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Better Allies®

1.94K followers

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Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces (Second Edition)

Better Allies: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces (Second Edition)

In this book, you’ll learn to spot situations where you can create a more inclusive culture, along with straightforward steps to take.

2021

Stories

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Loudly Celebrate Coworkers (Especially Now), and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

Jun 13

Graphic with the message Loudly celebrate coworkers (especially now). Because while meritocracies promise fairness, they often ignore how the “merit” of marginalized people is historically downplayed. There’s an illustration of a person pulling out accomplishments from an oversized file folder with two clapping hand emojis, showing them to someone else. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

Jun 13

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Start an Inclusion Ripple, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

Jun 6

Graphic with message Start an inclusion ripple effect. Every act of allyship (acknowledging people’s ideas, stopping interruptions, endorsing coworkers, singing someone’s praises, sharing unwritten rules) can inspire others to do the same. An illustration of person wearing suit & tie, pointing to a point on a white board. Copies appear next to it, giving the impression that others are mimicking what the person is doing. At bottom is @BetterAllies and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

Jun 6

Published in

Code Like A Girl

5 Ways to Become a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

May 30

The Savvy Ally. A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate. By Jeannie Gainsburg. Second addition Book cover with color stripes, curved upward, starting with purple in the top left corner, followed by red, orange, yellow, green and ending with blue.

May 30

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Embrace the Do-Over, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

May 23

Graphic with the message When I get it wrong, I ask for a do-over. I acknowledge things went awry, restate my intentions, and ask the other person if I may try again. There’s an illustration of a person talking on the phone. Credit is given to Oren Jay Sofer, author of Say What You Mean. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

May 23

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Learn From Canaries in the Coal Mine, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

May 16

Graphic with the message I learn from canaries in the coal mine. Marginalized individuals often notice harm in workplaces before anyone else. Let’s listen to them and believe them. There’s a photo of the book The Canary Code: A guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work by Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle.

May 16

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Anticipate and Prevent Plasticity of Merit, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

May 9

Graphic with the message I anticipate and prevent Plasticity of Merit. Instead of letting decision-makers redefine merit to fit those in a favored group, align hiring and promotion criteria to focus on measurable, relevant competencies. There’s also a drawing of a person of color holding a large checklist, indicating a list of qualifications. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

May 9

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Refresh, Don’t Retreat, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

May 2

Graphic with message Instead of retreating, I’m refreshing our DEI offerings. For example, hold respectful workplace training because you don’t want people to act in a way they feel the can act given what’s being said in the general culture. Credit to Chait Feldblum, former commissioner of EEOC. Also a drawing of person holding a large red circle with curved arrows pointing to each other, signaling a fresh look. Along bottom is the @BetterAllies handle. Credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing

May 2

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Nurture Interconnectedness, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

Apr 25

Graphic with the message I nurture interconnectedness. Action across lines of difference may just be the driving force for the future of DEI. There’s a drawing of two people of different skin colors, with a large double-headed arrow between them, signaling that they are both moving closer to each other. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

Apr 25

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Debias Systems (Not People), and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive merit-based workplace and be a better ally.

Apr 18

Graphic with the message I debias systems, not people. It’s more effective to make processes more inclusive and fair than to change individual behavior. There’s a drawing of a person taking some elements of a process off a chart and throwing them into the trash, while replacing it with a different (implied) more inclusive option. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

Apr 18

Published in

Code Like A Girl

Read Banned Books, and Other Actions for Allies

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally.

Apr 11

Graphic with the message I read banned books. After the U.S. Naval Academy removed 381 books from their library on racism, sexism, the holocaust, and other topics, PEN America wrote: “Books are not the enemy; ignorance is the enemy.” There’s a drawing of a person reading a book. Along the bottom is the @BetterAllies handle and credit to @ninalimpi for the drawing.

Apr 11

Better Allies®

Better Allies®

1.94K followers

Book Author

Everyday actions to create more inclusive, engaging workplaces: the Better Allies® approach from Karen Catlin.

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