The power of a supportive inner circle

Having a circle of genuine supporters in the workplace will transform your personal and professional growth.?

These relationships create a brave space where you can share vulnerabilities without fear of judgment, creating a sense of security and belonging. The emotional support you receive from a trusted circle can also become a buffer against stress and improve your mental health while leading on race at the workplace. A reliable group of friends, family members, colleagues, or mentors can make challenges more manageable and less daunting.

??Order Hear Us Now: Racial Equity in the Workplace to learn how to build deeper relationships as you lead on racial equity work

Chapter four of Hear Us Now highlights excerpts from leaders whose work is rooted in racial equity. Given the mental and emotional load that comes with their day-to-day responsibilities, they share personal stories of how a trusted circle transformed their lives and careers. We hear from leaders like …?

who says pushing the status quo can lead to loneliness, and finding strength comes from building community. She also draws inspiration from her mother’s empathy and community-centered vision.?

“I think building a community of folks starts with my business partners and my good friends,” Melissa says. “I think that has been a key source of both inspiration and accountability and being accountable in ways that I probably hadn’t imagined before I joined the firm.”?

who encourages people to assemble their own board of directors, similar to those within organizations.?

“I have three or four friends that I call my ‘board,’” Dr. Victor says. “I don’t assemble them as a group, and we don’t have bylaws or voting rights, but I meet with them for dinner or lunch, and we just sit and we really are accountability partners for one another.”

who calls out the need for leaders of color to have open conversations, especially those who are facing burnout.

“It’s hard work, and it’s hard to ask for help,” Andres says. “It’s hard to open up, and I think that when you’re able to create an amazing network of friends, they are able to give advice when we need it or just be there and say, ‘Hey, I’m around if you ever need to talk,’ or ‘How are you doing?’ or ‘How’s everything going this week?’”

This chapter contains helpful gems from other leaders on the power of their inner circles. They talk about the importance of assessing your privileges, finding sponsors in the workplace, and leaning on white allies when doing racial equity work.?

We also uncover how communities lead to resilience and greater emotional well-being, along with reflection questions that help you identify your next steps for building a support system. After all, one of our cornerstones at KHA is “relationship before task.”?

Accountability – to yourself and the people in your circle – strengthens your roots and your ability to withstand difficulty while doing what you know is right.?

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