Conscious Change

How to Navigate Differences and Foster Inclusion in Everyday Relationships

Description

Stop Reacting to Conflict. Start Leading with Consciousness. In a world polarized by disparate beliefs, navigating relationships can feel like a minefield. Whether in the boardroom or living room, differences often lead to drained energy and stalled progress.

Conscious Change is your road map through turbulent waters. Moving beyond theory, authors Jean Kantambu Latting and V. Jean Ramsey present a framework empowering you to shift your story, exemplified by nineteen real-life case studies from leaders who’ve faced emotionally demanding challenges head-on. By mastering the principles of Conscious Change, you will learn to distinguish intent from impact, call people “in,” and find common ground.

What You Will Discover:

  • The Road Map to Resilience: Tools to maintain leadership capacity during high-conflict situations.
  • Real-world Application: Honest stories of failure and success in multicultural environments.
  • How to Foster True Inclusion: Strategies to move beyond “diversity quotas” and toward genuine equity.
  • Emotional Mastery: Techniques to manage reactions and foster psychological safety.

Leadership requires presence. Whether you are an HR professional or a corporate leader, this book will give you the skills to turn friction into growth. Embrace the differences. Lead the change.

About the author(s)

Jean Kantambu Latting, DrPH, LMSW-IPR, is president of Leading Consciously and a professor emerita at the University of Houston. For over three decades, she has helped leaders navigate organizational politics, conflict, and bias in complex environments. Drawing on the Principles of Conscious Change, Jean equips clients to handle difficult conversations and resolve conflict without burnout. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she is the author of Reframing Change and coauthor of Conscious Change. Jean teaches that inclusive leadership is practical, relational, and essential for sustainable success.

V. Jean Ramsey, PhD, brings over thirty years of university teaching experience to her work as an author. Although she started life in a one-room country school, dreaming of writing mysteries like Nancy Drew, she has dedicated her career to producing influential academic journal articles and books on management and organizational behavior. Dr. Ramsey began her career at Western Michigan University and Illinois State University before spending nineteen years as a professor of management at Texas Southern University, where she was recognized numerous times by the School of Business for teaching excellence.

Stephanie Foy, LMSW, is a senior partner with Leading Consciously and contributes to curriculum development and practice implementation related to the principles and skills of Conscious Change. Her master’s study and current consultation practice focus on leadership, well-being, and organizational change.

Amy Foy Hageman, MSPOD, is a junior associate with Leading Consciously. In that role, she facilitates training, creates coursework, and coaches participants through their learning goals. Amy graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2014 with a Master’s of Positive Organizational Development. 

Reviews

Conscious Change is a book that arrives at a crucial moment in our nation’s history, offering invaluable insight on how we can bridge the divide and foster unity. Through poignant stories and honest reflections, this book delves into the lives of individuals navigating differences and conflicts, highlighting the transformative power of personal growth and resilience.”
Midwest Book Review

“The emphasis on fostering diversity and examining the systems in which people work is high relevance to the modern workplace.”
Kirkus Reviews

“The digestible format makes Conscious Change an ideal workplace or social book club selection, as readers can discuss topics, practices, and ideas chapter by chapter. The concepts presented in Conscious Change are applicable to any work or social setting at any stage of life. They are also straightforward—no particular training or background is needed to appreciate them. If you are a human who interacts with other humans, you can learn from this book.”
—Tracy Rathe, Senior Vice President of Organizational Performance and Development, Nebraska Healthcare Association

“This book comes at a time when our nation is in great need to learn how to work and live together beyond conflict and polarization.”
—Darya Funches, MPA, EdD, founder of REAP Unlimited & Sow REAP Futures and author of I Send My Blankets Over You

“At last, a practical way into and through the perceived differences between humans that can trip us up and make us falter, harbor resentment, and even disconnect.”
—Patti Digh, founder of Hard Conversations and Dialogues on Race and author of The Global Diversity Desk Reference

“The stories in Conscious Change provide powerful and honest looks at people coping with differences and conflict and acknowledge the hard work that comes with personal change and reflection.”
—Abby Baker, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Rinchem

“A book of this sort is rarely a page-turner, but Conscious Change is that! The transparency exhibited by the storytellers, the scientific underpinnings, and the applicability of the ‘tools’ to both personal and work relationships makes the book extremely useful.” 
—Roberta Burroughs, FAICP, President and CEO, Roberta F. Burroughs & Associates

Conscious Change is a must-read guide for personal and professional growth, for navigating diverse and complex workplaces, and for embarking on a life-changing journey in our everyday relationships.” 
—Menah Pratt, JD, PhD, Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity, Virginia Tech University, and author of Blackwildgirl and From Cotton Picking to College Professor

Conscious Change outperforms any other book about navigating difference and fostering inclusion.” 
—Sunita Sehmi, organizational development consultant; executive leadership coach; diversity, inclusion, and belonging advisor; and author of The Power of Belonging: How to Develop Safety, Inclusion, and Belonging for Leaders and Organizations

“This is an absolute gem of a book! Using an engaging writing style, the authors offer a clear framework for change at the personal, interpersonal, and systemic levels.” 
—Susan P. Robbins, PhD, LCSW, Cele S. and Samuel D. Keeper Endowed Professor in Social Justice, University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work

“The authors take us on a heart-opening journey through the challenges and opportunities of creating healthy, diverse work environments.” 
—Betty Sanders, past President of the National Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Humanomics, Inc.

“This book is so incredibly useful and timely! The authors share robust yet digestible information and tools that can help anyone who is looking to show up to the conflict in their lives in a clearer manner.” 
—Danielle Murphy, LCSW, SEP, therapist at Somatic Freedom Psychotherapy

“Readers may pick this book up and simply begin reading—at the beginning, in the middle, wherever the book happens to fall open—and will naturally be drawn into a narrative in which a leader worked within a given system to create change, moved the needle on a hard issue, and grew themselves as a person and change agent in the process.” 
—Jill Carroll, PhD, Former Executive Director, Boniuk Center for Religious Tolerance, Rice University, and author of World Religions: A Beginner’s Guide 

Conscious Change draws on compelling stories from nineteen individuals who successfully navigated difficult professional and personal challenges.” 
—Dr. Rochelle Parks-Yancy, Professor of Management, Texas Southern University, and coauthor of Be Your Best Career Architect 

“The book offers practical guidance on nurturing inclusive relationships by emphasizing the demanding yet transformative practice of staying consciously present.” 
—Amanda Polich, Leader, Executive Relationships at Ultimate Kronos Group, Certified Dare to LeadTM Facilitator, and Board Chair for Houston Council on Recovery

“The book is filled with rich stories that made me mutter, ‘I’ve been there. I’ve been in that difficult situation . . .’ This is one of those books you can open just about anywhere and find something that hits home.” 
—Rick Maurer, speaker, advisor/coach, and author of Seizing Moments of Possibility, Beyond the Wall of Resistance, and Feedback Toolkit 

“As a leader in talent development, I found Conscious Change to be a transformative read. It brilliantly intertwines real-life examples with practical strategies, providing invaluable insights for fostering positive change and enhancing workplace dynamics.” 
—Nathalie Salles, former VP Talent Development, Bloom Energy, and former Director of Coaching, Team and Organizational Development, Meta

“In addition to the application of Conscious Change principles, the book is filled with wisdom nuggets such as the three ingredients of an effective apology; the direction to distinguish intent from impact; and the encouragement to ‘Give grace by not assuming others’ intentions’ and ‘Call others in rather than calling them out.’” 
—Dr. Barbara Love, Professor Emeritus, Social Justice Education, University of Massachusetts, and author of Developing Liberatory Consciousness

“This book is a must read for anyone who wants to learn how to manage their emotions, think clearly and rationally, navigate challenging situations, and have better interpersonal relationships.” 
—Carol Stewart, executive coach and author of Quietly Visible

“Our prosperity and well-being depend on our ability to work together in harmony, and this book has vital answers for how we can avoid negative and self-defeating reactions while experiencing the pleasure of being at our best.” 
—Peter Michaelson, psychotherapist, founder of WhyWeSuffer.com, and author of Our Deadly Flaw

“Latting and Ramsey again deliver knowledge, principles, and skills powerful enough to change the world, one person at a time.” 
—Laura Easton, Lmsw, OD Consultant and Executive Coach, Easton Consulting, LLC, and Advisory Board Member, Houston Council on Recovery

Conscious Change is a must-have resource for helping professionals, educators, or anyone wanting to thrive in today’s diverse workplace.” 
—Laurel Iverson Hitchcock, PhD, MPH, LICSW/PIP, Associate Professor and BSSW Program Director, The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Conscious Change provides a refreshing—and realistic—formula for abandoning old behaviors and reframing our individual identities.” 
—Ronnie Hagerty, Assistant Vice President for Community Relations, United Way of Greater Houston 

“Modern organizations depend on leaders’ abilities to understand and navigate myriad forms of human variance that characterize those organizations and the world in which they operate. Conscious Change is an excellent primer on how to do so effectively.” 
—Rod Mccowan, Founder and Chief Catalyst, Accelerance Group International, and Associate Professor of Organization and Management at Goizueta Business School, Emory University  

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