Editors note: The following article compilation by Consultants Collective executive coach, Kevin Jordan, is the second in a three-part series on belonging. As part of Consultants Collective’s Third Wave initiative, which focuses on company culture and the future of how we work together in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the goal of creating more inclusive organizations, we’ve been asking: how can leaders rethink what it means to be part of a company — to truly create a sense of belonging when in many cases we are no longer together physically — a sense of belonging for everyone regardless of role, race or gender, level, or title, for those on the front lines or working from home? We hope you find this series helpful, If our advisors, consultants and coaches can help you and your organization, please contact us at info@consultantscollective.net.
Greetings –
I hope you, your families and friends continue to be well, safe and healthy.
In last week’s installment of this three-part series, we focused on the key attributes and components of culture and why culture is a vital differentiating factor to both attract and retain talented folks and successfully grow your business.
This week we’ll focus on the power and need for truly inclusive workplace environments, especially in our current, and what will likely be our ongoing, remote work environments. There are multiple perspectives here on why and how we need to get beyond diversity and inclusion to a sustained sense of belonging. “Dear White Boss” is a truly moving piece and as relevant now as when it was originally published (read it first and then guess the date… I was way off).
Articles
“Dear White Boss…” “We asked Caver and Livers, faculty and coaches at the Center for Creative Leadership, to write a fictional letter from a black manager to a white boss describing the miasma and what it’s like to be different in the workplace…Their letter portrays the nature of corporate life once black managers are established—the feeling that they leave some part of their identity at home and the sometimes subtle and often systemic racial biases that inhibit and alienate African-Americans.”
‘How much is my silence worth?’: Amid a racial reckoning, women are rejecting NDAs. “As the chilling effect of confidentiality agreements crystallizes, some employees are refusing to sign NDAs or breaking them to speak out, risking financial and legal consequences.”
4 Conversations Leaders in the #MeToo Era Should Be Ready For. “But good leadership is not just about responding to incidents when they occur. It’s also about being prepared to navigate the difficult conversations that help prevent sexual harassment in the first place. The more you practice and prepare for these uncomfortable conversations, the more likely you are to respond in ways that support your team and make your organization a positive place to work.
“The Wrong Ways to Strengthen Culture. “Good leaders recognize that although aspirational talk about culture may originate in the C-suite, the actual culture manifests in cubicles and on shop floors far from top leaders’ purview. That disconnect makes it essential that CEOs do more than talk a good game.
“Keep Your Company’s Toxic Culture from Infecting Your Team. “Cultures that force us to compromise our best selves aren’t good for us or for our organizations. But let’s face it: you’re probably not going to be able to single-handedly change the culture of your entire organization. What you can do, however, is to take matters into your own hands to create a resonant microculture where you have the most chances of succeeding: on your team. And while it may be easier to do these things when you are the team leader, it’s not critical that you be in a position of power.”
TED Talks/Podcasts
This American Life: Get Back to Where You Once Belonged. “People looking everywhere to find a place—any place—where, for once, they don’t have to be the odd man out.”
Blog Posts
The Daily Stoic: A Test of Your Worth. “Decide to create value. Decide to give more than you take. Make the world better by being in it.”
Arts, Music & Culture Corner
Rolling Stones to Open Flagship Store in London. “Soho has always encapsulated rock & roll so Carnaby Street was the perfect spot for our own store.”
Will these modular apartment buildings help the Bay Area handle its housing crisis? “Several affordable projects in the area are assembling apartments off-site and then simply locking them into place. If they’re successful, it could cut millions of dollars off construction costs and months off building timelines.”
Next week we’ll wrap up this series by focusing on cultural pitfalls to avoid (or at least mitigate), as well as a collection of pragmatic articles for creating, sustaining and evolving the culture that you want, including: conducting organizational culture mapping, fostering mentally healthy workplaces, revamping hiring best practices, and on-boarding tips for new employees.
As always, happy reading and listening! And please stay safe and look out for your families and your community.
