Stanford Business

FEBRUARY 2007


Workplace Benefits from Candid Talk

It’s sometimes correct to be politically incorrect. In the September Harvard Business Review article “Rethinking Political Correctness,” Debra Meyerson, PhD ’89, and coauthors Robin J. Ely and Martin N. Davidson say overly sensitive treatment of minorities and women can harm rather than help.

“When majority members cannot speak candidly ... minorities can’t discuss their concerns about fairness and fears about feeding into negative stereotypes,” they write. “These dynamics breed misunderstanding, conflict, and mistrust, corroding both managerial and team effectiveness.”

Instead, the authors advise that if “people treat their cultural differences—and the conflicts and tensions that arise from them—as opportunities to seek a more accurate view of themselves, each other, and the situation, trust builds and relationships become stronger.”