Listen Globally, Act Locally – Specific Steps to Help A Diverse Team

Dear Readers,

I try to stay away from politics in these posts, coaching my thoughts in vague language that could apply to anybody. My last two posts about how to Speak Up for Yourself and Speak Up for Your Colleagues can be applied in any situation.

Today I want to be more specific.

Your colleagues and team members may be hurting in the wake of the recent election and the hateful rhetoric that surrounds it.? They may feel helpless to do anything about what they hear in the news. You may feel helpless too. But you're not.

Look closer to home.

No matter what is happening on the national stage, YOU have the obligation – and the privilege – to take care of the human beings you work with.?

In the past several weeks, many larger companies such as Walmart, Ford, and Lowes have bowed to political pressure and have curtailed their DEI initiatives. If your organization is facing pressure to do the same, it’s understandable.

But that ignores the reality of America today. ?We are a multi-cultural society.? Our workforce is more and more diverse. It might take a little extra effort to reach out to someone who doesn’t look like you, but the more you can surround yourself with new ideas, the richer and more informed you become as a person.

1.????? Speak Up for Your Colleagues How can you make sure that there is psychological safety in your department.? Or at least in your team?* ?Pay attention to those who might be scared. Not only does it make good business sense, it will help your team work better.

Who doesn't want to work in a team that communicates well and is happy and productive?

2.????? Ask for support.?If you are the only minority, ask a DEI specialist to help you with language for approaching your colleagues. ?Or reach out to me. (See below.)

3.????? Support your DEI office! If the department has been eliminated, push back. Invite your former DEI colleagues to come back and address your department or your Employee Resource Group. Lots of DEI specialists have lost their jobs in the past year. They would be thrilled to give advice.

Don’t hide. Speak up for your colleagues. Speak up for your friends.

We can all benefit from a diversity of ideas. If we all bring something different to the table, we can solve problems in ways that we could never solve if we had one way of thinking.

Companies with supportive cultures retain their best people.

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*If you are looking for guidance about psychological safety, DEI initiatives and anything else mentioned in this article, send me a DM, referencing this article. I can connect you to helful resources.

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Hi, if we haven't met yet, I’m Elizabeth Bachman, Presentation Skills Trainer, Executive Coach, and former International Opera Director.

I work with high-level executive women who “have a seat at the table” but still aren’t listened to.? Thus, they see promotions and recognition go to louder, flashier people.? (Sometimes people they have trained.)

I help hundreds of leaders become Visible & Valued? so they get the raise, the promotion or the exciting new job that will give them the recognition they deserve.

“Shift the way you’re perceived by shifting the way you communicate.”

If you want YOUR voice to be heard, book a call at www.TalkToElizabeth.com.

No Selling.

Just Talk.

Learn more at https://elizabethbachman.com/