| Website / URL |
| https://www.harvestrespect.com |
| Bio |
| As CEO of WordSmooth, Patty Bates-Ballard helps organizations communicate effectively across differences. A trained mediator, Patty is the author of the book ACE-ing Conflict, and she consults on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for schools, non-profits, and corporations. |
| Tell us your best small idea for big business wins |
| One simple thing I have done that has achieved big wins is to offer three pricing options in my proposals: comprehensive, in-depth, and targeted services. Previously, I used to tailor proposals to what the prospective client requested. After I began offering three pricing options, several clients have chosen a larger range of services than they originally thought they wanted. |
| Tell us about you; your background. |
| I am passionate about helping organizations communicate effectively across differences. I work with school districts, police departments, non-profit organizations, and corporations to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. A trained mediator, I am the author of ACE-ing Conflict: three elegant steps for resolving conflicts across differences. I honed the ACE-ing Conflict process over my 25+ years of leading Harvest Respect learning sessions, community dialogues, community mediations, and a series of court-ordered learning sessions I conducted for a member of the Aryan Nations. I have worked in the field of multi-cultural relations for more than 20 years, forming my company when my son was born with disabilities and needing a way to work from home to take care of him. My degrees are in Psychology and Philosophy/Religion from Austin College in Sherman. The mother of two boys, I’m a volunteer docent at the African American Museum of Dallas and a lifelong resident of Dallas. |
| Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now? |
| Our biggest challenge is helping leaders see how diversity, equity, and inclusion work impacts their core mission and results. |
| On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice? |
| My aspirational business superpower would be to more skillfully use humor to lighten conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. The topics are so deep and serious, and we need ways to make them more accessible. |
| What does “success” in 2023 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision. |
| Success in 2023 will be achieved if I reach my goals of 1) restructuring my team after my senior partner retired in December 2022; 2) finish my next book; 3) complete and sell a new learning session on inclusive decision-making. |
