05th October 2022
DEI is a Skill, Here’s How to Get it Right
In order to create equitable workplaces for all employees, leaders must first reframe their approach to diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) as an ongoing learning process and not a destination.
But the prevalence of cancel culture, despite often being well intentioned, has created a barrier to progress with many business leaders now too afraid to speak up for fear of saying the wrong thing.
So how can leaders improve their DEI awareness and confidently initiate policies without fear of reprisal?
According to Author and Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Risha Grant, they must first consider DEI as a skill that requires practice.
Risha says: ‘Think back to when you learned something new. It can be anything basketball, chess, or singing. You pick. It was really hard at first, right? But you practiced again and again, and now you don’t even have to think about what you’re doing. Now, when you do your thing, it feels easy—almost automatic. Inclusion and belonging work the same way. So when you practice DEI skills, and you practice them enough, they become automatic’
Read on for more from Risha Grant’s brilliant article: 3 Steps to Start Your DEI Initiative.
From the article on LinkedIn:
Never assume, always ask.
To start building DEI into your organization, you’ll first want to know what areas your organization falls short, and you learn that by talking to employees. Why? Because the employees are the people you’re doing this for anyway! It’s about them! The biggest mistake I see companies make when starting their DEI journey is that they leave out the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the people they are trying to reach. When you leave out the people, you waste your time and efforts making assumptions. You might think that racism is the most pressing issue but learn from employees that ageism is just as prevalent. When you include employees in your DEI strategy, it feels less like you are forcing them, and more like you are concerned about their experiences.
Practice with people who are different than you, but that you know well.
Take a moment to think about the last time you learned a new skill—may be speaking a new language, playing an instrument, or perfecting a craft. How long did it take you? Probably awhile. Building new skills take time. But you can make the process go faster by practicing the right skills in the right way. More specifically, you can practice the skills that have the biggest impact on your colleagues, and practice them with people you have an authentic relationship with. This way you’ll make more progress in less time and you’ll be less likely to get cancelled along the way.
The next time you’re with friends, and they say something out of line about a diverse group, ask them to explain what they mean by their statements. Alternatively, if you want to build your skills communicating with diverse people, start with someone that knows you well, and be honest about your intention to grow in areas where you need to. If you’re at a loss for a diverse friend, then you know you have work to do. And by work, I mean listening and learning. Social media allows you to learn about others just by observing. You don’t have to be an expert and you don’t have to jump into any conversations quickly. You can just simply observe interactions, thoughts, and feelings with the commitment to keeping an open mind.
Progress
During my time working with companies, I am always excited to see just how quickly people make significant progress building their DEI skills. But I am aware of how exhausting DEI can be. Trust me. It’s a 24/7 job for me.
Why is it exhausting? Because it’s always evolving. There is always some new identity to learn whether it be proper pronouns or romantic preference. Did you know that you can be bisexual and hetero-romantic? If not, then you get my point. Sometimes it is just like, WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE A THING.
After you prioritize DEI skills and practice them for a while, you’ll plateau and may even start to backslide towards where you started–assumptions. So keep in mind that there is always something new to learn, be compassionate with yourself, and give grace to others who are learning.
To progress and improve, we have to keep in mind that DEI is a skill, and therefore requires continued education hours. So, when you are feeling confident with a DEI skill, or feel like you have got everything figured out, it’s time to pause, see what else you need to learn and challenge yourself to do so.
Read the full article, here.
Are you an inspiring leader? Do you know an inspiring leader? Then register here for Inspiring Leaders 2022.
And for more articles on Wellbeing, Culture, and Experience & Engagement be sure to visit the Inspiring Workplaces website.
Join our community here, for free.