DEI Moment with Lisa Pavano, CPSM: September 2025
Posted by Communications Committee on Sep. 17, 2025 / SMPS CT / Subscribe 0
We often make snap judgments about people based on how they sound. Maybe it’s a regional accent, maybe English isn’t their first language, or maybe their pace and tone are just different from what we expect. It’s natural to feel most comfortable with what’s familiar, but when we tune out voices that sound different, we can miss important ideas and perspectives. Inclusion isn’t only about who gets a seat at the table. It’s about making sure we actually hear and value what each person is saying. That means slowing down, listening with intention, and checking our own assumptions about what “good communication” should sound like.
Action to try: Next time you find yourself working to follow someone or hear a style of speaking that is new to you, lean in and listen closely. You might hear something that shifts the conversation in a valuable way.
-Lisa Pavano, CPSM
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