Who do you consider to be allies of yours? What makes them an ally? How is that different from being a friend? Do you consider yourself to be an ally of others? Who, and how? On a local level, the term “ally” has taken on almost-singular meaning in the last decade. On the world stageContinue reading “Speaking For or Speaking Over: Allyship in Action”
Category Archives: Inclusion
A Census Approach: Representation through Authenticity
Do you wear glasses? Are you on a health-related diet? Do you use a hearing aid? Take ADHD medication? Are you an addict in recovery, with a support system in place? Whether any of these specific situations are true for you or not, the majority of us use aids or accommodations of some kind toContinue reading “A Census Approach: Representation through Authenticity”
People Aren’t Debatable
Have you ever felt judged by others (at work or elsewhere) because of beliefs you hold, or actions you choose to take, or because of an aspect of your identity? Have you ever heard yourself be lumped in with a group that’s being discussed, without anyone else in the conversation knowing you’re part of thatContinue reading “People Aren’t Debatable”
Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership
While the Thanksgiving holiday here in the US has a controversial history and our cultural retelling of it is inaccurate, the traditional Thanksgiving meal can help us reflect on how we lead others. So this week we’ll partake in our annual tradition of revisiting the ideas of Banquet Leadership, Potluck Leadership, and the hybrid model we call ThanksgivingContinue reading “Banquet, Potluck, and Thanksgiving Models of Leadership”
Solving for Now or Solving for the Future?
When was the last time someone shared a frustration with you? How did you respond? Were they looking for help/advice, or did they just want to be heard? Sometimes it can be hard to know without asking. Working with groups on practicing difficult conversations, many facilitators start with the skill of acknowledgement. Acknowledgement focuses onContinue reading “Solving for Now or Solving for the Future?”
Three Tips to Avoid Othering in a Divisive Environment
My kids and I have always enjoyed reading super hero comic books. The idea I’ve always bristled against, though – even in the context of fictional or real-life war stories – is the idea of a “bad guy.” In well-developed fictional worlds, knowing a villain’s own story from their perspective can change how you thinkContinue reading “Three Tips to Avoid Othering in a Divisive Environment”
Using Your Team’s Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One
During a series of team building activities with a client this week, it was noticeable that one newer member of the group shared ideas that were shut down or ignored by the rest of the group – including the director of the department. Rather than point that out in the moment, I let the groupContinue reading “Using Your Team’s Previous Work Cultures to Build a Better One”
Blazing a Trail, and Turning it into a Highway
“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg This week brings the third anniversary of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Of course, the political make-up of the Supreme Court has changed dramatically in that time, butContinue reading “Blazing a Trail, and Turning it into a Highway”
What is Cooperative Overlap? Isn’t It Just Interrupting?
Cooperative Overlap (or Collaborative Overlap) is a term coined by Georgetown University professor of linguistics and author Deborah Tannen, in which the listener starts talking along with the speaker, not to cut them off but rather to validate or show they’re engaged in what the other person is saying. In conversations, do you have aContinue reading “What is Cooperative Overlap? Isn’t It Just Interrupting?”
How Are You Benefiting from Masks and Passing Privilege?
“Spider-Verse‘s Gwen Stacy might not be trans, but her story sure is,” one article began. “[T]here is plenty of evidence in Across The Spider-Verse to suggest that the version of Gwen seen in these films is a canonically trans woman,” stated another. Over the course of Pride Month this year, dozens of pieces across media made theContinue reading “How Are You Benefiting from Masks and Passing Privilege?”
Building Bridges Leadership 