In order to transform our world, we must unite behind a new kind of civility.

In a world that is more divided than ever, it will take a radical act to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world. International civility consultant and keynote speaker Shola Richards believes that unifying our world around the power of civility is that radical act, and it's not for the faint of heart.

Do we want a safer world to live in? Do we want less toxicity in our politics? Do we want a world free of hate and discrimination? Do we want to work in organizations that allow us to do our best work? Do we want our children to learn in schools that are kind and supportive? Do we want to live in a world that prioritizes our mental health and overall wellness? If your answers are yes, then we must steel ourselves for the reality that uniting around civility is the only path that will get us there.

This deeply personal--and deeply practical--book will not shy away from addressing the challenging questions, such as: How can civil discourse be maintained during disagreements about topics that are profoundly polarizing, like abortion, gun control, or politics?

How can I be expected to be civil toward someone who has deeply wounded me--the drunk driver who killed my child, the relative who sexually assaulted me, the spouse who left me for my best friend, or the narcissistic parent who abused me?

How can I be civil when confronted with the hatefulness of intolerances such as racism, misogyny, antisemitism, homophobia, or Islamophobia?

How can I have a civil conversation with someone who isn't tethered to reality and believes in baseless dark web conspiracy theories? It sounds like civility means that we just need to be agreeable, not rock the boat, avoid having opinions or keeping them to ourselves, and refuse to take a firm stand against the policies and people who are trying to harm me and my loved ones. What in the world is positive about any of that foolishness?

These questions--and more--deserve to be answered. To be clear, Civil Unity is not another book about turning the other cheek when faced with harmful or hateful behavior. This book is about providing the practical tactics to disagree more effectively, bridge ideological divisions, actively prioritize our mental health, and fiercely create a more civil world that will sustain over time.

If you are ready to transform our discourse, our lives, and our world, let's get to work.

In Go Together, workplace positivity expert Shola Richards suggests replacing divisiveness and incivility with a commitment to living, working, and leading together to positively change the world. Go Together begins with the story of an impactful keynote speech Richards gave at a conference on workplace civility and a powerful concept: Ubuntu. A transcendent African philosophy, Ubuntu represent the power of human connectedness, compassion, kindness, and togetherness. It was the central theme of his speech on that day, and it also serves as the central theme of this book. He hopes that it becomes a rallying cry on his journey. Among the subjects that Richards covers are developing empathy through curiosity; the beliefs that destroy connection (and what to do about them); the eight keys to Ubuntu at work; four ways you can cultivate more warmth as a leader; resilience and digging deep to keep moving forward; standing up to bigotry, hate, and intolerance; and more. Richards writes, The only thing that is required of us to stop the recurring pattern of the painful lessons of the past is to commit to go together from this point forward.

Making Work Work: The Positivity Solution for Any Work Environment

In Making Work Work, an internationally recognized leadership consultant offers solutions for creating a more positive professional environment using kindness and mutual respect.

Shola Richards had reached the end of the road: after nearly two years at a toxic job, he felt numb and suicidal. So he quit and focused on inspiring current and future leaders in all stages of their careers to start a workplace movement around positivity.

This empowering guide presents Richards's strategies along with actionable plans. His keys to success include banishing blame and excuses, relentlessly respecting ourselves, maintaining work - separation, recognizing the benefits of having true and lasting friends at work, taking the time to appreciate our colleagues, and dealing with difficult people like bullies. A series of exercises will help you move toward meaningful action.

This encouraging book is a call to action built on a foundation of positivity.