Disagreements about identity, diversity, and justice are some of the thorniest conversations taking place in today’s workplaces. Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow, cofounders of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at NYU School of Law and coauthors of the book Say the Right Thing, offer leaders four strategies for interactions that can foster empathy and respect and help rein in anger and defensiveness.

At work, many executives feel pressured to conform to the mainstream and to hide any signs of belonging to a minority group. A new study indicates that dynamic undermines employees' self-confidence and engagement and adversely affects diversity in organizations.