So many companies are seeking diversity coaching and trying to create inclusive environments. Although these are great steps, it's important to know what the end goal is. If you are looking to create an environment where your employees can show up as their full and authentic selves, then you need to prioritize a coach who has experience with this. For instance, in the middle of 2020, the horrible slaughter of unarmed black men and women were at the forefront of the conversation. Companies were looking for experts to help them console and seek to understand their employees. This was not the time for a workshop on unconscious bias , or diverse hiring when people were experiencing second hand trauma. Rather it was a time to get very real and acknowledge the worries that many black people face in their everyday lives. Likewise, many Asian Americans have been looking to their companies to take strong stands against Asian hate. These decisions cannot be made with entry level diversity and inclusion conversations. Companies who wish to fully support their employees have to go deeper than unconscious bias trainings in order for them to feel safe and welcomed in the workplace.
Choosing a diversity coach needs to take into account who is the best person to help us deal with current challenges and those yet to arise with our long-term goals in mind.
Below is a quick checklist to have when looking for someone who does diversity coaching:
1. What kind of experience do they have dealing with difficult issues such as #BlackLivesMatter and #StopAsianHate?
2. Does this person have de-escalation tools for the times when conversations become emotionally charged?
3. Are they tailoring their approach to my organization rather than just talking about or facilitating on a generic inclusive culture?
4. Have they created a plan for my company with our mission and long-term diversity goals in mind?
We provide a wide array of diversity services that are tailored to your specific needs. To set up a complimentary consultation click the bookings tab and speak to one of our representatives today.
