Nervous about having that EDI conversation?
In the past year there have been a lot more conversations on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). These are necessary conversations we need to be having; however, I quite often hear from leaders, mainly white men and women, who say they are scared to have these conversations out of fear of saying the wrong thing. Listen, I get it. You don’t want to come off as racist, prejudiced, biased, ignorant or what have you. I, too, have been in a similar position and I’m an EDI consultant! But rather than avoiding the conversation, there are some practical strategies we can start to employ to help us prepare for our next conversation, whether that’s with a colleague, staff, or family.
Do your research first. If there is something in the media that you would like to discuss with colleagues, it’s probably best to research the issue first. For example, just recently, at a former residential school in Kamloops, the remains of 215 children were found. This news has been incredibly devastating to Indigenous communities. If you’re thinking of entering into a conversation, take some time to research residential schools in Canada and the intergenerational impact they have had on families. Don’t expect your colleagues or staff to inform you. BIPOC folks don’t appreciate being Wikipedia.
Observe. I remember when the murder of George Floyd happened and organizations set up town halls with their Black employees to hear from them. Asking BIPOC employees directly how they feel or think about an issue may not be a wise idea. They may not want to be retraumatized and/or would prefer not to engage on the issue. Instead, wait for your colleague or staff to come to you, and if they do, listen and be an ally.
Understand that you will mess up. If you do have a conversation on an EDI issue, understand that you may mess up and that’s okay. Hey, I’ve messed up and I’m an EDI consultant! If I’ve done it, you will too. It’s easy to feel upset, reactive, and not want to try again. Like I said, I’ve been there. But it’s in the messing up that we get better at having these conversations. I try to detach myself from my ego and just listen to what the other person is saying to me. You may not agree or just want to shut down, but it’s in the listening that we learn a lot. Being humble goes a long way.
These are just a few strategies you can use to help you move forward on EDI conversations. There is more to come in future posts. I hope this has been helpful.
Got any questions? Reach out and comment on the post. I would love to hear from you!