Challenge. Change. Contribute. #BreaktheBias

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2022, we’re striving for a world that’s free of bias, discrimination, and stereotyping. We’re encouraging the amplifying of women’s voices to enable us to start looking at how we can challenge, and where necessary change, the current behaviors, both male and female behaviors, about the way we stereotype, apply gender bias, and speak in everyday language. With that, we here at WZ are celebrating #IWD2022 for the entire month of March. Not only do we see women’s representation within a male-dominated industry as a key role, but it’s also an important discussion we’d love to disrupt.

As we think about celebrating #IWD2022, we must first step back and ask ourselves a basic set of questions. If change starts with you, where do you start? What can you do within your organization, agency, or community? What can you do personally within your families and/or parenting to break the bias and start seeing more people feel included, less judged, more invited into the conversation, and opportunities? Choosing to read this blog is part of what it means to choose to support the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day: #breakthebias.

RECOGNIZING THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE

I love a new phraseology in US politics: Build, Back, Better. There are many things that we want to keep and that are great. But there are also a considerable number of things that we must fundamentally change. Remember, waves start at some point and then travel around the world. I believe women worldwide are beginning to become more and more unsettled with the status quo and ready for a change. But, the fact is there’s still a long way to go before we eradicate these issues. A great starting point to this conversation is recognizing the fact we need to amplify women’s voices.

You may be asking yourself, ‘How the heck can I amplify the voices of women?’ It’s important to think of allyship as an action. I define an ally as someone who listens to understand and learn from others’ experiences and is open to growing in their allyship. To be a genuine ally requires you to take action daily.

I’ve learned over my career that when looking to amplify women’s voices, you must start by looking at how women can develop their skills for the present and future. This involves commitment. Allies use their voice and power to elevate, amplify, and act in partnership with others. I am passionate about creating an environment where all voices are represented and heard in both the discussion and the solutions. I genuinely believe it requires an understanding of everyone’s strengths and a focus on developing people for the present and future. By understanding the people involved in a project, initiative, and team environment, I can anticipate potential dynamics and prepare everyone to do their best while still coaching and supporting them if needed. By amplifying the voices of individuals who have been under-heard and/or under-represented in the environment, we can achieve better decisions in a more efficient, effective, and inclusive way.

COLLABORATION IN ACTION

It is essential to provide practical techniques that employees can apply when they encounter circumstances where their voices are not being heard. Allies must be very intentional and proactive at setting an environment for successful and productive dialogue. This takes adequate preparation of discussions, understanding the audience, and setting expectations from the start. Being prepared is most critical to success as people can embrace the emotion of being talked over and respond from a position of effective control. For example, by asking one key contributor to allow another key contributor in the space to finish their thoughts instead of transitioning into a new topic.

As I have been both a mentor and mentee, I’ve learned incredible lessons to improve the way I interact with individuals where they are, how I interact with them, think through their lens, and support them. I’m incredibly thankful to the women who have given me the opportunity and trust to be part of their journey because, thanks to them, I’ve not only learned ways to challenge the status quo but also learned what being an ally truly is. I think mentorship is an excellent and unique way to contribute to others’ development while also adding to your journey. I appreciate the many individuals who have put their vulnerabilities, strengths, and opportunities on the table and trust me to be part of their support system.

I’m often asked, ‘What is the most important thing you can do to provide mentorship to a colleague?’ A great mentor gets involved in understanding a mentee’s strengths and helps a mentee discover how much more they can achieve, do, and how their uniqueness can enable success. I believe it is critical to understand your mentee’s key objectives, their ‘superpowers’ if you will, and to what extent they are leveraging their superpowers today to impact success.

IN AN ORGANIZATION

Many organizations and agencies also have guidelines for inclusion, which increase effective communication, collaboration, and problem-solving between individuals and groups. There are many ways to find a mentor through employee resource groups (ERGs). The principles of these groups help employees think intentionally and create an environment where they are constantly working to be inclusive of all voices in the conversation. If an ERG or mentorship program doesn’t already exist within your organization or agency, there is an opportunity for you to be part of the solution and organize a working team to initiate it. The effective ERG’s I’ve seen are ones with top-level support.

There are countless benefits to strengthening and increasing equitable and genuine relationships across differences to deepen inclusion. Great, diverse dialogues can lead to commitments to prioritize disrupting behaviors. But remember, change must start somewhere.

*I dedicate this blog to Mike Jackson, LPC, and Damaris Colon, CFI. These two individuals have made a significant impact on my career and within my life. Your continued support has empowered me to be better and contributed to where I am today. For that, I am forever grateful and indebted to you. Thank you.