Responding to aggressive detractors of DEIB with questions about their criticisms often lowers the intensity of the conversation and helps to lay a foundation for a productive exchange.

When confronted with comments like “DEIB is now illegal” or “it’s reverse discrimination,” rather than immediately engaging in what promises to be a fruitless and uncomfortable argument, first try to find out why they THINK this. “What does DEIB mean to you?” or “What makes you say that?” signals that you are interested in hearing their perspective and are trying to meet them where they are. It also requires the detractor to back up their comments with specifics, as opposed to simply parroting a phrase they’ve heard or seen. 

This simple tactic of seeking first to understand, then to be understood, as described in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, often opens the door to greater receptivity to a dialogue about DEIB. It provides a chance to offer an informed background on DEIB that is vastly different from the misleading and outright wrong information flowing from so many sources. Rather than leading with a lecture, consider soliciting perspective. Don’t expect instant agreement, but at least you will have planted a seed that may grow into more thoughtful consideration of what DEIB is really about.