Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — I invited my friend Jeannie Gainsburg to write today’s newsletter. Below, you’ll read about five strategies for showing up as an ally for LGBTQ+ coworkers and clients, based on the second edition of her fabulous book, The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate, which was published…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Be an Advocate Recently, Susan Wojcicki announced she’d be stepping down from her role as CEO of YouTube. That news made me think of a story she shared years ago about how the tech industry titan Bill Campbell had been an ally for her. In an article for Vanity Fair, she wrote: I…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Redirect misdirected questions I frequently come across examples of “misdirected questions.” It’s when someone addresses their question to a man in the room instead of asking the most qualified person, who happens to be a woman or a member of another underrepresented group. Here are some:

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Push back on linguistic double standards Long-time readers of my newsletter know that I frequently cite Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, an inclusive language expert. I learn from her regularly and appreciate how she assesses language using frameworks, which helps avoid the trap of memorizing a long list of ever-changing terms to avoid.

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — In today’s article, I’m focusing on Inclusion On Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work by Ruchika Tulshyan. Regular readers of my newsletter and books know I’ve quoted her before, and I’m excited to share more of her wisdom with you today. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Seek systemic change In Is it Meaningful Action, or Is it Virtue Signaling?, Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth encourage us to avoid the trap of performative displays of DEI support. For example, taking quick actions without investing in organizational change to improve DEI. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Train the guys, too In the Harvard Business Review article Where Women’s Leadership Development Programs Fall Short, W. Brad Johnson, David G. Smith, and Heather Christensen point out that, while there are many benefits to providing leadership training for women, there are some downsides. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Disrupt Tall Poppy Syndrome New research from Women of Influence+ found that almost 90% of women surveyed globally are belittled and undermined because of their success at work. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Disrupt “prove it again” bias To kick off Women’s History Month, I’m sharing a story about a prejudice many women face: “Prove it again” bias. A few years ago, I had a coaching client I’ll refer to as Meena. (Not her real name.) Her manager was about to take a six-month parental leave, and he…