THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996             TAG: 9601110011
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   50 lines

PORTSMOUTH COUNCIL MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Your report ``Portsmouth's dialogue struggles because fewer people take part'' (Dec. 31, 1995) focuses on the same kinds of problems and challenges that companies face when attempting to incorporate diversity into their business.

As a performance coach specializing in relationships, I have worked with companies facing diversity challenges. Let me point out what I perceive to be Portsmouth's main problem with its program:

Portsmouth City Council is to be commended for creating the Cultural Diversity Action Committee and saying that diversity is a top goal. However, like many businesses, Portsmouth's council does not appear to be ``walking its talk.'' ``Mayor Gloria Webb acknowledges that the council backed away after setting the program in motion and assigning a staff member to the project. She says council members found it difficult to attend sessions when they had so many other priorities.''

That may be problem No. 1.

Whether in the workplace, home or community, people tend to follow leaders. The leaders must set examples and be role models. Why should I attend a session of this type when it's not a priority for community leaders, especially when ``Racial discord has continued over issues such as construction of the new I.C. Norcom High School, the city's Vision 2005 plan for the Effingham Street corridor and School Board elections''?

In the business world, when those on the top of the hierarchy ladder claim to want to increase harmony within the workplace and then delegate the job to someone in the Human Resources Department without participating themselves, the process inevitably fails because the employees do not feel a sense of commitment to the cause. And there usually isn't.

Successes for these kinds of issues tend to occur when the CEO and president, vice president and other officers show up and involve everyone. This involvement fosters loyalty, trust and commitment that make the followers want to follow.

Since diversity issues have become bottom-line issues, it will behoove all of Hampton Roads leaders to begin to work together toward increased harmony and more-effective teamwork. To do that, they should begin by attending the very dialogue groups that they've started.

JENYCE JOHNSON

Chesapeake, Jan. 3, 1996 by CNB