phil spade
@Phil · 3:54
Multicutural Workplaces: Are you checking a box or really embracing cultures?
And as the question went around the room, I saw a lot of nodding and a lot of people saying, Well, we hired a chief culture officer, and they said, what is that? Really? Are you just checking a box or is this something that you want to really employ into the hiring process, into the culture process throughout the workplace. And there were different responses. Some felt like there's meetings that are set up every month or so. Some meetings are good
And what I found is sometimes you just really can't say very much or do very much or voice those concerns because either the bureaucratic system that's set up just doesn't really permit it. And I'm not joking here. You fear for your job, you fear for your ability to go to work without being hated by everybody that you're surrounded by
Bowie Rowan
@bowie · 4:55
And for me, the answer lies in leadership and what real powerful leadership looks like, especially in a time right now when we are all having to find new ways to connect and make sure that we're in communication and clearly communicating and miscommunications can happen easily, even when you're working in a team in person, let alone when you're having to rely on technology that is sometimes fallible or messages on slack or something that can be more easily misinterpreted than one to one conversation in person
Swell Team
@Swell · 0:15
Brooke C.
@Brooke415 · 1:31
Oh, and the other thing is that it's something that's unfortunately, if it's not taught before you get to the workplace, it's likely not going to be introduced persuasively at that level to people who are already setting their belief systems. But I know that there was one woman who wrote a book for white fragility that had encountered a lot of resistance when she went and tried to educate people. But that might be a good resource
And then there are an awful lot of people who are allied with you having a voice, seek those people out because those are going to be it can't just be our fight. In fact, it's not our fight anymore because we have been fighting ad nauseam. So now it is not our turn. It is the turn of those responsible for making us feel uncomfortable in the workplace to change it, because we've done more than our share to make sure that that is no longer the case
phil spade
@Phil · 3:08
First, I want to thank everybody for their inputs into this conversation. I threw this out there. I wasn't expecting to get much of a response, and I'm quite pleased with all the contributions that everybody has given. And it really kind of shows me. I think I knew what the answer to the question is. I know so many companies are just checking the box, and I think most of you just kind of echoed that
And there was one dancer in particular who had a whole list of things in terms of that. That was one of the things. So I think it's okay not to know because you haven't had to know, despite the fact that sometimes we all try to be inclusive, sometimes you just don't know, but now that you know it's doing something about it, which it seems you are doing. So again, thanks. Hue. This was a great conversation. Yay