Let's be PALS: A Guide to Allyship at Work
Hey there, All Pride fam!
Pride Month is over, but ALLYSHIP is year-round.
Over the course of my 30 year career, I've worked hard to build inclusive and welcoming workplaces for all people.
Not only is it the right thing to do, but when people feel safe to be themselves at work,?productivity and creativity go WAY up.
It's up to ALL of us to create better workplaces. That starts with allyship.
Let's dig in ??
? One Big Thing: Let's Be PALS
Allyship is more than just accepting people's lifestyles and points of view... it's an active role that you can practice every day.
I created an easy guide to help you become a better ally and promote authenticity at work: PALS
Provide:
Provide your queer colleagues with growth opportunities and encouragement to pursue bigger challenges.
Andy Mooney, my boss at Disney for over 10 years, exemplified this principle. In late 2007, he asked me to step out of my role and work on a “secret project." In 2008, I became the Disney Stores Worldwide President.
That role catapulted my career and played a major role in molding me into the person and leader I am today.
Advocate:
The fight for equal rights is tiring and difficult, especially as the LGBTQ+ community faces more adversity.
Don't just stand with your queer colleagues.... be willing to speak up on their behalf. Voice your support for critical issues impacting the queer community, including legislation, social issues, and DEI initiatives in the workplace.
Listen:
A key pillar of building authentic workplaces is recognizing that every person has their own story.
Take time to listen to your queer colleagues and be open to learning from their experiences.
If you're a manager,?always?set aside time for 1-on-1's. The only thing on your agenda should be to listen to your people.
Support:
Support can mean a lot of things. Here's an underrated way to support your queer colleagues and teammates:
Whenever possible, spend your corporate dollars in states that are LGBTQ+ allies. For example, if you normally hold your company off-site in Florida, consider moving it to Colorado, Massachusetts, or New York.
Out Leadership?creates an LGBTQ State Business Climate Index ranking every year. It can help you make decisions that support your queer colleagues.?Check it out.
We need to support each other now more than ever. PALS can help you create a beautiful, authentic, and welcoming workplace culture... it takes ALL of us to be an ALLY.
?? Leader Spotlight: Charlie Ciporin
Charlie Ciporin is a recent graduate from Dartmouth College, holding a B.A. in Government and a minor in Film and Media Studies.
With hands-on experience in the media industry, Charlie worked at CNN in Program Development for their Original Series team and served as a production assistant for director Matthew Heineman's production company, Our Time Projects. Notably, he contributed to the feature documentary films?The First Wave?and?Retrograde, both released on popular streaming platforms like Hulu and Disney+.
As a queer Gen Z individual, Charlie is driven to develop projects that deeply connect with audiences. His goal is to craft compelling and impactful content that resonates powerfully with viewers, fostering a sense of understanding and positivity.
领英推荐
Growing up, Charlie found it challenging to find LGBTQ+ representation that made him feel good about himself. This experience inspired him to delve deeper during his time at Dartmouth.
In the Film and Media Studies department, Charlie created a comprehensive research project, employing a mix of film theory, quantitative data, and qualitative analysis. His study focused on understanding the elements that make queer representations in media favorable to LGBTQ+ audiences. He found that audiences evaluate these representations along three main axes: how authentic they seem, how relatable they are, and how positive they feel.
By combining academic research with real-world experiences, Charlie is eager to apply his findings as he embarks on a professional career in the film and media industry.
?? What I'm Loving
Nuno Antunes is an architect who specializes in store design and re-imagining public spaces. This design stopped me in my tracks... how cool!!
? What's Worth Fighting For
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?? Jimisms: Simple Ideas. Real Impact.
"Get your team in flying formation."
Want to read more Jimisms??Check out our new All Pride website!
?? Have you heard an inspiring or thought-provoking quote recently? Reply and share! I'd love to hear it.
?? Pre-Order?All Pride, No Ego,?coming out August 15!
Summer is a time for fun with family and friends. Trust me... I'm having plenty of it!
But let's remember that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is just heating up. It may get worse before it gets better.
Be sure to lean on each other, speak up for what's right, and make space for everyone to be their authentic selves.
Let's all be PALS. ????????
Until next time...
Jim
I help organizations unlock their potential by guiding strategic planning, AI integration, and change management to drive growth and operational excellence.
1 年Something I've done throughout my career that has served me well. "If you're a manager,?always?set aside time for 1-on-1's. The only thing on your agenda should be to listen to your people." This seems like leadership 101, but time and again my team members have shared how much they appreciate this. Great advice, Jim.