| I had a newsletter planned to go out on Tuesday announcing that we're back after a period of furlough, and outlining some of the key trends that were coming up in my coaching calls. However our Operations Director, Emma, pushed back on sending it out because of Blackout Tuesday (an initiative to redress historical inequities by declaring last Tuesday to be a one-day moratorium on business as usual). We rumbled with it together - a new phrase we now use in our business from Brené Brown's Dare to Lead curriculum. (A rumble is defined by a commitment to lean into vulnerability, to stay curious and generous, to stick with the messy middle of problem identification and solving. We also called in further perspectives). It was awkward and uncomfortable and we got to a solution. We will send out our previously planned newsletter next week. This week we will instead provide you with FOC access to our Ethnic Diversity e-learning module. You can access it here until 12th June, using the password 'BlackLivesMatter'. (This is one of a series of Diversity modules, including gender, neurodiversity, multi-generational workplace, LGBTQ+, disability... Please get in touch if you want more information). What I see is a lot of noise and not much action. Particularly from the white community right now. It's easy to sign a petition or a pledge, or to turn your profile picture black on FB. I'm fed up with outrage over an event and then us settling back to business as usual. Police brutality in the States and the disproportionately higher Covid-19 death rates in both the UK and the US for the BAME community are both the product of systemic and institutionalized racism. Do not make up that this is solely a US issue. |
| 1. Show support but don't stop there 2. Get yourself and your team educatedReadTake our e-learning moduleRun Unconscious Bias training and deep dives in to ethnic diversityMake sure you understand the true meaning of white supremacy, systemic racism, privilege and intersectionality3. Take actionDon't quit your apprentice programmesDon't make your D&I team redundantDon't cut your training / D&I budgetHave the courage to run a BAME talent acceleration programme in your companyKnow your BAME pay gapCheck in on your black colleagues. Do it now.Allow the space for emotion in the workplace. This means also understanding that anxiety reduces productivity. How can someone witness a murder and be expected to be productive at work? White leaders - Stop seeing this as an issue that the BAME community need to resolve. You have a duty to contribute to a more inclusive and empathetic leadership. We're here with you every step of the way. With love, Rox |