By Susan Letterman White
I design and facilitate group conversations on systemic racism and bringing more racial and ethnic diversity into leadership and power in organizations. My groups and many of the individuals in those groups express a craving for change and a culture where honesty and differences are sought out, supported, and even celebrated. The deeper the conversation goes, the deeper the realization of how difficult it is for people without formal power and authority to change processes and structures to turn words and ideas into actions to change systemic racism. This is especially true today, where people can’t agree on what a fact is.
It’s a given that if companies want to cultivate a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, they must recruit, hire, and put into leadership positions, people of all races who do whatever it takes to help employees feel like they belong and have the resources they need to be successful. When leaders fall short, they must be held accountable. A commitment without accountability is insufficient for a culture change.
It’s a given that leaders must create the context where everyone feels comfortable speaking up. As my group commented yesterday, it’s easy to speak up when everyone shares similar opinions and feelings. Silencing voices, like systemic injustice, happens without you knowing. When we work in a culture that demands perfection and is intolerant of mistakes, articulating an unpopular opinion, or inadvertently misspeaking, the fear of consequences – embarrassment to being fired – overwhelms and silences people. The role and responsibilities of a leader include enabling the conversations to happen, helping people find the courage to speak up, encouraging other to speak up, supporting vulnerability, and cultivating forgiveness when mistakes inevitably happen in conversation and action. Leaders must act on their moral obligation to speak up when they see something wrong and be held accountable for the culture they create by what they do and say, staying silent, or silencing people who challenge the status quo.
