Now more than ever, I feel that leaders with diverse backgrounds and perspectives are needed.
Diversity is a broad word. When I say diversity, I mean different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds–the whole nine yards. People are so incredibly complex and different, yet when we look at leadership, we often picture the same white, cisgender, heterosexual man dressed in a suit. Why is that?
Historically, there is a lack of representation within the workplace for women, people of color, and really anybody who doesn’t match the description above. It has gotten significantly better as we’ve progressed as a society through the years, but there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that we keep progressing toward equality and equity for ALL types of people.
Here’s the deal with equality and equity:
Minorities—whether women, people of color, disabled persons, or members of the LGBTQ+ community—constantly fight for equity just to overcome systemic hurdles. All to be on the same level as everyone else
The first step to breaking down those barriers is promoting diverse leadership. You know your own struggles best, right? It only makes sense that a leader who is in a minority would understand their community's hardships, and in turn, know best what they need. Diversity also brings in a large number of different perspectives that might have otherwise gone unheard. Businesses thrive when diversity is present and that’s a fact!
Here are some ways you can promote diverse leadership:
Take a step back and listen - A good quality for a leader to have is the ability to listen to the people around them without speaking over them. It is especially important here where you may not know what’s best in certain cases! This is when you seek out someone who does, sit down, and really listen to what they’re telling you. An alternative perspective can make a world of difference.
Recognize power and privilege - People are born with different amounts of inherent privilege. Recognizing what privileges you have is a great step to take so that you can be aware of the privilege’s others do not have. It makes you a more conscientious person and leader!
Keep an open mind - When considering new perspectives, there are going to be some things that you might not agree with. Keep your mind open and be willing to learn. Remember, something you don’t agree with isn’t automatically free for you to dismiss! It might just be something for you to respect and accept.
Diverse leadership across all areas of life is not something that can be achieved overnight, but with intentional steps towards it, it can become a reality much quicker!
