In this episode of Race in the Workplace (S3, Ep 4), host Joanna Shoffner Scott explores the necessary components for building a racially equitable organization. From her extensive consulting experience and personal experiences as a Black woman in professional spaces, Joanna identifies and unpacks four foundational elements critical to building and sustaining racial equity within organizations. Whether you're a leader just beginning your journey or navigating ongoing challenges, these insights can inform your efforts to create a truly equitable workplace.

Key Takeaways:

Equity requires...

1. Committed Leadership:
   • Sustainable equity work requires "Big L" (i.e., executive leadership with positional power) and "Small L" (i.e., team and project leaders without positional power but with significant influence) leadership.
     
     
   • A commitment to equity from leaders with positional power is crucial for implementing and maintaining equitable practices within an organization.
     
     
2. Clear Values and Identity:
   • Organizations must work from a shared understanding of their mission, vision, and values to support a cross-cutting approach to equity.
     
     
   • Values should be more than just words on a website; they should be operationalized and revisited regularly to ensure they are still relevant and accurately reflect the organization's identity and commitments.
     
     
3. Systems and Processes:
   • Using systems and documented processes is essential for creating and maintaining equitable organizational practices.
     
     
   • Systematized ways of working enable organizations to evaluate and improve their processes objectively, ensuring efficiency and equity without personal biases interfering.
     
     
4. Aligned organizational behaviors
   • Aligning behaviors with your equity commitment. In short: Are you being equitable in your doing?
     
     
   • It also refers to your internal behaviors (i.e., how you engage with each other) and how your work shows up in the world.

Additional Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Previous Podcast Episode: Creating Your Organizational Equity Why | S1, Ep7
• Upcoming Mini Episode on Systems and Processes (Stay Tuned!)

To Take Action:

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About Your Host

Dr. Joanna Shoffner Scott is an organizational development consultant who helps leaders of nonprofits, philanthropies, and businesses create workplaces that work for everyone.