How can you collaborate with executive leaders who champion diversity and inclusion?

1 Understand their vision and values

One of the first steps to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to understand their vision and values for the organization and their teams. What are their goals and priorities for D&I? How do they define and measure success? What are their core values and principles that guide their actions and decisions? By understanding their vision and values, you can align your own objectives and initiatives with theirs, and demonstrate your commitment and contribution to their D&I agenda. You can also learn from their perspectives and experiences, and gain insights into their expectations and preferences for collaboration.

2 Communicate openly and respectfully

Another key step to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to communicate openly and respectfully with them. This means sharing your ideas, feedback, and concerns in a clear, concise, and constructive way, while also listening actively and empathetically to theirs. It also means being respectful of their time, authority, and expertise, while also expressing your own opinions, needs, and boundaries. Communication is essential for building trust, rapport, and understanding with executive leaders who champion D&I, and for resolving any issues or conflicts that may arise along the way.

3 Seek their feedback and guidance

A third step to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to seek their feedback and guidance on your performance, projects, and professional development. Executive leaders who champion D&I can offer you valuable insights, advice, and support to help you improve your skills, overcome your challenges, and achieve your goals. They can also provide you with opportunities, resources, and connections to enhance your learning and growth. By seeking their feedback and guidance, you can show your willingness to learn, improve, and grow as a leader, and also benefit from their mentorship and sponsorship.

4 Support their initiatives and actions

A fourth step to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to support their initiatives and actions that promote D&I in the organization and beyond. This means participating in, contributing to, and advocating for their D&I programs, policies, and practices, such as training, mentoring, networking, resource groups, events, campaigns, and partnerships. It also means recognizing, celebrating, and amplifying their achievements and impact on D&I, and acknowledging their efforts and challenges. By supporting their initiatives and actions, you can demonstrate your alignment and engagement with their D&I vision and values, and also contribute to their success and recognition.

5 Challenge and learn from them

A fifth step to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to challenge and learn from them in a respectful and constructive way. This means asking them thoughtful and critical questions, providing them with honest and diverse perspectives, and offering them alternative and innovative solutions. It also means being open to their feedback, suggestions, and corrections, and acknowledging your own mistakes, biases, and gaps. By challenging and learning from them, you can stimulate their thinking and creativity, and also enhance your own knowledge and competence on D&I.

6 Appreciate and thank them

A sixth and final step to collaborate with executive leaders who champion D&I is to appreciate and thank them for their leadership, support, and collaboration. This means expressing your gratitude and recognition for their D&I efforts, achievements, and contributions, and highlighting their positive impact and influence on the organization and the society. It also means giving them constructive and specific compliments, and sharing your success stories and testimonials with them and others. By appreciating and thanking them, you can strengthen your relationship and rapport with them, and also motivate and inspire them to continue their D&I journey.