Welcome to the Imagine Belonging at Work Podcast brought to you by Rhodes Perry Consulting. The episode you’re about to hear is a special gift to help ease what psychologists and researchers have identified as a specific kind of anxiety; election anxiety.

To ease election anxiety, the show’s host, Rhodes Perry, developed a 10-minute mindfulness practice designed to help you self-regulate, ground, and soothe political anxieties that are running high this season given the uncertainty about what’s on the 2025 horizon.

You’re invited to try this practice to help you build capacity to increase your well-being and ignite creativity and connection at work. It’s designed to deliver the medicine you need to heal some of these harsh realities many are experiencing this season:

• 73% of U.S. adults say they are anxious about the election according to the results of the 2024 American Psychiatric Association's annual mental health poll.
• 65% of employees surveyed over the summer by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) said they have experienced or witnessed incivility on the job in the past month.
• 34% of employees surveyed by SHRM believe that the November 5th elections will trigger additional incivility in the workplace.

You and I know all too well that election anxiety is very real and undermines our commitment to building a sense of belonging at work, where everyone feels seen, connected, supported, and proud. And we know we need to build spaces of belonging at work because it is no longer a moral imperative; rather it is a prerequisite for business success.

During this episode, you’ll be able to recognize where to locate your own sense of belonging. Specifically, you’ll recognize:

• Belonging Lives in the Body. Feelings of belonging live in our nervous system, and somatics practices can help cultivate a sense of belonging.
• Safety & Trust are Foundational. Feeling safety and trust are the foundation for belonging, and during this practice you will explore where they are present in your life.
• Belonging is a Practice: Actively engaging in practices like this one will help rewire you brain to notice where belonging does and does not exist in your everyday life.

This interview was designed to support people like you - visionary leaders, and those on their way to joining us. Savor this insightful talk, and if you’re looking for more ways to engage in practices like these, be sure to explore Rhodes Perry Consulting’s Coaching Belonging for Visionaries, a 6-month executive coaching program applying a somatics methodology to help you align your behaviors with your leadership and career vision.

Learn more about this program here: https://rhodesperry.substack.com/p/belonging-the-1-prerequisite-for

Connect directly with Team Belonging here: www.rhodesperry.com/contact.

Get more belonging in your inbox here: www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

On July 9th, in a statement on LinkedIn, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), announced its decision to drop the "E" from DEI. SHRM is the world's largest HR association dedicated to creating better workplaces that "work for all," and positions itself as being "the voice of all things work."

SHRM's statement on LinkedIn said:

"While we shift to I&D, our commitment to advancing equity remains steadfast. Equity will be integrated under the broader inclusion framework, continuing to be a priority in our strategy and leadership decisions."

If you have read my most recent book, Imagine Belonging, you know the true ingredients required to make a commitment – one of those ingredients is being able to say out loud what you are committed to. Using this logic...a commitment to equity can't be real if we're afraid to say it.

When the announcement was first made, I immediately knew who I wanted to talk to...the person who wrote the bestselling book on the topic of equity, Minal Bopaiah.

Minal had a lot to share, and as she was offering her take, I thought to myself, "why not turn this exchange into a podcast episode?" When I invited Minal to the show, she was all in!

I’m excited to welcome you to this exclusive interview with Minal Bopaiah, Brevity & Wit Founder and bestselling author of Equity. Minal combines her experiences and interests in human-design, DEI, psychology, and strategic communications to help her clients achieve the change they desire.

During our conversation, you'll:

--Discover why prioritizing inclusive behaviors alone will set your colleagues up for failure if they lack the systems and structures to support these practices.

--Explore the unintended consequences of SHRM’s decision on entire programs, positions, and departments that have the word "equity" in their titles.

--Gain insights on how to respond to objections and push back that employers and colleagues may have, feeling emboldened because of SHRM's recent decision.

Today’s conversation is designed to support people like you – visionary people leaders, and those on their way to joining us. Savor this insightful talk, and if you’re looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Minal, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community.

The Belonging Membership Community is a practice space where we can try putting our shared values of belonging, community, collaboration, and joy into action. Members have the unique opportunity to connect with guests like Minal for 1:1 laser coaching sessions.

Join the community here: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com

Stay connected with Rhodes: www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

Learn more about Minal’s book Equity: https://theequitybook.com/.

Thanks for growing our #BelongingMovement!

Nearly a decade ago, the State of North Carolina enacted HB2, the first statewide anti-trans bathroom bill introduced in the United States. It required transgender people to use public restrooms inconsistent with their gender identity, which sparked widespread political backlash and severe economic consequences. Estimates suggest the legislation costs the state almost $5 billion annually.

Since that time, nearly every state across the country has attempted to pass similar, or even more restrictive laws. In just the past two years, we’ve seen over 1,000 anti-LGBTQ+ bills - many of which target the lives and well-being of transgender children. As a result, a growing number of families are uprooting their lives and relocating to more supportive and affirming states.

While public policy over the past two decades has led to significant legislative wins for LGBTQ+ people – the freedom to marry, the ability to openly serve in the military, and protections against hate crimes - these basic freedoms are under siege, and this assault is having adverse impacts on our workplaces.

Many businesses have met these legislative efforts with formal rebukes from chambers of commerce, business advocacy organizations, and at shareholder meetings. Yet, many business leaders struggle with how to effectively communicate why pride at work is essential for their businesses to grow into the future. If you’re among this group of leaders, you’re in the right place.

Our featured guest, Erin Uritus is here to help. Erin is the CEO of Out & Equal, which is the premier nonprofit working to advance LGBTQ+ representation, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, and beyond. She is a passionate advocate for creating diverse and thriving workplaces where everyone can reach their full potential. During our conversation, you will:

---Discover the alarming impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which is causing a talent exodus and hindering business growth.

---Gain insights from a recent Out & Equal report, Talent on the Move, revealing the needs and expectations of LGBTQ+ employees in today's climate.

---Explore actions business leaders can take to gain a competitive advantage by doing the right thing and investing in LGBTQ+ DEIB interventions to enjoy business growth.

Our conversation is designed to support people like you – visionary people leaders, and those on their way to joining us. Savor this insightful talk, and if you’re looking for more ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Erin, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of practice committed to putting our values of belonging, community, and collaboration in action. Members have the unique opportunity to connect with guests like Erin for 1:1 laser coaching sessions.

Join the community here: belongingmembershipcommunity.com.

Stay connected with Rhodes here: www.rhodesperry.com/subscribe

Learn more about Out & Equal here: www.outandequal.org

Thanks for growing our #BelongingMovement!