The 5Q’s of Workplace Allyship

?? WHAT IS ALLYSHIP?

In recent years, an increasing number of women leaders are stepping up to support employee well-being and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. This is where allyship has come into play within corporate diversity circles. Harvard Business Review defines allyship as “a strategic mechanism used by individuals to become collaborators, accomplices, and co-conspirators, who fight injustice and promote equity in the workplace, through supportive personal relationships and public acts of sponsorship and advocacy.”

?? WHY IS ALLYSHIP IMPORTANT AT THE WORKPLACE?

Allyship allows diversity and inclusion in a company, it is directly linked to business outcomes that include innovation, productivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction. A report published by McKinsey in 2020 suggests that diverse companies are more likely to financially outperform their peers. On a personal level, having the right allies helps alleviate feelings of burnout and fatigue, and reduces employee turnover as there may be fewer who opt to leave because they feel unwelcome or uncomfortable.

When dealing with any tough situation, having someone that you can trust at the workplace could promote a sense of belonging, which is particularly crucial in collectivist cultures. People need to feel safe to express and share their ideas. Leaders need to respect and value this to retain the young talents in their company.

?? HOW CAN YOU BE A GOOD ALLY?

Allies are not self-identified. People are only allies when the group they seek to be an ally for recognizes them for their role.

How can you be a good ally and enlist the right people around you?

• Do the research. Besides knowing the difficulties that your colleagues of an underrepresented group are facing, learn their strengths. Do not make generalized assumptions, and be attuned to their unique experiences and intersectional identities.
• Know your privilege. Recognize the opportunities and resources which you can leverage and deploy for your allies.
• Make yourself available. Listen generously and validate their experience. Allyship only works when there is mutual trust - be genuine, and accept feedback to make changes.
• Take action. Allyship is not just a performative gesture on social media. Speak up for the underrepresented group. Call out unacceptable behaviours and use inclusive language. Create a safe space to welcome different voices.

???? WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ALLYSHIP?

When you understand the power behind leveraging relationships, allies become an asset to your career. The book ‘The Female Vision’ shared a real-life example. A female executive who leveraged her alliance with her boss to seek advice and present a talent plant. The boss, in turn, benefited by extending his own connection by leveraging the female executive’s strengths and ideas.

?? WHO CAN BE YOUR ALLY?

It is a continual investment of time and effort that involves building relationships based on trust, accountability, and consistency in interactions with marginalized groups. Every one of us is gifted differently. We enjoy privilege in some ways but less so in others, so we can all be allies for each other.

Source: HD Monthly Influencer, The 5Q’s of Workplace Allyship ; authored by Ines Wong