conversations w/ Lakia Elam

Speaking and Communicating Podcast

How do you navigate difficult conversations?

Meet Lakia Elam!

Lakia is a Human Resources (HR) veteran with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. She specializes in DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), hiring, communication, and culture building. As the founder of her own HR firm, Magnificent Differences Consulting, she is particularly passionate about building workplace cultures that thrive off of diversity.

Lakia emphasizes the importance of having conversations - particularly difficult and uncomfortable conversations - about diversity in the workplace. Lakia can draw on her experience leading clients through these conversations to provide a roadmap for businesses who want to improve their diversity and culture, but don't know where to begin. She also does volunteer career coaching for professionals, many of whom are from diverse backgrounds, so she is uniquely qualified to provide insight diversity and these conversations - from both the employer and employee perspective.

In a world where communication can make or break your career, it's time to dive deep into the art of handling difficult conversations and the true essence of diversity. With an HR career spanning over two decades, Lakia brings her wealth of experience to the table, discussing not just the work she does, but also sharing invaluable strategies for tackling tough dialogues head-on.

As Lakia unpacks the complexities of diversity beyond mere quotas, she emphasizes the need for organizations to be ready for change and to treat every employee with the respect they deserve. It's not just about filling seats; it's about finding the right people who can elevate your culture and drive your business forward.

Tune in for an enlightening conversation that will challenge your perceptions of HR, teach you the nuances of navigating workplace dynamics, and show you how to create an environment where open communication is the norm, and every voice is heard and valued.

Connect with Lakia Elam and discover more about Magnificent Differences Consulting:
Website: https://hiremdc.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/hire_mdc
Facebook: https://facebook.com/hiremdc

📋 Episode Chapters

(00:00) We can agree to disagree. Right now we can't implement this
(00:12) This podcast focuses on improving your communication skills both professionally and personally
(01:42) Tell us a little bit about yourself. So when you finished college, what was the path
(06:53) Each time you were told that you didn't get the job, were you told
(09:32) Robert Lakea says being self reflective helped him in starting his business
(14:35) HR should be more proactive in providing leadership training, says Michael Miller
(16:05) When did you start your company, other than the company you resigned from
(21:41) What constitutes a difficult conversation in today's workforce
(24:42) Roberta: Telling someone it's company policy is just not right
(27:01) When it comes to diversity, is diversity only about quotas or percentages
(34:01) First and foremost, you're an example of someone. If they want diverse talent, your experiences being different
(34:37) Lakia Elam: Organizations need to open the door for healthy communication

Listen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-have-tough-conversations-w-lakia-elam/id1614151066?i=1000647971355
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0C3wDCtmlwU5QTl5RxeMzx
YouTube: https://youtu.be/opv_HitQ19g