Leading Conversations on Race and Equity
Challenge
Equipping Leaders to listen and lead conversations on race and equity
Actions
Social and racial justice continues to be at the forefront of discussions in the United States and globally. Last summer, we asked our leaders to hold a series of listening sessions and solicit input from their co-workers on how they were doing. Our intent was to form smaller group settings and create opportunities to connect and share personal experiences. We provided a guide for how to host these sessions virtually and created an internal website focused on Allyship. The website includes a cross-section of content that was thoughtfully selected to invite personal reflection and education.
We heard from co-workers and leaders that more support is needed to hold discussions on race and equity. We learned that a trusted relationship had to be in place before authentic sharing could take place. We know that for some, the topic of diversity at work represents uncharted waters, and there is a genuine desire to approach these conversations in an informed and thoughtful way.
In response, we created an interactive training experience, hosted by a group of internal ambassadors, many of whom have served as Workforce Diversity Champions. The ambassadors are leading discussions designed to prepare leaders for these conversations with their direct reports. The format we’re using is called “a conversation among leaders”. To develop the content, we collaborated with an external firm that specializes in improving business results through employee engagement and inclusion.
Our almost 100 trained ambassadors are leading the two-part Leading Conversations on Race and Equity training now with a focus on our officers and directors. The intent is to create a small group experience that allows leaders to open and explore the topic of identity, understand how to listen with empathy and empower to have the discussion with their teams. We believe this scaffolding will increase leader competency and create a stronger platform for an important dialogue to take place.
Opportunities
Work is in progress but has been positively received.
Quote
Everyone should have the same expectation of safety and freedom. The same expectation of peace and liberty. The same access to justice and the protections of the law. The same access to opportunity in their lives and in their career. Every one of those values is fundamental to what our company and our country stands for and it’s the culture we should be supporting and aspiring to create. These are the very things we most want for the people we love. I will always stand for love against any kind of hate.