Definitely going to be breaking down some of the key points that @jenniferbrown makes here. 🙌
cc @AllRaise
You're not an ally by slapping the badge on yourself and declaring "I am an ally" 🤔
"Inclusive leadership is measured by those around you who deem you to be an inclusive leader, and that's something that you earn." -- @jenniferbrown
What matters is the mission -- you'll experiment & find the right answers as they appear. Continue driving towards the north star.☝️
Great leaders seek to understand & ask questions, particularly about areas where they have little or no personal experience.
Empathy & understanding will progress your mission. 🙌
We need to actively address this lack of knowledge.
How do you handle the dichotomy of needing to be someone people trust and want to follow...but also admitting & owning & welcoming the fact that on this topic, you may not have first-hand experience?
There is no "done" when it comes to learning & growing. If you're not continually doing these things, you're not leading.
I'm intrigued by Jennifer's theory on ways to conceptualize leadership phases re: diversity:
1) Unaware ➡️ 2) Aware ➡️ 3) Active ➡️ 4) Advocate
We maximize this understanding by underscoring it in our personal networks. That then translates to the workplace I think.
---> Any co's that still don't understand that diversity is good for business (I legit can't understand that anyone still thinks this but apparently they do...) 🤦♂️
A feeling of belonging is not quantifiable or dictated by certain metrics; it needs to come from a deeper place in organizations.
That deep feeling of belonging is predicated on feeling valued on such a level that you can let yourself innately relax. 🤔
The data may be telling one story, but the underlying feeling may be something different. Through empathy, we can broaden our understanding of the orgs we lead. ☝️🙌
People follow people when they sense that there is a genuine authenticity, especially re: a mission that you may be driving at.
Am I really on this journey or am I just pretending to be?
Spoiler: If the answer isn't that you're 100% committed, you have some serious soul-searching to do. ☝️
Jennifer is very correct in this; using my own voice for others from whatever levels of privilege I have is immensely cathartic & compelling. It actually gives me energy in the morning.
Empathy is a driving force. 🚀