Becoming an ally: the journey to meaningful change

Why allies are important

2020 was many things: the vast majority of which will not be remembered fondly. But one development, while painful, has the potential to be truly transformative – the engagement of authentic allies.

With the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States and the growth of the Black middle-class, I think many people believed we had finally achieved the ambition of the civil rights movement: a color-blind society. Wasn’t all this proof that the American dream was alive, well and accessible to all?

Last year removed the blinders and revealed the truth about the social and civil progress of our country. Confronted with countless examples of racism, classism, brutality, injustice and inequality experienced by Black and Brown communities, many people realized these issues were real and felt compelled to take action to bring about positive change.

Now the real journey begins. How we as allies use our diverse minds and platforms will determine whether we make true progress or stumble upon a path leading us right back to the status quo.

My thoughts on being an effective ally

Let me be clear right from the start: being an effective ally is not easy. There will be times when it’s uncomfortable. Fittingly, the first step begins with vulnerability. It requires challenging the assumptions, stereotypes and subconscious biases we all have. Only when we are honest with ourselves can we hope to successfully engage others in the open, forthright and challenging conversations necessary to change hearts and minds. Additionally, having compassion, intellectual curiosity and a willingness to put yourself out there are also critical attributes.

In my experience, allies tend to fall into four categories:

• The Empathetic ally is often well-informed about the history and life experiences of others. They possess a great capacity for appreciating what others are going through. However, they are cautious when it comes to leveraging their platforms for change.
• The Passionate ally is quick to act but may not truly understand the experiences of others. To be more effective, they may need more insight to better address the root-cause rather than the symptoms. This ally frequently focuses on activities and “quick hits” rather than the hard stuff that drives sustainable change.
• The Compliant ally realizes inclusive behavior is expected. They basically play the game versus truly being committed to actual change or growing their own perspective about others’ experiences. 
• The Authentic ally does the work to drive real change. These allies have taken the time to truly understand the history and experiences of others. More importantly, they take action to create an inclusive and equitable culture; they call out bad behavior; hold others accountable for their actions; and leverage their platforms to have candid conversations within their organizations, teams and networks. We need more authentic allies to truly change the world.

Being an effective ally is a journey. It is my hope that we will all strive to be authentic allies for those who do not have a voice or a seat at the table.

Let’s do the work, together

We are unbeatable when we roll up our sleeves and combine our knowledge. Starting right now, let’s commit to:

• Creating diverse teams and ensuring equal access to career-enhancing opportunities for everyone
• Expanding your net to recruit a full range of talent in the market
• Investing in someone different than you, as it’s an opportunity for reverse mentoring
• Challenging responses such as, “We cannot find qualified candidates” or “They don’t have executive presence.” These are often code words that imply, “This person is not like me.”
• Calling-out bad behavior when witnessed
•  Lean into our “blind spots” and become authentic allies for others

To be an effective ally, the basic rule of life applies: actions speak louder than words. 2020 showed us how much work remains to be done. Our journey to true, lasting positive change is underway. Will you join us?