Finding the Courage to Learn
Last week, we released Episode 4 of Candid Conversations on Leadership that focused on issues surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
In our conversation, I mentioned that I’m sometimes wary of diving into conversations on the topic because saying the wrong thing in today’s society can have negative repercussions both personally and professionally. Why even try when there’s a chance to get cancelled if you make a mistake? In the moment, Candice correctly pointed out that mistakes are opportunities to learn.
There’s more to it. In her podcast Conversations on Conversations, Sarah Noll Wilson paraphrases a quote from NYU Professor and speaker Minda Harts:
No one will benefit from your caution, but someone might benefit from your courage.
On the heels of my conversation with Candice, this quote landed fully in my heart. If I let my cautiousness of today’s society keep me from learning, then I’m actively supporting the status quo. If I’m a true proponent of diversity, equity, and inclusion, then I must have the courage to make mistakes and learn from them. I must also have the courage to learn before my ignorance becomes a mistake in the first place.
So how does this work in practice? As Candice and I discussed, we can’t expect our colleagues who are different than we are to constantly be the ones who educate us. It puts all the emotional labor on them and not us. So what can we do?
Learn about these issues independent of the workplace. There is an abundance of material available via websites, podcasts, TED Talks, and books that can help you understand these issues. Do the heavy lifting and read, listen, or watch the work of countless experts in this area.
Diversify your own information consumption and experiences. The best way to open your mind to new perspectives is to experience them regularly. One of the reasons diversity programs fail to have greater impact is because participants go right back into their homogenous lives after the program concludes. Exposure is education.
Seek out a mentor. There are others just like you who are practicing DEI well. Their mentorship can help you navigate these issues from a space similar to your own.
Do the hard work with people who are like you. You can learn together and lean into the nuance of these issues with people who have similar experience and challenges.
Listen when your colleagues speak. If someone who is different than you gives you the gift of their story, listen intently to their lived experience. Value it with your attention. Listen to understand how their experience shapes their perspectives.
Listen to feedback when someone corrects you. You’re going to make mistakes, and if you’re lucky, someone will correct you. Receive that feedback as a gift and value it by changing your future actions.
Doing the important work to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organizations isn’t simple or easy. But having the courage to learn — and possibly make a few mistakes along the way — is critical to its success.