Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Remove “doubt” from evaluations In How to remove “doubt” when writing about performance, inclusion and women’s leadership expert Lori Nishiura Mackenzie wrote, “Doubt has others question one’s abilities. Doubt is a negative sentiment that we do not intentionally wish to cast on most folks. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Seek common ground, then educate Last week, I received a newsletter from a friend with the subject line, “ 👘 I’m opening the kimono. Marketing consultants, open this!” I gave a big sigh, made myself a cup of tea, and then sent her an email that included this message: “I used to use the phrase…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Know your why In her book The Wake Up, Michelle MiJung Kim shared that the most common question she gets as a diversity and inclusion workshop facilitator is “What can I do?” (Sometimes, it’s an even more direct, “Tell me what to do.”) She acknowledged it’s because “we’ve been trained to crave immediately…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Don’t allow bullies to reign Here’s a headline that grabbed my attention: “How bullying becomes a career tool.” In a letter to the Nature Human Behaviour journal, Susanne Täuber and Morteza Mahmoudi summarized their concerns about bullying in academia, sharing numerous anonymized examples. They also explained,

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Forgo bragging rights Last week, Dr. Ijeoma Opara, an assistant professor at Yale, tweeted: “Mentors: be aware of your need to control and take credit. If at any moment you feel the need to brag about your mentee in a way that is giving yourself recognition, rethink why you are doing this. …

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Provide a platform Last week, I asked for examples of how you help coworkers from underrepresented groups access opportunities to build their reputations, and many of you responded with inspirational stories. Thank you! Here’s just one. Rick Neitzelt, who chairs a diversity task force at his medical center, shared a simple yet powerful…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Recognize the privilege of feeling safe In my fireside chats about Better Allies, I’ve had the opportunity to discuss privilege with many male leaders here in the U.S. and worldwide. Ahead of time, I always ask them to review my list of 50 Potential Privileges in the Workplace and be prepared to discuss if they were…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Pay attention to the winces In a recent Twitter thread, Jeff Tetz implored us to speak up, even if we feel awkward or our heart starts racing. He began with: “Pay attention to the winces. I’ve learned a wince indicates my values are being tested. This week, a person I know well made a comment in a…

Each week, Karen Catlin shares five simple actions to create a more inclusive workplace and be a better ally. — 1. Reflect on your uniform of privilege Did you notice a typo in last week’s newsletter? In case you missed it, I wrote, “the uninformed leading the uniformed” instead of “leading the uninformed.” 🤦‍♀️ When Jeff Bivens spotted the mistake, he took it as inspiration to write a short essay. With permission, I’m sharing it with you…