Come on Baby Light My Fire… About Inclusion
By Kandis Rodgers
Some of my greatest inspiration comes in the form of an email. This week was no exception. A training (Safe Zone Training) for staff was held at Golden Gate University on how to create safe spaces and serve as allies for the LGBTQ+ students. After the training, I sat at my computer and opened an email from a colleague who attended the training. It read,
“Hearing our larger team’s knowledge, compassion, and enthusiasm to champion for such inclusion made me feel holistically supported in a unique way and really proud of the company we all work for. I am really moved as a person by today’s experience and am so especially pleased that we are intentionally creating that same feeling of caring and inclusion for our students who need the same level of support.”
This sparked a flame. I asked myself what else can I do to create a more inclusive work environment and have other colleagues feel that same compassion and enthusiasm. If one person was impacted by conversations around inclusion, how do we keep up that momentum? I am not an expert in inclusion by any means. I am, however, committed to creating communities where people feel a sense of belonging, acceptance, and safety. My first thought: take what I just learned at the Safe Zone training to encourage the use of inclusive gender identity language throughout Golden Gate University.
While this may be one action, it is a step towards building a welcoming space for all. The point of creating inclusive work environments is to acknowledge that each “worker” is a person and they are valued for their individual differences. It is making sure people feel represented and visible.
How are you as a manager/colleague/employee acting in inclusive ways or empowering others to act inclusively? If you are not sure where to begin, that is okay. We all need to begin somewhere. The most important piece is that you are getting ignited. Here are some resources to light your fire…
What An Inclusive Workplace Actually Looks Like, And Seven Ways To Achieve It
CareerFlash 