Act

Intention doesn’t always equal impact.
To move the needle, you need to act.

Here are 10 Things You Can Do to Impact Change Within Your Organization Today:

1

Explicitly request a diverse range of referrals when recruiting job candidates, and vendors for contract work.

2

Ensure underrepresented employees are included on your interview committee.

4

Intentionally integrate inclusive language in job descriptions and team communications (Using the Alex open source tool is a great place to start.)

ALEX OPEN SOURCE TOOL➔
5

An empathetic workplace is also an inclusive workplace, so consider creating a workshop or webinar on how to communicate with empathy. Invite an expert to speak and share perspectives with your team and colleagues. (See this list of DEI consultants from the David & Lucile Packard Foundation)

LIST OF DEI CONSULTANTS➔
6

Engage a member from your local Black Chamber of Commerce as a vendor or participant for an upcoming virtual event or conference.

7

Use LinkedIn to find diverse candidates and add them to your candidate pool or tracking system for currently open positions or future positions. Identifying them early could make it much easier to fill your pipeline.

8

Advocate for and amplify the voices of diverse colleagues in team meetings, casual workplace conversations and conferences, and most importantly, with your leadership team.

9

Review your employee communications, workplace signage, and marketing collateral and make the messaging more inclusive. Include diverse representation and graphics. (Airbnb provides a great example of this).

AIRBNB EXAMPLE➔
10

Just listen — with an open heart — as diverse colleagues share their experiences. Don’t negate or deny their experience. Just listen.

Other Books

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do

by Jennifer L. Eberhardt PhD
SEE MORE➔

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

by Emmanuel Acho
SEE MORE➔

The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations

by Robert Livingston
SEE MORE➔