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Why We All Need to Learn Facilitation Skills When Discussing DEI
From family gatherings to professional settings, I’ve witnessed firsthand how effective facilitation can transform tense situations into opportunities for growth and understanding. I’ve also seen how effective facilitation can help with brainstorming, creativity, and connection within teams. As a facilitator myself, I believe everyone – whether you are an organizer, manager, individual contributor, or CEO- should have baseline facilitation skills. According to an article in Forbes, Dana Brownlee says that facilitation skills “offer leaders an arsenal of techniques that enable them to strike that delicate balance of focusing on task and relationship,” which, from experience, is true.
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Is the Great Resignation Over? Why People Really Hate Working for a Raggedy Company
Growing up, the word “raggedy” was often used to describe something or someone messy, torn up, or sometimes even dirty. While I believe language could benefit from fewer derogatory terms, for better or worse, I’ve come to associate the term “raggedy” with workplaces that embody chaos, toxicity, and a lack of genuine care for their employees. I understand that this may sound critical or judgmental, but it can be frustrating to read studies that reveal the toll that toxic work environments have on people’s health and happiness.
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12 Ways to Support Your Neurodivergent Colleagues
Neurodiversity refers to the concept that there are differences in brain functioning within the human population and therefore there is no “right” or “normal” way of thinking, processing, or behaving. This is especially important to understand when reflecting on the stigma that is often associated with people who have autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurocognitive differences. Neurodiversity pushes us to not think of differences as deficits and to shift from what and who is “inherently normal” to what and who is neurotypical.
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Debunking Six Myths about the Arab Community
As we honor Arab American Heritage Month, let’s reflect on and debunk some common myths about the Arab community. Growing up as a child of West African Muslim immigrants, we were often confronted with misconceptions about Arab culture and identity. Like many people who aren’t from Arab communities, we sometimes assume that all Arabs are Muslim and look a certain way. This assumption, deeply rooted in ignorance, the human tendency to generalize, as well as stereotypes perpetuated by media and societal narratives, contributes to a narrow understanding of both Arab and Muslim identities.
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Holding Space for Yourself and Others in DEI Conversations
Organizations worldwide continue to grapple with how to address bias, discrimination, and inequity on an interpersonal and structural level. Amidst these discussions, the concept of holding space has emerged as a foundational skill that many leaders and those in formal or informal DEI positions need when discussing or witnessing a discussion related to these issues. While the phrase holding space may resonate with therapists and counselors, its relevance extends beyond the therapy room. At our organization, we’ve understood holding space as a fundamental skill, particularly in navigating difficult DEI-related discussions.
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WBENC Conference 2024 Recap
Last week, we took part in an epic experience, the 2024 WBENC Conference! What does WBENC stand for? So glad you asked! WBENC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women-owned businesses thrive and is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the US. They do a wonderful job supporting businesses like ours, connecting us with companies to support their supplier diversity efforts.
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Twenty Incredible Books on Feminism and Patriarchy: 2023 and 2024
Women’s History Month is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean we should stop learning. If you’re ready to geek out on intersectional feminism, we’ve got you covered. Below are twenty books published in the past year-ish that provide various ways to examine feminism and patriarchy. Honestly, it was hard to keep this list to just twenty! Did we miss anything? Find us on Instagram and let us know!
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The Four Types of Power in the Workplace
When we talk about power in the workplace, what comes to mind? For some, you might have a vision of someone wearing a business suit sitting behind a big desk. For others, you might think about titles, paychecks, or how many people report to you. Traditionally power has often been viewed through the lens of dominance and control. If we use a DEI lens to define power, here’s how we think about it: power is the ability to control or direct change. It’s the ability to make choices. Power indicates social, political, and cultural influence and access.
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How Terms Like “Reverse Racism” and “Reverse Discrimination” Can Harm DEI
Have you ever heard a white person make claims of “reverse racism” or “reverse discrimination?” When DEI practitioners respond by sharing that reverse racism doesn’t exist, that can be confusing for some who aren’t fully aware of what racism actually is and why this statement is true. What is racism? We define it as a system comprised of individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural beliefs, practices, and policies that enforce the idea that people of color are inferior to non-people of color, which advantages individuals of white European descent and disadvantages individuals of non-white European descent. Can white people experience reverse…
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How to Check if Your Workplace Takes DEI Seriously
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (‘DEI’) have become prominent buzzwords in the modern workplace. Companies plaster them across their websites, mission statements, and social media feeds. But how do you, as an employee or potential employee, know if a company’s commitment to DEI goes beyond mere words? Is the company genuinely encouraging a work environment that celebrates differences and empowers everyone to thrive? Here’s the not-so-secret truth: many companies pay lip service to DEI. They might have a fancy brochure outlining their initiatives, but the lived experience for employees may paint a different picture.
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How to Mitigate Bias in Performance Reviews
When conducted thoughtfully, performance reviews can be a useful tool for employee development and career progression. However, bias can undermine these evaluations, leading to inaccurate assessments and unfair outcomes. Bias can impact everything from promotion opportunities to compensation, creating demotivated and disengaged employees. We’ll explore the different types of bias, their impact, and practical strategies for managers and employees to create a fairer and more equitable evaluation process. Common Biases in Performance ReviewsOur brains are wired to make quick judgments, often relying on heuristics and past experiences.
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What Is Our “Why” as DEI Practitioners?
In the complex landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work, practitioners are grappling with a spectrum of emotions, ranging from conflict and defeat to a renewed sense of purpose. As a DEI practitioner, I’ve navigated this emotional terrain and questioned the underlying motivation for my commitment to this cause from time to time. For me, DEI is about inspiring a sense of belonging and working toward justice, particularly for those with historically marginalized identities. DEI is a commitment to creating opportunities that meet basic needs and foster the fulfillment of people’s desires, dreams, and aspirations.